FICTION...sort of.
There's no denying that a musical with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim and a story by James Goldman that explores themes of nostalgia, loss, and looking back at youth, doesn't completely not speak to some of our membership and performers. That is being an organization of performers and dancers ranging from age 21 to 75, there are so many variables and for us older performers (ie. me, Nipsy being 51 proudly), the songs and show Follies does speak to me greatly. However, that's not the musical where we took our name.
Set in the dilapidated and soon-to-be demolished Weisman Theatre, former performers from the Weisman's Follies remember the trials and tribulations of their younger selves, "this legendary masterpiece is considered by many to be the greatest musical ever created. Surreal, sophisticated, compelling, heart wrenching and epic in scope, Follies 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. "(1) In a lot of ways being a dance-based revue really finds itself getting where that suspicion may come from, however it is not though it is one of the musicals I adore.
We're not even named in homage to the incredible Ziegfield Follies, though we do definitely consider them one of our main inspirations for the modern versions of shows we put on. The truth is, our name comes from a musical...and even a Sondheim musical, but it's not something obvious and is somewhat hidden within that musical.
Intrigued?
My favorite musical of all times, Sunday in the Park with George with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and story by James Lapine, is actually where the impetus to create and bring to life a modern day version of Follies Girls. In the song "Color and Light", a hyper-focused artist Georges Seurat works on his mammoth pointilism painting, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte — 1884 while his muse, model, lover and lady "Dot" gets ready to go out as they've discussed earlier in the day as she posed for him and his sketches upon the Island of La Grande Jatte. She loves going to "the follies" and she's got him to agree to her wishes that morning. She sings about "the follies" and her love and relationship - while Georges becomes increasingly preoccupied with his art and getting parts of it finished. I've provided the following clip starting around the place where she excitedly details her dreams of "the follies" and being a "follie girl". A young woman of 22 watching this in her parents TV room, never once forgot this scene and the seed was planted.
And so...a gal who always dreamed of being a broadway dancer grew up and made her own little organization of dancing dames who also work to develop other talents as well. Because we believe in triple threats, and on-going learning and growing no matter where you start on that journey, no matter what condition your body is in when you decide to put action into your dreams, and no matter what age you are. You are enough, as-is and you're worth it!
- In peace, love, hope, dance and a lot of razzle dazzle...Nipsy Tussle
Credits:
(1) https://www.mtishows.com/follies#:~:text=In%20Follies%2C%20the%20time%20is,reminiscing%2C%20two%20middle%2Daged%20couples