Sondheim Reveals 'Follies' Is Headed To Film

By: May. 06, 2008
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In an exclusive, live online chat with legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim (Sunday in the Park with George) and Roundabout's Artistic Director Todd Haimes on Tuesday, May 6th, Stephen Sondheim revealed that plans to bring his musical 'Follies' to film is in the works, though he was mum on the details.

Moderator: PRE-SUBMITTED QUESTION from George for Mr. Sondheim: Now that Sweeney Todd has been put on film, which of your musicals would you most like to see adapted for motion picture at this time?

Stephen_Sondheim: It's not so much a question of which I would like to see, rather which I think would lend itself, and I think Company would lend itself to filming. I think it's very cinematic in its theatrical concept. There is a move afoot to do Follies movie with a well-known director and a well-known star, and I'm not going to tell you who they are. Those are the ones that come immediately to mind. Stephen Speilberg would like to remake West Side Story whether or not that will happen or not...

Follies has a book written by James Goldman. The musical focuses on two couples, Buddy and Sally Durant Plummer and Ben and Phyllis Rogers Stone, who are attending a reunion of the troup 'Weismann's Follies' on the brink of the demolition of the theater they used to perform in. Its songs include "Broadway Baby," "I'm Still Here," "Too Many Mornings," "Could I Leave You," and "Losing My Mind." The play was nominated for eleven Tonys and won seven.

While Sondheim would not reveal his collaborators in the upcoming film, previous reports and statements from Sondheim have associated director Sam Mendes and writer Aaron Sorkin with the project.

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna



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