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One sheet This iconic poster was designed by artist David Edward Byrd for the original 1971 Broadway production of the musical Follies.Poster Origins & SymbolismThe artwork features a crumbling Art Deco bust of a showgirl, which serves as a powerful metaphor for the themes of the musical:The Model: Byrd drew inspiration from a frontal photograph of Marlene Dietrich in the film Shanghai Express.The Concept: He was also inspired by a famous Life magazine photo of Gloria Swanson standing in the rubble of the demolished Roxy Theatre.The "Crack": The distinctive crack across the woman's face symbolizes the "end of an era" and the decay of the glamorous Ziegfeld-style revues.Colors: Byrd purposefully used high-chroma colors like yellow, orange, and light violet to make the image "grab" the viewer.About the MusicalFollies features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. It premiered at the Winter Garden Theatre on April 4, 1971—which happened to be David Edward Byrd's 30th birthday. The story centers on a reunion of aging showgirls in a crumbling theater scheduled for demolition, exploring themes of nostalgia, regret, and the pain behind popular entertainment. |
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