Follies History

Thank you from the 2016 Follies!

History of the Follies

Since its formation in 1928, the Fox Chapel District Association has held annual meetings — black tie events, often followed by speakers, music and dancing. Out of these meetings came the Follies, when several members of the Association spontaneously performed a number for the Junior League Follies. In 1954, You’re Living was born, under the direction of Dave Bennett, who also wrote lyrics to John Gile’s music. Two years later, the two collaborated to present Second Class Matter, focusing on local topics and lifestyles much as we do today. Five years later, Alma Michael joined the two men to write and direct Old Faces of 1961.

Then the Follies slept for fifteen years, until Bob Whitley brought forth, as director and accompanist, Fox Chapel Folly, with Pat Snyder as choreographer. For this show, there was a large staff of writers, including George Bartholomew, Dave Bennett, Pris Ebert, Suzanne Hilger, Dana Manges and Larry & Barbara Mayer. Too much talent for one year resulted in another show the next year, That Was the Year That Was or Annie Get Your Gun Revisited. Two years later, in 1979, the 50th anniversary of the Fox Chapel District Association was celebrated with a gala dinner and a mini-Follies, with six musical numbers produced by Chuck and Pris Ebert and directed by Don and Dana Manges.

It wasn’t until six years later, in 1985, that the Fox Chapel Follies, as we know it today, was resurrected by Beth Smith, Loraine Tarasi, and Betsy Kampmeinert. A City Called Pittsburgh is Brewing was an original show which featured vignettes of early Fox Chapel and starred John Culbertson as the memorable Chief Guyasuta. In 1988, Jean Cassetti joined the writers for S.S. Trillium, featuring members of the Fox Chapel Navy in a “lighthearted romp aboard the cruise ship” with its “elite” passengers.

Betty Salmon and Martha Ball collaborated as writers of the next two shows, with Jean Cassetti as producer and Bob Whitley as Music Director. “Fox What, It’s Where?” in 1991, turned out to be the launch pad for Lynda Jamison’s professional singing career. The “Trillium Times” followed in 1994, and Foxy Flo’s Cafe in 1997. Foxy was produced by Stephanie Veenis and directed by Sally Rooney. More writers were added to those already in place to augur the future: Carole Challinor, Philip Beard II, and Reyburn Gove. Most of the same writers gave us 2001: A Fox Chapel Odyssey, which was produced by Kelly Leslie and directed by Carole Challinor.

In 2004, Philip Beard II emerged with his “ever-so-slightly warped mind” as writer and lyricist of Reality FC, a show that took on the reality tv craze in true Fox Chapel style with Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire? and Survivor Carabella! The show was directed by Carole Challinor and Kelly Leslie, with Dana and Don Manges at the piano.

In 2007, Philip was joined as writer by his wife, Traci, bringing us Where’s Tiger, a fanatic search for Tiger Woods during the U.S. Open at Oakmont. The show was produced by Anne Stone, directed by Bill Ivins (president and artistic director of Stage Right), and musically directed by the team of Susan and Bill Rossetti. The same team presented our Fox Chapel Follies 2010: Emergency Community Stimulus Package Edition that poked fun at the way our area handled the economic crisis. Due to the early sellout in 2007, we added a second weekend in 2010 and raised a record $75,000 for our charities.

The Beards, the Ivins and the Rossettis were all back in 2013 for their third show together. Act One’s Ave Marina oh-so-loosely told the tale of Susan Crookston’s quest to convert the Aspinwall Marina into a Riverfront Park for our community. And Act Two was something never tried before on the Follies stage: a Pittsburgh Operetta, Le Yinzérables. This hilarious musical spectacle raised a record $125,000 which benefited the Aspinwall Riverfront Park, the Cooper-Seigel Library and the Lauri Ann West Community Center, as well as other worthy, local causes.

Remember, FCDA members are given first crack at purchasing tickets which is a sell-out every time! SO, JOIN NOW, and don’t miss our area’s favorite musical theatre, laugh-filled fundraiser.