October 19, 2023: Follies ​(1971)

Class Preparation

• Related readings in the texts:
  • Broadway: The American Musical: pp. 316-317.​
  • Finishing the Hat: Follies  (Chapter 8, pp. 198-249)
• ​Handouts
  • ​Class 6 Lyrics  This handout includes songs featured in class; ALL of the lyrics for Follies--including cut songs and alternate versions--are in Finishing the Hat.
  • ​Notes on Follies This handout contains a detailed synopsis of the plot of Follies, and lists the casts from three major productions. of the show.
  • Climactic Scene from Follies Just before the "Loveland" sequence that ends Follies, the four principal characters and their younger versions confront each other in an attempt to explain their current misery on the past. The dialogue is so fast--and overlapping--that it's hard to comprehend. This handout has the complete dialogue for this scene, arranged in two columns (past and present characters). Let me know if you think this is helpful.
  • Handout of class 6 slides

YouTube Links Playlists

Playlists

• Follies (Original 1971 Broadway Cast Recording): Dorothy Collins, Gene Nelson, Alexis Smith, John McMartin, Yvonne De Carlo
• Follies (2011 Broadway Cast Recording): Bernadette Peters, Danny Burstein, Jan Maxwell, Ron Raines, Elaine Paige, Jane Houdyshell. This recording contains all the songs, generous portions of dialogue and underscoring.
• Class 6 Videos
• Follies Extras (Great performances I didn't have time to include in class)​