Sondheim's Follies to be made into a movie

According to  Playbill, The musical Follies by Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman is being made  into a big-screen film.

Set within a decaying theatre, Follies centres on a reunion of former follies girls who reunite to relive their past,  rehashing old wounds and regrets. Sondheim's score,  made up of pastiche numbers paying homage to the great pop composers of the early 20th century, includes the tunes  "I'm Still Here," "Broadway Baby," and "Losing My Mind."

Dominic Cooke, who directed the excellent version at the National Theatre (the first fully staged major London production of Follies to present the original, one-act Broadway version of the show, won two 2018 Olivier Awards: Best Revival and Best Costumes) has started to adapt the show - .   But producer Rosie Alison, who is  working  with David Heyman (at Heyday Films) and Rose Garnett (head of BBC Films), stressed the movie is not based on the NT production. Saying  We’re going to translate it for the cinema,’ in the  hope Cooke can start filming in 2021.

Sondheim said Over the years, there have been many attempts to bring Follies to the screen, but not until Dominic Cooke’s brilliant production at the National Theatre of Great Britain did it seem like it could be a real movie. I’m more than delighted, I’m thrilled, that it’s finally going to happen.

In Cooke's NT production Four-time Olivier Award winner Imelda Staunton starred as Sally, opposite Olivier and Obie winner Janie Dee as Phyllis, three-time Olivier winner Philip Quast as Ben, Peter Forbes as Buddy, and two-time Olivier winner Tracie Bennett as Carlotta Campion. Joanna Riding and Alexander Hanson took over as Sally and Ben respectively when the production returned to the National for a 2019 remount. No word yet on casting for the movie but there are several plum roles and Ms Alison said they will be looking for ‘special talents’ from the US and UK.