The Official Kennedy Center FOLLIES Thread — Page 5

The official "opening," I believe, is May 21; these first two weeks are considered previews, though they weren't advertised as such.

I felt like a larger portion of the audience than usual there last night weren't subscription holders. A significant amount were, yes, but I overheard many many people also who had traveled down from NYC to see the show. Most of the convos I overheard were from people who seemed incredibly familiar with the show & Bernadette Peters in general. It was quite the gathering of super-affectionados. People were aready breaking down how Loveland would go at intermission. But yes, those left seats were most likely due to stodgy subscriptioners.


idk- I really wasn't impressed with 'Ah, Paris!' and not just for the lyrics flub. It's a small number shoved in a front of a very big one, yes, but I think there should be more to do with it than what was there.

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Hayes was excellent, big voice, pitch perfect, nails every note. I'm sorry though, I respect the fact that Regine was the first dj in the history of the world, I thank her for that. However, she is surrounded by others that are so good, and she just wasn't on the same level. Don't know whether she can't or if she just didn't bring it last night. She seemed relieved when her song was over. Sorry.

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Updated On: 5/8/11 at 11:20 AM

Also - since people are saying Bernadette had some vocal issues with teh high notes, I am guessing they did not transpose anything then from the original production? Anyone who knows the show well -- were any keys noticeably changed? And were there any cuts within songs?

I really don't know if I can wait 6 more days!

Ron Raines DOES have a beard.

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I'm on my way out the door to see the production. If you see a good looking older gentleman in a blue sports coat and large white moustache, that's me. Say hello.

I got a last minute ticket to the closing performance of Ragtime at the Kennedy Center. My seat was in the last row all the way off to the side and I didn't miss anything. When I saw the same production on Broadway my seat was in the front row. I definitely preferred the last row seating of the two.

The Eisenhower goes up, rather than back, so it has an abundance of good seats, especially in the orchestra level. In this case, it's better to go back and low than high and up front (imo).

Still can't even handle that I missed Sondheim 7 rows back from me. If I had actual plates and not just crappy plastic ones, I'd be breaking them right about now. This gif will have to suffice. It's still a cool thought to have been watching a Sondheim show with Sondheim in the audience. Even if I was completely oblivious to it at the time!

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Yes, but going forward, every time you talk about the time you saw Follies in DC you can say, "You know, Sondheim was in the audience that night."

hahah, This is true. I will just call upon the powers of omission and not add to the story that I completely missed seeing him because I was breaking down the Playbill word by word and trying to take discrete pics of the stage with my phone.

Yeah, I feel I would have noticed if there was a big hoopla, so he must have disappeared quite fast and gotten away from the rabid theatre fans. Probably good I didn't have the opportunity to approach. I would have started kissing his feet or something and made a big spectacle. I don't think my bf would have much appreciated that. Nor would have Sondheim for that matter.

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Updated On: 5/8/11 at 11:39 PM

HAH- They actually looked pretty high quality. I didn't pick one up, but as random a piece of merch as they were, they seemed nice & had a classy texture to them. I'm also a huge fan of the new logo, and it looked great on the pillows.

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