Follies at Clark Art Institute

Honors Composer Stephen Sondheim a graduate of Williams College

By: Clark - Jan 31, 2022

 

The Clark Art Institute airs an encore presentation of Follies, a production of London’s National Theatre, on Saturday, February 26 at 1 pm. 

Follies is being shown to honor the memory of its composer, Stephen Sondheim, a graduate of Williams College, who maintained ties to Williamstown throughout his life. Widely recognized as one of Sondheim’s most acclaimed musicals, Follies is set in New York in 1971. There’s a party on the stage of the Weismann Theatre, an iconic building due to be demolished. Thirty years after their final performance on its stage, the former Follies dancers gather at the Weissmann to have a few drinks, sing a few songs, and lie about themselves. Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and Imelda Staunton play the magnificent Follies girls in the dazzling production.   

Featuring a cast of thirty-seven and an orchestra of twenty-one, this production was directed by Dominic Cooke and was filmed live on stage in 2017 at London’s National Theatre. Run time is 2 hours 15 minutes and presented without intermission—true to the spirit of how Sondheim intended the production to be performed. Please note that Follies contains strobe lighting. 

Tickets are $18 ($16 for Clark members, $12 for children 10 and under). To purchase tickets, visit clarkart.edu or call the box office at 413 458 0524. All sales are final. 

Seating capacity in the Clark’s auditorium has been reduced to accommodate greater social distancing. Tickets are limited to 100 guests and a sell-out capacity is expected. Proof of COVID vaccination for all visitors age twelve and older is required. All guests age five and older are required to wear facemasks at all times while inside the Clark’s facilities.