'Follies At The Red Carpet' In Madison This Week

News release from Madison Beach Club:

MADISON, CT — Old Hollywood — "Breakfast At Tiffany’s." "Blue Hawaii." And Recent Hollywood — "Top Gun: Maverick," "A Complete Unknown," “Wicked.” "A Star Is Born.”

From Pinnochio to Pulp Fiction, you’ll hear it all at the Madison Beach Club's “Follies At The Red Carpet,” rolling out Friday August 1 and Saturday Aug 2.

The Club’s enduring show tradition goes Hollywood this year. Follies Chair Linda Maniatty has been curating just the right mash-up of Tinseltown’s greatest movie songs with the help of Follies Director and Musical Director Matthew Harrison. “It’s been fun matching up the talent to the songs. We hope there is something for everyone to enjoy."

The cast is mostly made up of teens, whose participation in the Follies is practically a Club initiation rite, along with sailing, tennis and swimming.

“My favorite part about the Follies is that we are all a community, says cast member Emma Ferency. "We all help each other do our best. I can’t wait to be in the Follies for years to come.”

Sentiments like that have kept the Follies running for 88 years, with the exception of World War II and the Pandemic. Every year, The Beach Club comes up with a fun theme, rounds up a cast, and spends three weeks in production.This year’s show features some lively acts such as “Great Balls of Fire,” “Mama Mia,” and “Fame.”

Ellie Gonzalez and Sophia Almouzayn keep their cool as they day count down to the show.

“‘Fame’ captures the heart of the production says cast member Sophia Almouzayn. That’s why it’s the opening act!”

Mixed in with the high energy acts will be moments of tenderness, such as "Moon River," "Can’t Help Fallin’ In Love With You,” and “When You Wish Upon A Star.”

The Club’s cherished, perennial kick-line will be a show stopper to the hit song, “Let It Go.” It closes the second act, guaranteeing you’ll be back for Act 2.

Follies At The Red carpet shows a few surprise takes on some of these movie classics. After seeing “A Complete Unknown,"14-year-old Valerie Perkins told mom Lindsay that Dylan’s epic 1964 song of romantic defiance, re-created by Timothee Chalamet — was “just perfect" for them to sing as a mother-daughter duet in the Follies,

“I’d never even heard of Bob Dylan or Joan Baez, or that song’s defiance," written 61 years before Valerie was born. "But I knew it was right for my mom and me to sing."

Setting the scenes: Brendan Murphy, Anna McGetrick, Claire Walsh, Mackenzie Bauer

Younger members work behind the scenes on stage crew. This is 13-year old Anna McGetrick’s second year painting sets.

"Being on stage crew is a great way to spend time with my friends while working towards such a fun production like Follies," says Anna. "Every year, this is where I make my best memories. Then to see our sets on stage as the cast runs into position — makes me so excited for when I'm old enough to go on stage, too!”

So on with the show. The Follies performance open to the public takes place at 730pm on Friday August 1st, 128 Island Ave. Tickets, available now, are $25 for adults and $10 for those 12 and under.