"On, Then, With The Dance, No Backward Glance, Or My Heart Will Break! Never Look Back, Never Look Back.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              Say the title "Follies," and Theater Queens will come running, like cockroaches out of the woodwork.  This current concert version, on June 20--one night only!!!!!!--will be the first in 39 years.  I was at that one, back in 1985, and what a cast--Lee Remick, Barbara Cook, George Hearn, Mandy Patinkin, Carol Burnett, Elaine Stritch, Phyllis Newman and Erie Mills.

                                                 Now compare that with the cast assembled here.  Thirty-three people, but how will the songs be divided?  Who will sing what role?  It is anyone's guess, because while there are several top tier performers gathered--Julie Benko, Len Cariou, Carolee Carmello, Christine Ebersole, Jennifer Holliday, Norm Lewis and Donna Murphy--the rest are second and even third tier.  They could not come up with a better cast?  Here are some missing people who should be included.

                                                                            

                                Josh Groban--Duh?  Why not start from the top????????????

                                                                      

                               Jessie Mueller--The greatest female voice in today's musical theater, and she is not included?   Criminal!

                                                                           

                                     Jason Danieley--Who appeared with Jessie in the Philharmonic "Carousel," back in 2013, as the hottest Mister Snow on record!  He would be so great as Ben Stone.  I can just hear him singing "Too Many Mornings."

                                                                          

                               Celia Keenan-Bolger--Dorothy Collins, the original 1971 Sally, was 45 when she played the role.  Celia is 46 and would be just perfect.  Just imagine she and Jason together.  Musical theater magic!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                       

                         Renee Fleming--Who better to sing "One More Kiss?"  And how about with Julie Benko, as Young Heidi???????????????????

                                                                        

                          Tovah Feldshuh--She can sing, dance, and act.  A true triple threat.  She would be perfect as the lead in "Who's That Woman?"  It will probably be Jennifer Holliday, but can't Tovah be fit in here, somewhere?????????????????

                                                                         

                       Patti LuPone--Who better to sing "I'm Still Here??????????????"

                        And how about--

                                                                            

  

                             Judy Kuhn--With a score like this, a voice like Judy's is needed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Neva Small--A Musical Theater Legend for a Legendary Show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                      

                                 Ann Morrison--One of Sondheim's greatest alums, from the original 'Merrily.'

                                                                                 

                                    Lonny Price--Ditto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                 

                         Lindsay Mendez--Bring the whole 'Merrily' thing full circle to "Follies!!!!!!!!!"

 

                                                                              

                                  Audra McDonald--Girls, you cannot have a Sondheim event without her!

                                                                           

                              Kelli O'Hara--Hey, she knows her Sondheim!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                             

                         Ruthie Ann Miles--Wouldn't her voice just break hearts on "One More Kiss?"  Or anything in the score Miss Miles wraps her voice around?????????????????

                                                                         

                                                                          

                                      And how about Donna McKechnie?????????  Come on, now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                          I am not necessarily saying eliminate the thirty-three assembled.  But adding these top tier performers would only bring more magic to the event.  A pity I never got into casting, because my choices are better than what is on the current roster.  As for its being sold out, well.  A friend of mine, a very wise sage, said that sooner or later it will be aired on PBS.  So I look forward to seeing how the group assembled approaches "Follies."  How much better it would have been with my cast.

                            Hey, how about a separate recording feature my cast?  One cannot never have too many recordings of "Follies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"