Photo Flash: First Look at Theater Works' FOLLIES

Theater Works announces the cast for the Arizona premiere of FOLLIES, the legendary musical The New York Times calls "one of the greatest musicals ever written". FOLLIES will open on the Gyder Stage at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts on February 20, 2015.

The music and lyrics of the dazzling FOLLIES score are by Broadway royalty Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim is the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, America's highest distinction in the performing arts, which is given to individuals for his/her contributions to American culture. Mr. Sondheim has also received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and is the winner of the most Tony Awards of any composer/lyricist (eight so far), the Academy Award for Best Original Song, eight Grammy Awards and many more. The book is by Academy Award winner James Goldman, also known for The Lion in Winter.

FOLLIES will be directed by Phillip Fazio. Last season, Fazio directed Theater Works' smash hit production of RAGTIME. Also returning from the RAGTIME production team is Musical Director, Steve Hilderbrand. Mr. Hilderbrand will be conducting a live orchestra of 15 musicians for this production.

Featured in the cast of FOLLIES are Broadway's Kelli James Chase as Carlotta Campion and Patti Davis Suarez as Hattie Walker. Kelli James Chase was in the original Broadway cast of LES MISERABLES and later became the first replacement Eponine after Tony Award winner Frances Ruffelle left the company. Patti Davis Suarez made her Broadway debut in HOW NOW, DOW JONES. She then appeared in the original Broadway productions of PROMISES, PROMISES and APPLAUSE, performing the role of Eve Harrington opposite the Margo Channing of Lauren Bacall and then Anne Baxter.

Rounding out the cast of FOLLIES is a parade of Valley theater stars. The cast of 37 actors includes Rusty Ferracane (Ben Stone), Shari Watts (Phyllis Rogers Stone), Beth Anne Johnson (Sally Durant Plummer), Scott Hyder (Buddy Plummer), Heather Fallon (Stella Deems), Marty Berger (Dimitri Weismann), Ken Goodenberger (Roscoe), Cynthia Elek (Heidi Schiller), Hillary Hirsch (Emily Whitman), Jeffrey Middleton (Theodore Whitman), Kathleen Berger (Solange La Fitte), Crystal Steenhoek (Sandra Crane), Marie Gouba (DeeDee West), Sam Wilkes (Kevin), David Heap (Max Deams), Tony Blosser (Major Domo), Brandi Bigley (Young Sally), Joshua Vern (Young Ben), Jacqueline Notorio (Young Phyllis), Lee Pitts (Young Buddy), Laura Pyper (Young Heidi), Ariel Hastings (Young Emily), Jonathan Ramirez (Young Theodore), Marissa Cordova (Young Carlotta), Sydnie Greger (Young Stella), Veronica Ancona (Young Hattie), Elizabeth Schmitt (Young Solange), Katie Czajkowski (Young Sandra), Megan Farinella (Young DeeDee/Margie), Cody Seaver, Michael Schwenke, Karson Cook, Andy Albrecht, and Sky Donovan.

Photo Credit: Wade Moran