Maxwell, Burstein, Raines and Paige Return to Follies For Los Angeles Run

Coming to the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre direct from Broadway for six weeks only, the Kennedy Center’s critically acclaimed Broadway production of James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies,” has now completed casting. “Follies” stars four-time Tony Award nominee Jan Maxwell as Phyllis Rogers Stone, Tony Award winner Victoria Clark, two-time Tony Award nominee Danny Burstein as Buddy Plummer, three-time Emmy Award nominee Ron Raines as Benjamin Stone and Olivier Award winner Elaine Paige as Carlotta Campion. Maxwell, Burstein, Raines and Paige are all returning to the roles they originated on Broadway.

“Follies” plays in an exclusive Los Angeles engagement at the CTG/Ahmanson Theatre, May 3 through June 9, 2012. The opening is scheduled for May 9.
“Follies” features a 28-piece orchestra and a cast of 41. Also returning to their roles are Christian Delcroix as Young Buddy, Colleen Fitzpatrick as Dee Dee West, Lora Lee Gayer as Young Sally, Michael Hayes as Roscoe, Leah Horowitz as Young Heidi, Tony Award nominee Jayne Houdyshell as Hattie Walker, Florence Lacey as Sandra Crane, Tony Award nominee Mary Beth Peil as Solange LaFitte, David Sabin as Dimitri Weismann, Kirsten Scott as Young Phyllis, Frederick Strother as Max Deems, Nick Verina as Young Ben, Tony Award nominee Susan Watson as Emily Whitman, and Terri White as Stella Deems. They are joined by Grammy Award winner Carol Neblett as Heidi Schiller and Tony Award winner Sammy Williams as Theodore Whitman.

Rounding out the ensemble, the majority of whom are returning, are John Carroll, Mathew deGuzman, Sara Edwards, Nathaniel Flatt, Leslie Donna Flesner, Jenifer Foote, Danielle Jordan, Amanda Kloots-Larsen, Joseph Kolinski, Joe Komara, Brittany Marcin, Erin N. Moore, Jessica Pariseau, Andrew Pirozzi, Pamela Otterson, Angel Reda, Clifton Samuels, Jessica Sheridan, Becky Elizabeth Stout, Amos Wolff.

Elaine Paige is appearing with the support of Actors’ Equity Association. The producers gratefully acknowledge Actors’ Equity Association for its assistance to this production.

With book by James Goldman and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, “Follies” is directed by Eric Schaeffer with choreography by Warren Carlyle and music direction by James Moore, scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Kai Harada and the original orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick.

When former members of the “Weismann Follies” reunite on the eve of their theatre's demolition, two couples remember their past and face the harsher realities of the present. Reminiscing about their younger selves and the years gone by, the crumbling theatre brings back memories for both couples of good times and bad. Containing such well-known songs as “Broadway Baby,” “I’m Still Here,” “Too Many Mornings,” “Could I Leave You?” and “Losing My Mind,” “Follies” echoes the songs, exuberance and romance of the vaudeville days between the two World Wars.

Ben Brantley of The New York Times called the production, “. . .white-hot . . .vibrant and moving . . .a vigorous heart beats at the center of The Kennedy Center’s revival of ‘Follies.’” “A revival for the ages . . . ,” said Linda Winer of Newsday, “. . . a production worthy of this magnificent monument to musical theater.” Mark Kennedy of Associated Press called it “. . . a luscious treat . . . it’s head-spinning stuff,” while Steven Suskin of Variety said, “. . . thrilling and terrific . . .When done right, ‘Follies’ is one of the glories of the American musical. And this new revival from the Kennedy Center is done right!”

Originally produced on Broadway by Harold Prince with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, “Follies” opened on April 4, 1971, and starred Dorothy Collins, John McMartin, Gene Nelson and Alexis Smith. It ran for 522 performances in the Winter Garden Theatre and received seven Tony Awards®, including Best Original Score. The Kennedy Center production played a highly successful six-week run in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater (May 7 to June 19, 2011) going on to a critically acclaimed limited engagement on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre closing on January 22, 2012 after 38 previews and 152 regular performances.