About
“It is said that when the conscientiousness of several hold the same thought, a manifestation takes place, making the thought a reality.” – So it was with Ned Startzel and Mark Carroll.
Although co-founder Ned Startzel passed away August 30, 2017, a week before his 99th birthday, the story about how the Spectacular Follies began hasn’t changed.
The Follies is unique Dallas theater entertainment at its finest and features performers 55 and older.
The Spectacular Follies is also famous for their display of many beautiful chorus girls, commonly known as The Showgirls. They wear elaborate costumes created by Dallas designers and “parade up and down flights of stairs” covered in jewels, beads, sequins and over-the-top feathered headdresses.
How the Spectacular Follies began!
Ned Startzel and Mark Carroll
In 2006 Ned Startzel started his day in the usual way, reading the newspaper. This particular day of the week was his favorite edition. He immediately turned to the “Senior Section” and read about a local “music man,” Mark Carroll, who stated his desire to stage a senior follies to highlight their talents. This too was Ned’s dream but he had never pursued it.
A phone call to Mark was made by Ned immediately after reading the article. The idea of working together to stage a senior follies was discussed but to Ned’s disappointment, Mark was just too busy to talk about the possibility at the time. Two years to the day, Ned made a second phone call to Mark and was thrilled to hear him say, “I’m ready. Let’s meet each other.”
After a hand shake and one year of planning, the dream of both become a reality in 2008.
VISION
Provide safe, clean, ethical entertainment dedicated to providing Dallas County with world class entertainment. To enhance & enrich the vitality of the senior community through theater & the arts by producing a broad range of high quality theatrical & artistic productions that will be entertaining, educational, enriching & diverse.
Our Mission Statement
To preserve the traditions and legacy of the American performing arts for future generations, provide community outreach that inspires all age groups, educate by example and reinforce the vibrancy of seniors by presenting high quality performances with senior entertainers 55 and older.
Values
- Safety: We commit to ensure that our team, entertainers and the general public’s safety is always our first consideration.
- Service Excellence: We commit to provide safe, clean, reliable, on-time, courteous service for our clients and customers.
- Workforce Development: We commit to make the Follies a learning organization that attracts, develops, motivates and retains world class performers.
- Fiscal Responsibility: We commit to manage every ‘friends’ and customer-generated dollar as if it were coming from our own pocket.
- Innovation: We commit to actively participate in identifying best practices for continuous improvement.
- Sustainability: We commit to reduce, re-use and recycle all internal resources and reduce green house gas emissions.
- Integrity: We commit to rely on the professional ethics and honesty of every Follies Team member.
- Teamwork: We commit to actively blend our individual talents to achieve world-class performance and service.
Core Business Goals
- Improve the Follies shows & services
- Deliver quality theatrical projects on time and within budget
- Exercise fiscal responsibility
- Develop an effective and efficient workforce
- Secure private, local, state and federal funding
- Maintain open lines of communication
- Enhance a safety-conscious culture with employees, contractors and customers
- Sustain the environment with energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
