SMAOS

"Hats off, here they come, those beautiful…"

**FOLLIES**

Plays: October 19th - 25th 2008

SONDHEIM AND GOLDMANS AWARD WINNING MUSICAL MASTERPIECE

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by James Goldman.

S.M.A.O.S (Manchester Based Operatic Society) is proud to announce the lavish Tony Award
winning musical 'FOLLIES' as our autumn musical delight.

"We are proud to wrap up our 2008 season with a show of elegant and gripping musical
theatre grandeur" said Glenys Martin (Society Chair) "This Sondheim gem is one of
reflection and re-evaluating one's choices in life, this show is a first for us and are thrilled
with how it slots into place providing a fresh new style and challenge for our society. This is
our first attempt at a Sondheim score, and is proving to be a fresh, diverse and memorable
production, complete with Broadway showstoppers, heaps of wit, and the guarantee of an
emotional journey, "Follies" is sure to be like nothing anyone has seen from SMAOS before
and the Royal Northern College of Music's versatile theatre space works perfectly for such a
production".

2008 has been a year of firsts for SMAOS, 'Crazy for You' set the stage perfectly for the
season and "Follies" is our perfect finale which brings our ever popular and talented
younger players face to face with some of our life and founder members.
Surreal, sophisticated, compelling, heart-wrenching and epic in scope, "Follies" uses
musical theatre as a metaphor for the collapse of American innocence and naïveté in the
post-Kennedy years.
The noted Sondheim score features such Broadway standards as "I'm Still Here,"
"Broadway Baby," "Losing My Mind," "Could I Leave You," "Who's That Woman,"
and "One More Kiss."

The cast includes the long awaited return our ever popular leads; Sheila Fildes and
Peter Bowers with Tracey Collinson, David Barker and our founder members Edna Lawson
and Rod Ashman who are delighting us taking on such principal roles once more.

Katherine Machin is back producing the show after many directorial triumphs with us such
as 'La Cage Aux Folles' in 2004 and "Sweet Charity" in 2000 to name but a few. Our
Choreographic creative's are Kevin Proctor and Michelle Whewell teaming up for the first
time, Kevin took the lead in 'Crazy for You' earlier this year and Michelle is back as
choreographer again after her success with 'My Fair Lady' in 2006. All vocals and our ever
amazing professional orchestra are under the supervision of Marilyn Blank who we are
pleased is joining us for the first time but is by no means a stranger to waving the baton,
Marilyn has had recent success as musical director with 'Caroucel' and 'Little Shop of
Horrors' and also works professionally as a musician.

The cast continues with Rebecca Smith, Helen Castle, Paul Allison, Juliet Bowers, Rita
Sykes, Eleanor Ford, Liz Cheetham, Lesley Bowers, Helen Walker, Sam McVaight & Tim
Collier who are ALL supported by one of our most talented ensembles to date.

YOU'D BE "LOSING YOUR MIND" TO MISS OUT!!!

SCHEDULE & LOCATION
'FOLLIES' runs October 19th - 25th 2008 at the Royal Northern College of Music,
Oxford Road, Manchester,
Performances nightly at 7:30pm with a matinee performance on the 25th at 2:30pm

TICKET INFORMATION
Ticket prices for 'FOLLIES'; Full Adult - £11. Concessions - £9
All tickets are available via the Box Office -
Telephone: 0161 907 5555
Email: box.office@rncm.ac.uk
In person. RNCM, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD