Broadway vets reunite for ‘Follies’ at the Barclay

Tom Titus

When Orange County’s Teri Ralston says “let’s put on a show” to some

of her buddies, it’s not exactly a group of amateurs playing show

business in someone’s barn.

Ralston, a Broadway veteran, has some pretty high-placed

connections, and she’s recruited several of them to join her in a

special benefit production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Follies” at

UC Irvine’s Barclay Theater Jan. 29 through 31.

There’s Betty Garrett, the randy cabby in the movie “On the Town,”

for instance. And Stephanie Zimbalist, a third-generation pro. Harvey

Evans and Kurt Peterson from the original 1971 cast will play the

grown-up versions of their youthful characters from that show. And a

local boy who made good, John Raitt, also appears.

The occasion is a benefit for the California Academy of the Arts

in San Juan Capistrano, with which Laguna Beach resident Ralston has

become an angel of sorts. She’s also worked with Academy for the

Performing Arts programs in Huntington Beach and Santa Ana in what

little free time she can accumulate.

It’s all about giving back to the community. Ralston started out

in local theater -- she played the young girl in the Laguna

Playhouse’s 1965 production of “The Fantasticks” with another local

boy who made good, Mike Farrell. Then she went on to the big time and

made a career out of playing Sondheim characters on Broadway and in

regional theater.

In her production of “Follies,” Ralston will be reprising one of

the four central roles of Sally, a part she’s played twice before.

Zimbalist will take the role of her Broadway buddy Phyllis, opposite

Evans and Peterson.

Garrett will sing the popular “Broadway Baby” number and Julie

Wilson will render the show’s best song, “I’m Still Here.” Jonelle

Allen will sing “Ah, Paree” and Raitt, although he’s now retired from

the musical scene, will portray the theater producer Weismann.

“The [Academy for the Performing Arts] students will be playing

the young roles and I think it’s so great that all these terrific

people are coming here to work with the students,” Ralston says. “It

should be a great experience.”

“Follies” will be on the Barclay stage for three nights only, at 8

p.m., with Thursday’s opener including a tribute to birthday boy

Raitt -- the Orange County native and star of both the Broadway and

movie versions of “The Pajama Game” will turn 87 on Jan. 29.

Tickets are $28 for adults and $17 for students and senior

citizens, with reservations taken at (949) 854-4646 or online at

https://www.thebarclay.org.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Fridays.