Follies

Follies
At a reunion hosted by their former theatre, a parade of ex-showgirls with fractured pasts takes the stage one last time.

A true theatrical event, this legendary masterpiece is considered by many to be the greatest musical ever created. Surreal, sophisticated, compelling, heart wrenching and epic in scope, Follies by musical theatre legend, Stephen Sondheim, and author, James Goldman, uses the musical theatre as a metaphor for the collapse of American innocence and naivete in the post-Kennedy years.

In Follies, the time is 1971, and theatrical impresario, Dimitri Weissmann, hosts a reunion of ex-Follies performers in his crumbling theatre, setting the stage for a parade of brilliant pastiche numbers, including "Losing My Mind," "I'm Still Here" and "Broadway Baby." Amid the reminiscing, two middle-aged couples confront some unpleasant truths about their past and present, coming face-to-face with the future.

Follies is a true showcase for powerful dramatic actors with plenty of opportunities for seasoned, older performers. Spectacular and grand in scale, Follies has also proven ideal for concert presentation and features many of Stephen Sondheim's best-known songs.

Concert Selections for Follies

MTI is pleased to provide the pre-approved rental materials of select songs for your symphonic concert performance. Please note, MTI is unable to grant the necessary Performance Rights with this material rental. The Performance Rights needed must be obtained separately through the individual song’s respective small rights agency such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC. Please email concerts@mtishows.com with any questions.

  • BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Lyrics by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Orchestrated by
    Jonathan Tunick
    show more...
  • BOWS ("FOLLIES")
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...
  • BROADWAY BABY (ARR. TUNICK)
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Lyrics by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Arranged by
    David Charles Abell
    Orchestrated by
    Jonathan Tunick
    show more...
  • BROADWAY BABY (ARR.SEBESKY)
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Arranged by
    SEBESKY, DON
    show more...
  • BUDDY'S BLUES
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Lyrics by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Orchestrated by
    Jonathan Tunick
    show more...
  • COULD I LEAVE YOU?
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...
  • COULD I LEAVE YOU? (IN C)
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...
  • IM STILL HERE
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...
  • IN BUDDY'S EYES
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...
  • LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...
  • LOSING MY MIND
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...
  • LOSING MY MIND ("SYMPHONIC SONDHEIM")
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Arranged by
    Don Sebesky
    show more...
  • LOSING MY MIND (B-FLAT)
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Lyrics by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Orchestrated by
    Jonathan Tunick
    show more...
  • LOVELAND
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...
  • MONTAGE
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...
  • ONE MORE KISS
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...
  • PROLOGUE & OVERTURE ("FOLLIES")
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...
  • PROLOGUE & OVERTURE (FROM "FOLLIES")
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Orchestrated by
    Jonathan Tunick
    show more...
  • RIGHT GIRL, THE
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Lyrics by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Orchestrated by
    Jonathan Tunick
    show more...
  • ROAD YOU DIDN'T TAKE
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Lyrics by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Orchestrated by
    Jonathan Tunick
    show more...
  • TOO MANY MORNINGS
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Lyrics by
    Stephen Sondheim
    Orchestrated by
    Jonathan Tunick
    show more...
  • WAITING FOR THE GIRLS UPSTAIRS
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...
  • WHO'S THAT WOMAN?
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...
  • YOU'RE GONNA LOVE TOMORROW
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Lyrics by
    SONDHEIM, STEPHEN
    Orchestrated by
    TUNICK, JONATHAN
    show more...

Media

  • Bernadette Peters sings "In Buddy's Eyes" in the 2011 Broadway revival of...
  • Jan Maxwell and Bernadette Peters perform "Waiting for the Girls Upstairs"...
  • The cast of the 2011 Broadway revival of Follies perform "Who's That...
  • Ron Raines and cast of the 2011 Broadway revival of Follies perform "Live,...
  • The cast of the 2011 Broadway revival of Follies perform "Beautiful Girls"
  • The cast and creative team of the 2011 Broadway revival of Follies discuss the...
  • Bernadette Peters sings "In Buddy's Eyes" in the 2011 Broadway revival of...
  • Jan Maxwell and Bernadette Peters perform "Waiting for the Girls Upstairs"...
  • The cast of the 2011 Broadway revival of Follies perform "Who's That...
  • Ron Raines and cast of the 2011 Broadway revival of Follies perform "Live,...
  • The cast of the 2011 Broadway revival of Follies perform "Beautiful Girls"
  • The cast and creative team of the 2011 Broadway revival of Follies discuss the...

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Questions & Answers

March 19, 2025
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Related shows or resources: Performance Accompaniment Recording, Follies
Are there performance tracks available for FOLLIES?
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December 19, 2022
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Related shows or resources: Follies
Orchestra parts

I played this show several years ago when the orchestra books were notated in script. Are the current books still in script or are they typefaced?

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