Broadway Follies II - Back and Better than Ever!

By Alex Johnson

 

On November 1st, the Chamber Singers and a select number of actors put on Broadway Follies II. If you missed it, you missed out big. The show was a collection of solos and group numbers from various Broadway plays and excerpts from plays. It was fast moving and flowed smoothly from scene to scene, melding seamlessly together. Despite there being around 25 different songs, none fell flat and all the Chamber Singers pulled through. Some were energetic, some were melancholy, and some were just downright funny.

Speaking from "behind the scenes," I know how much work and time went into this. What you didn't see was the endless run throughout, the repetitive pounding out of notes, and the running out scenes again and again just to get the choreography or the lighting cues down. All of it was worth it though. The best thing about Broadway Follies is that you are able to put yourself out there in the most vulnerable way there is. There's no group to hide behind, no noise to hide your voice, just you and the music. Out of that comes something rawer and deeper than usually seen in everyday life, and that is what makes Follies so good. People who you would have never expected to stand up on stage go and sing an amazing solo or become a completely different person through their acting.

Broadway Follies II was a big success, going above and beyond the standard set by last year's show. The reception from the audience was beyond positive, and I know for a fact the Chamber Singers loved putting it on. Thank you for everyone who watched the show, and if you didn't make sure to come out next year! I am excited to come back as an Alumn next year and sees how Broadway Follies III tops this.