FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Beautiful FOLLIES Girls

Today, in conjunction with Part II of the BWW Exclusive InDepth InterView: Donna McKechnie, we are taking a look at some clips from two productions of the masterpiece musical known as FOLLIES written by Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman and originally co-directed on Broadway by Hal Prince and Michael Bennett (who also choreographed). "Who's That Woman" is one of the most legendary - and brilliant, and biting, and unique - dance numbers in Broadway history and in this clip the original choreography is recreated by the star-studded cast of the ‘98 Papermill Playhouse revival starring Donna McKechnie, Dee Hoty, Tony Roberts and Laurence Guittard, as well as Kaye Ballard, Liliane Montevecci, Phyllis Newman and Ann Miller under the supervision of Robert Longbottom and Jerry Mitchell. As a bonus, we also have the number as performed in the original Broadway production. This is something any tried and true Broadway baby surely can't miss!

Mirror, Music :: Music, Mirror

What can be said about FOLLIES that hasn't been said? The score is possibly the very best Broadway score of the 70s - possibly ever - and contains such standouts as "Broadway Baby", "Could I Leave You?", "Losing My Mind" and "I'm Still Here". While some scant footage of the beyond legendary original production can be found on YouTube and elsewhere, the only production that seems to have come close to capturing the allure, magic and mystery of the ghostly, glittering diamond of a show that was the original Prince/Bennett production. What we have here is something quite good indeed - and it would be quite impossible to ask for a better cast than we have here. So, without further ado, please partake in a moment of Broadway history as you watch Ms. McKechnie, Hoty, Newman, Montevecci and more bring Bennett's choreography to life one more time. Talk about timeless!

Speaking of that footage from the original Broadway production of FOLLIES, here is "Who's That Woman" as it was originally staged and performed in that production. Please excuse the extreme crudeness of this footage - it's all we've got. Also, the sound does not come from the same performance as the video so there are some discrepencies in sync to consider, as well. Whatever the case, it's quite thrilling and to see Alexis Smith, Dorothy Collins and the rest one more time and it is certainly worth hazarding any technical difficulties to take a look back. Times two!

Be sure to check out the BWW Exclusive InDepth InterView: Donna McKechnie for a detailed discussion of FOLLIES and everything else Bennett/McKechnie-related. It's not to be missed!

That's all for this week. Please remember that if you have discovered a particularly thrilling, unique, bizarre or hilarious Broadway-related clip to please send us a line at the link below. Until next week...