A host of Northern Irish and Irish talent were announced today, completing an epic thirty-two strong cast of Northern Ireland Opera’s historic revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s Follies at the Grand Opera House in Belfast this Autumn.
Completing the cast are Northern Irish singers Brigid Shine, with Anna Violet and Chris Kane making their professional debut, and Reece McGowan making his debut in Northern Ireland. The four perform respectively as Sally, Phyllis, Ben and Buddy, the 1940s counterparts to West End stars Anna-Jane Casey’s Sally Durant Plummer, Annette McLaughlin’s Phyllis Rogers Stone, Alasdair Harvey’s Benjamin Stone and Mark Dugdale’s Buddy Plummer, previously announced.
Northern Irish soprano Petra Wells is paired with legendary opera singer Lesley Garrett, cast as ingénue Heidi Schiller to Garrett’s latter-day character. Rachel Stanley will play the coquettish Solange Le Fitte, Pippa Winslow stars as veteran Stella Deems, Northern Irish singer Darren Franklin plays Follies’ famous tenor Roscoe, while Christina Nelson and Richard Croxford are song and dance couple Emily and Theodore Whitman. Marty Maguire is cast as impresario Dimitri Weismann, Colette Lennon Dougal as Dee Dee West, and Orla Mullan performs as Sandra Crane. A further twelve singers, all based in Northern Ireland, make up the talented ensemble.
Follies is Northern Ireland Opera’s second musical during renowned Artistic Director Cameron Menzies’ five-year tenure and follows the award-winning Into The Woods at the Lyric Belfast (2022 Winner of Best Production Irish Times Theatre Awards and Nominated Best Director). This production also marks a historic first-ever staging of the show in Northern Ireland.
Cameron Menzies says: “This production of Follies is spectacular in every way, from the incredibly talented cast brimming with legends from Northern Ireland, Ireland and the West End to the award-winning creative team. The heart of this story so deeply resonates with so many people and speaks about the real human connections. I’m looking forward to bringing this glittering showstopper to life. The sheer scale of this musical, the epic cast and our orchestra of Northern Ireland Opera makes this a history-making Northern Irish production not to be missed.“
Previously announced cast members include the illustrious Lesley Garrett CBE, one of the world’s most celebrated classical singers and acclaimed British soprano with a prestigious and varied 45-year international career spread across many genres, including leading roles in opera and musical theatre. Musical theatre royalty, actress and one of the UK’s finest jazz vocalists, Jacqueline Dankworth MBE (leading roles in Royal Shakespeare Company’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE; Touring in UNCLE VANYA; LES LIASONS DANGEREUSES). Cast in Sondheim’s original West End debut of INTO THE WOODS in 1990 and in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at the Leicester Haymarket, the star returns to perform in another Sondheim production in the role of Carlotta Campion.
Anna-Jane Casey (CATS, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT, GREASE, STARLIGHT EXPRESS, WEST SIDE STORY, CHICAGO) and Annette McLaughlin (PLAYER KINGS,SCANDAL TOWN, MATILDA THE MUSICAL, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, CHICAGO), who are renowned musical theatre and West-End stars, are cast as former roommates, Sally Plummer and Phyllis Stone. Both have enjoyed extensive careers and performed in leading roles in countless productions spanning the West End, musicals on Broadway, to the RSC at Stratford-upon-Avon.
Belfast’s own Mark Dugdale (COME FROM AWAY, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, JERSEY BOYS, THE COMMITMENTS) and much sought-after West-End star Alasdair Harvey (COME FROM AWAY, BIG LITTLE LIES, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, GUYS AND DOLLS, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, WE WILL ROCK YOU) star as best friends Buddy Plummer and Benjamin Stone, respectively. Both have appeared in an incredible roster of hit shows. West End performer and TV actress Allison Harding (INTO THE WOODS, NI OPERA; SISTER ACT and Olivier Award-winning RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET), now based in Belfast, currently appearing in hit TV detective series Ellis, plays Hattie Walker, the tough-talking, no-nonsense showgirl who sings the legendary showstopping number ‘Broadway Baby’.
Greg Arrowsmith (ROCKY HORROR SHOW, HAIRSPRAY, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, SISTER ACT, WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN) a much-lauded Musical Director, is welcomed to the creative team. This year, he celebrates conducting his 21st West-End show in a career spanning 25 years. Arrowsmith will lead the Orchestra of Northern Ireland Opera, a full-scale ensemble of 35 local instrumentalists, in this highly entertaining yet rarely staged musical due to its scale.
Rounding out the creative team are West-End Choreographer Jennifer Rooney (INTO THE WOODS, ONCE, OLD FRIENDS AND OTHER DAYS, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, THE JUNIPER TREE) and Set Designer Niall McKeever. This show marks McKeever’s fifth magical collaboration for the organisation, which includes EUGENE ONEGIN, TOSCA, LA TRAVIATA and INTO THE WOODS. He was also nominated for The Irish Times Theatre Awards for ‘Best Set’ for Into The Woods in 2022. Gillian Lennox assists as Costume Co-Designer, Jake Wiltshire is welcomed as lighting designer, Andy Graham is sound designer, Nuala Campbell returns as hair and make-up designer, and Fraser Hickland is repetiteur.
