From Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture:
The 4th Annual MAPSO FAMILY FOLLIES VARIETY SHOW Returns with OLD-TIMEY ACTS and QUIRKY FUN!
AUDITIONS: Wednesday, September 23rd, from 6 – 8pm at Columbia High School (17 Parker Ave., Maplewood), as well as an online submission option through 9/30. Check back at maplewoodartsandculture.org/follies or @mapsofollies on Insta for details.
SHOW: Thursday, October 22nd, from 7:30 – 9pm at Columbia High School (17 Parker Ave., Maplewood)
DRESS/TECH: Wednesday, October 21st, from 6 – 8pm at Columbia High School (17 Parker Ave., Maplewood)
The Woodland is getting a fabulous makeover, so this year’s old-timey MAPSO FAMILY FOLLIES VARIETY SHOW will be held at the Columbia High School main theater, where more seats = more fun! Summer is the perfect time to come up with a kooky or charming act for auditions on Wednesday, September 23rd. So grab a friend, neighbor, or family member and come up with a 3 minute comedy bit, dance routine, or upbeat acoustic song; baton twirling, hula hooping, bird calls, or opera; step dance, clogging, tap, or ballet; recite poetry; perform drag; do magic or ventriloquism; act out a short scene from your favorite comedy movie or tv show… knock yourself out, anything goes!
There are only 3 AUDITION RULES: No more than 3 minutes per act, no drum kits, and no solos. Open to Maplewood/South Orange and surrounding communities, ages 9 to 99. (The Follies Team encourages new acts to audition each year, so, if you were in last year’s show, mix it up with a different routine, talent, or performers.)
Last year’s 90 minute, sold-out, standing-room-only show had a pie-in-the-face skit, parent/child acts, neighbors telling jokes, a family circus, local singing groups, and dancers numbers in between–plus jugglers and a roller-skating chicken. So dust off that sock puppet and get collaborating—(Hint: the Follies Team loves multi-cultural and multi-generational acts–the more folks on stage with you, the better!) We encourage up-tempo, up-beat, fun, or funny acts. Do you have something from an old show you can do with a bunch of friends? Are you already taking lessons with a group? Can your grandpa play harmonica, is your auntie a ham? Can your pet do magic tricks? This is your opportunity to surprise your friends and embarrass your kids! The Follies isn’t a contest and there’s no winner. Our goal is low-stakes, quirky, old-school fun.
The MAPSO FAMILY FOLLIES VARIETY SHOW is made possible by the invaluable efforts and generous support of Patrick Wherry, Business Administrator of the Township of Maplewood; Andrea Teutli and Miriam R. Perez of the Division of Arts & Culture of Maplewood Township; Principal Frank Sanchez of Columbia High School; our BOE and Superintendent. Returning Follies crew includes: Sybil Rodgers (Producer), Katy Chapman (Communications Director), Tori Chickering (Director/Emcee), with Tara Abbondante (Stage Manager). To volunteer for the Follies Team, email Tori at [email protected] with the subject: Follies Help 2026. More details and FAQs can be found on our webpage: maplewoodartsandculture.org/follies & Insta: @mapsofollies
