The Official Kennedy Center FOLLIES Thread — Page 7

You will fall in love, Mamie.

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I've been meaning to ask, is there an understudy list in the programme? If there is, can anyone list it, or show it? Please and thank you?

[Has anyone done the stagedoor for the show? I am seeing the show the end of this month and was curious who all comes out and how the whole thing is set up. DETAILS PLEASE!]

The stage door for the Eisenhower is located outside the building on the north side facing the Watergate. Exit the theater onto the patio facing the Potomac River, turn right and walk around the building -- the stage door is clearly marked and faces the walkway to the Watergate.

On Saturday night, most everyone came out (though I didn't wait long enough to see Danny Burstein or Ron Raines), and everyone who was asked (well, except Sondheim) signed graciously -- Bernadette, Jan Maxwell, Elaine Paige, Linda Lavin.

Can someone post if the pillow has non hypoallergenic filling?

Thanks in advance.

Cannot believe I have to wait four weeks to see it! BUT, I am fifth row dead center. Yummy.

I meant to ask.......what's Danny Burstein's dancing like during The Right Girl? Does he do a big solo dance number?? and is he good?

Katurian, I was talking about The Right Girl (at the beginning of Act 2) not Buddy's Folly number, "Buddy's Blues"

No one will ever dance the role of Buddy the way Gene Nelson did.

http://youtu.be/RFxygAHcNGM


The "definitive" version (if any version of any Sondheim can ever be said to be definitive) of "I'm Still Here" is not Yvonne DeCarlo, oddly enough, but Nancy Walker, from the 1973 Sondheim: A Musical Tribute:

http://youtu.be/l3CwCpwrV8M
(vocal only)

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No, no one will ever dance it as well as Gene Nelson, but Danny Burnstein acts the hell out of it-- and the Blues too.

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I seem to remember reading that Sondheim and Goldman later decided that they didn't believe "The Right Girl" should be a dance number because all the dance aequences were pastiche and of course, Buddy was not in the Follies

And they were wrong.

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I saw the show on Saturday and pretty much agree with what has already been said, except a couple things.

Jan Maxwell is a GODDESS. First of all, her costumes are beautiful. She certainly does not look 55 at all. I adore her anyway, but I was blown away but how strong both her dancing and singing were. She certainly was my favorite part of the show.

I really enjoyed Linda Lavin's "Broadway Baby" but I do think it may get stronger as the show gets more performances under its belt.

Elaine Paige missed a verse--really half a verse--in "I'm Still Here" and I didn't find it as compelling as some other versions (Stritch, Baranski, Carol Burnett) I've heard.

I really loved Bernadette's performance as Desiree in ALNM, but I wasn't impressed with her Sally at all. Maybe it has more to do with the writing/development of the character, but I wasn't blown away by her singing either. (I thought her "Send in the Clowns" was fantastic.) I've heard Marin Mazzie sing quite a few songs from Follies and I think--even though she's a little young?--she would be a better fit in the role.

That said, my friends and I loved Jan's performance so much, we're considering ponying up the money to go back for closing. We need to see those dance numbers again.

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Updated On: 5/11/11 at 12:09 AM

Someone on ATC said that they are using the Encores! book. Ugh. While, it's closer to the original book than the Roundabout book, it's still NOT the original.
I wish Schaeffer hadn't said it was the original book. But I'll see for myself on Saturday.

Ron Raines rehearsal footage:
http://www.folliesdc.com/#!video