In February 2019 the popular actors will join the cast as Ben and Sally in the award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s Follies opposite Janie Dee and Peter Forbes who reprise their roles as Phyllis and Buddy.
After a sold-out run, Follies – winner of the 2018 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival – opens at the Lyttelton Theatre on 14 February 2019 and is currently booking until 26 March with further performances to be announced.
New York, 1971. There’s a party on the stage of the Weismann Theatre. Tomorrow the iconic building will be demolished. Thirty years after their final performance, the Follies girls gather to have a few drinks, sing a few songs and lie about themselves.
Stephen Sondheim’s legendary musical includes such classic songs as ‘Broadway Baby’, ‘I’m Still Here’ and ‘Losing My Mind’. Featuring a cast of 37 and an orchestra of 21, the production is directed by Dominic Cooke (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) with designs by Vicki Mortimer, winner of the 2018 Olivier Award for best costume design, and choreography by Bill Deamer. Cooke and Mortimer were also recognised at this year’s Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards.
Bios
Joanna Riding is a two-time Olivier Award-winning actress whose musical theatre credits include Follies, Romantics Anonymous, The Girls, Stephen Ward, The Pajama Game, Lend Me A Tenor, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Billy Elliot, My Fair Lady, The Witches of Eastwick, Martin Guerre, Oh What A Lovely War, Guys and Dolls, A Little Night Music, Carousel, Happy As A Sandbag, Lady Be Good, Me and My Girl, and The Wizard of Oz.
Alexander Hanson has appeared in numerous plays and musicals in the West End and on Broadway. His renowned musical theatre credits include Follies, Committee… (A New Musical), The Sound of Music, We Will Rock You, Jesus Christ Superstar and Stephen Ward the Musical.
