Written and photos by Debbie Hall
After a 52-year wait, the seven-time Tony Award®-winning Broadway Follies, featuring music and lyrics by the late Stephen Sondheim, is set to grace the stages of Las Vegas from April 11-14. The anticipation is so high that Clark County has officially declared April 8 as Follies Day, illuminating the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign in the show’s signature red and yellow.
“Las Vegas is in for a treat, as the Broadway spectacular, FOLLIES, debuts this week with six showings,” said Clark Country Commissioner Ross Miller (D-District C).
Clark County Commission Chairman Tick Segerblom (D-District E) presented Tom Michel, partner of Metropolis Theatricals Las Vegas LLC and one of the producers of FOLLIES, with the proclamation.
“One of our goals is to bring high-quality, groundbreaking theatrical works to the heart of Las Vegas, showcasing the immense talent of our local performers to as wide and varied an audience as possible,” expressed Commissioner Segerblom, highlighting the community’s role in the production.
“I am so grateful to everyone who is part of this production and Clark County,” said Michel. “We have made a wrong a right by finally bringing FOLLIES to Las Vegas.”
The Las Vegas debut of Broadway’s iconic FOLLIES promises to be a star-studded affair, with a 45-person cast that includes 12 of Las Vegas’s original showgirls. The show will feature some of Sondheim’s most beloved songs, such as “Broadway Baby” and “I’m Still Here.” In a unique twist, the show will be set in Las Vegas, with the closing of the Tropicana Hotel serving as the backdrop for the cast’s reunion. While the original production’s dazzle and integrity will be maintained, a few Vegas-inspired surprises will be added to spice things up.
The “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign is situated on the Las Vegas Strip, south of Russell Road, and was built in 1959. The Clark County Commission approved funding for the project on what was then Highway 91. Western Electric Display, Inc. (also known as “Western Neon”), which YESCO purchased in the 1960s, submitted the lowest qualified bid. The sign’s design, characteristic of the Googie architecture movement, was created by Betty Willis. The sign is 25 feet tall and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, Clark County’s centennial year. Like the remainder of the Las Vegas Strip, the sign is in unincorporated Clark County.
Access Showroom at Aliante Casino + Hotel + Spa at 7300 North Aliante Parkway. Its opening night performance on Thursday, April 11, will be black tie and conclude with a champagne toast. Show dates and times:
• Thursday, April 11 at 6:30 p.m. (Black Tie Opening Night)
• Friday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, April 13 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, April 14 at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now at ShowgirlsComeHome.com. Connect socially on Facebook, and find more information on the show, cast, and crew at ShowgirlsComeHome.com.