More casting announced for Sondheim's Follies at the National starring Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee and Philip Quast

The Mail's Baz Bamigboye has just revealed more casting news on this production: Joining the previously announced Imelda Staunton  as Sally Durant Plummer and  Janie Dee as Phyllis Stone, Philip Quast  as Benjamin Stone, Peter Forbes as Buddy Plummer, Dame Josephine Barstow as Heidi Schiller, Dawn Hope as  Stella Deems who leads the show-stopping number called Who’s That Woman, Tracie Bennett as Carlotta Campion: the former showgirl and one-time movie star who has been to hell and back who sings Sondheim’s showstopper number I’m Still Here are Di Botcher as ex Weismann showgirl Hattie Walker, with  Geraldine Fitzgerald as Solange who sings about 'Paree' , Bruce Graham is Roscoe, Alex Young  and  Fred Haig play young Sally and  young Buddy, Adam Rhys Charles is young Ben, Gary Raymond as showman Dimitri Weismann, Christine Tucker , Aimee Hodnett, Emily Langham  and Kate Parr are the young showgirls Weismann Follies and Liz Izen plays Deedee with Billy Boyle, Emily Goodenough,  Sarah Marie Maxwell,  Edwin Ray,  A Jordan Shaw, Barnaby Thompson, Christine Tucker and Alex Young.

Directed by Dominic Cooke with choreography by Bill Deamer, music supervisor Nicholas Skilbeck, music director Nigel Lilley, lighting designer Paule Constable, sound designer Paul Groothuis and associate choreographer Kylie Cruikshanks. Follies features an orchestra of 21 and includes songs including  "Losing My Mind", "I'm Still Here" and "Could I Leave You?". the show runs at the Olivier  from 6th September to 4th November with previews from 22nd August . Public booking opens on 5th May at 08:30.

When former members of the Weismann Follies reunite on the eve of their theater's demolition, two couples remember their past and face the harsher realities of the present. In the crumbling glamour of the theater, The Shadows of their younger selves remind them of the complicated steps they've danced-both on the stage and throughout their lives. Containing classics including   "Broadway Baby," "I'm Still Here," "Too Many Mornings, "Could I Leave You?" and "Losing My Mind," Follies is an excellent representations of  the vaudeville days between the two World Wars.


The show was originally produced on Broadway by Harold Prince with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, opening in April 1971 starring Dorothy Collins, John McMartin, Gene Nelson, and Alexis Smith. It ran for 522 performances and received seven Tony Awards, including Best Original Score.