Character guide
Phyllis Rogers Stone
from Follies
Phyllis Rogers Stone is Sally's former showgirl friend in Follies, Stephen Sondheim's 1971 musical, now a brittle, wealthy Manhattan wife.
- Show
- Follies
- Broadway premiere
- 1971
- Role
- Lead
- Music by
- Stephen Sondheim
Who is Phyllis Rogers Stone?
Phyllis married political operative Benjamin Stone and has spent decades transforming herself from chorus girl into a sharp, sophisticated society wife, a reinvention that has cost her a great deal emotionally. At the reunion, she confronts both her younger self and the compromises that shaped her marriage.
Witty and self-aware in a way few of the other characters manage, Phyllis sees her own situation clearly even as she remains trapped in it, giving her some of the show's most cutting and honest observations about the choices women of her generation were allowed to make.
Phyllis's role in Follies
Phyllis is a lead role, performing the sardonic Could I Leave You and the elaborate showstopper The Story of Lucy and Jessie, a vaudeville style number that demands sophisticated comic timing and strong dance ability alongside vocal skill.
The role was originated by Alexis Smith, who won a Tony Award for Best Actress for the performance in 1971. Phyllis remains a coveted role for performers who can combine glamour, wit, and real vulnerability underneath a polished exterior.
Phyllis Rogers Stone: frequently asked questions
What show is Phyllis Rogers Stone from?
Phyllis Rogers Stone is a lead character in Follies, which opened on Broadway in 1971.
Is Phyllis Rogers Stone a lead or supporting role?
Phyllis is a lead role and one of the show's two central women.
Who wrote the music for Follies?
Stephen Sondheim composed the music and lyrics for Follies.
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