Trivia

Imelda Staunton had to be persuaded by director Dominic Cooke and composer Stephen Sondheim to take on the role of 'Sally' because of its singing demands, which is "a very different sing from Gypsy [and] Sweeney Todd".

This production of Follies is performed as a one-act performance, as it was done in the original Broadway production in 1971 and in accordance with Sondheim's intention for the piece to be performed. The original West End production (staged in 1972) and both Broadway revivals (staged in 2001 and 2011) included an intermission after "Too Many Mornings".

Three members of the company have been part of a production of "Follies" before: Bruce Graham, who plays "Roscoe", was in the original West End cast where he played the role of "Max Blanck"; Julie Armstrong, who plays "Christine Donovan", was in the second West End cast where she covered "Young Phyllis"; and Liz Izen, who plays "Deedee West", played "Young Sally" (with Mary Millar as Sally) in the 1985 Forum Theatre, Wythenshawe production.

The original Broadway production was staged in 1971 at the Winter Garden Theatre. Directed by Harold Prince, the show was nominated for 11 Tony Awards and won 7 (including Best Original Score for Sondheim).

"The Story of Lucy and Jessie" was not present in the original West End production and was replaced by the song "Ah, But Underneath". The reason for this is that "...Lucy and Jessie" has a dance break in the middle of the song, and Diana Rigg (who played Phyllis at the time) was not a dancer. "...Lucy and Jessie" has then been present in the London revivals (including this production).