Today we are journeying back to February 20, 1971, and the very first performance of legendary showbiz musical FOLLIES.
Who Could Be Blue? Originally planned as a murder mystery musical titled THE GIRLS UPSTAIRS centered around showgirls and their stage door johnnies at a vaudeville show reunion several years after everybody's rose colored heyday, Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's FOLLIES arrived as something altogether different when it premiered in Boston as part of its out of town tryout prior to its Broadway run in the second half of the cold February month of 1971. Gone was the murder mystery subplot of THE GIRLS UPSTAIRS and instead in its place was a brand new title - one with several perceivable meanings to match, natch - and an increased emphasis on the colorful personalities populating a Florenz Ziegfeld-esque revue called Weismann's Follies. Also prominent in FOLLIES as it would forever forward be recognized as from that first preview on was one of the most unique and striking stagings of any show in history - whether on Broadway or anywhere else for that matter. Utilizing the copious talents of both up-and-coming director/choreographer Michael Bennett and legendary producer/director Hal Prince, FOLLIES was the rare musical to feature two directors at the helm - and the physical production realized by the directing duo alongside the accomplished production team, not to mention the able cast and crew, collectively created something akin to theatrical nirvana for those lucky enough to experience it. Indeed, FOLLIES is still spoken about in hushed tones and with extreme reverence to this very day - particularly that breathtaking and spine-tingling original production - and in merely reviewing the history and sampling the rare clips available to view, it is clear to hear, see and feel why - and how. FOLLIES is something truly special.
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