Audition Tips for Follies The Musical

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Goldman

Follies Recommended Resources

Plot Summary & Audition Notes

List of Characters in Follies

Follies (Full Vocal Score)

Sondheim's Follies: Themes

Follies in Concert on DVD

Follies explores the former lives of now middle-aged performers on the eve of the destruction of the theatre where they once performed. As the former performers reunite, the audience sees the ghosts of their former selves, and a secondary plot immerges as we see the history between characters.

Follies is a wonderful choice to showcase talented "older" performers, as all of the characters are middle aged or elderly, with the exception of the younger versions of Phyllis, Ben, Buddy, & Sally. Other young performers can form the chorus for the many flashback sequences.

Audition Suggestions for Follies

Most of the characters in Follies must be able to jazz/tap dance well. There is also a dance chorus.

Sally Durant Plummer (Soprano, 49)

Former showgirl. Flightly, unstable, sweet.

Roscoe (Tenor)

Former emcee, showstopper voice

Buddy Plummer (Baritone)

Sally's husband. Exhausted middle-class salesman.

Phyllis Rogers Stone (Mezzo/Alto)

Former showgirl. Elegant, well-read, polished.

Hattie Walker (Alto, 65 - 80)

Steely, tough

Benjamin Stone (Baritone)

Phyllis' husband. Worldly, wealthy, suave.

Stella Deems (Mezzo)

Former showgirl. Heavyset.

Heidi Schiller (Mature Soprano, 70 - 90)

former great performer

Solange La Fitte (Mezzo, "66")

French. Very fashionable.

Dimitri Weissman (non-singing)

Former producer of the Weissman Follies

Carlotta Campion (Alto)

A one-time movie star

Other Former Weissman Girls...

Vanessa (tango), Meredith Lane, Dee Dee West

Emily Whitman (70s), Francesca, Christine Donovan,

Former Weissman Men...

Vincent (Tango), Max Deems, Theodore Whitman (70s),

Willy Wheeler

Former acrobat, now out of shape.

Young Phyllis (Mezzo), Young Ben (High Baritone), Young Buddy (Tenor), Young Sally (Soprano), Young Stella, Young Heidi, Major-domo, Chauffeur, Kevin (a waiter)

Follies Links - Related Websites

Audition Preparation Materials

List of Songs in Follies (Click the song title to download digital sheet music)

• Improve your jazz skills here.
• Improve your tap skills here.

• Prologue
• Beautiful Girls (Weissman Girls)
• Don't Look at Me (Sally)
• Waiting for the Girls Upstairs (Buddy & Ben)
• Rain on the Roof (The Whitmans)
• Ah, Paree! (Salonge La Fitte)
• Broadway Baby (Hattie Walker)
• The Road You Didn't Take (Ben)
• In Buddy's Eyes (Sally)
• Bolero d'Amour (Vincent & Vanessa)
• Who's That Woman? (Stella & Girls)
• I'm Still Here (Carlotta)
• Too Many Mornings (Young Ben)
• The Right Girl (Buddy)
• One More Kiss (Heidi & Young Heidi)
• Could I Leave You? (Phyllis)
• Loveland (Chorus)
• You're Gonna Love Tomorrow (Young Ben & Young Phyllis)
• Love Will See Us Through (Young Buddy & Young Sally)
• The God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues (Buddy)
• Losing My Mind (Sally)
• The Story of Lucy and Jessie (Phyllis)
• Live, Laugh, Love (Ben & Chorus)

Cut Songs

• All Things Bright and Beautiful
• Can That Boy Foxtrot!
• Uptown Downtown

Add Songs For London Revival

• Ah, But Underneath
• Country House
• Make the Most of Your Music
• Social Dancing