Chicago Theater Veterans Shine in Porchlight’s One-Weekend ‘Follies’ at the Studebaker, a Moving Reunion for Fans
CHICAGO, IL — Veteran Chicago stage actors stepped back into the spotlight Saturday night at the historic Studebaker Theater, joining Anthony Rapp and Stephen Wallem for Porchlight Music Theatre’s one-weekend-only production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s “Follies”. The result was a richly emotional revival about aging, memory and the regrets that linger.
For longtime fans, the attraction was seeing familiar local performers return in a show that understands exactly how much heartbreak can live inside a reunion.
Chicago favorites bring the show’s memories to life
Felicia P. Fields drew one of the night’s biggest responses with “Broadway Baby,” arriving from the back of the theater and immediately commanding attention. Susie McMonagle also stood out on “I’m Still Here,” leaning into the vulnerability that has helped define her Chicago career.
Angela Ingersoll, playing Sally, and Michelle Duffy, as the more cynical Phyllis, gave the production a lively emotional center. Rapp’s brittle Ben and Wallem’s aching Buddy added contrast, while Ingersoll’s duet work on “Too Many Mornings” and her solo “Buddy’s Eyes” were singled out as highlights.
Sondheim’s reunion drama still lands with force
What keeps “Follies” so powerful is the way it turns a cast reunion into a larger meditation on the life choices people carry with them. The show’s mix of glamour, nostalgia and private disappointment gives Sondheim’s lyrics their bite, especially for anyone who has looked back at an old class reunion or similar gathering and felt the sting of what might have been.
The production also benefited from the presence of younger actors playing the earlier versions of the central characters, including Anastasia Arnold, Teagan Early, Will Koski and John Marshall Jr., whose hopefulness sharpened the story’s later sadness.
Porchlight’s staging suggests this could deserve a fuller return
The setup was not flawless: the review noted sound issues tied to the microphones on stands, which occasionally drew attention away from the performances. Even so, the evening was described as a strong Porchlight achievement and a reminder of how well the renovated Studebaker suits classic musical theater.
Director Michael Weber, working with musical director Linda Madonia, delivered enough to make a future full staging feel worth pursuing. For now, the weekend run played like a treasured Chicago event, with a near sell-out Sunday showing just how much local audiences value these artists and this material.
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