''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'' is a musical with a book by Texas author Larry L. King and

Peter Masterson Peter Masterson (born Carlos Bee Masterson Jr.; June 1, 1934 – December 18, 2018) was an American actor, director, producer, and writer. Life and career Masterson often worked with his cousin, writer Horton Foote. Acting from the mid-1960s ...

and music and lyrics by

Carol Hall Carol Hall (April 3, 1936 – October 11, 2018) was an American composer and lyricist. She was best known for composing the music and lyrics for the Broadway stage musical '' The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'' (1978, adapted as a film in 1982) ...

. It is based on a story by King that was inspired by the real-life Chicken Ranch in

La Grange, Texas La Grange ( ) is a city in Fayette County, Texas, United States, near the Colorado River. La Grange is in the center of the Texas-German belt. The population was 4,391 at the 2020 census, and in 2018 the estimated population was 4,632. La Grange ...

Synopsis

It is the late 1970s, and a brothel has been operating outside of fictional Gilbert,

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

(based on La Grange) for more than a century. It is currently under the proprietorship of Miss Mona Stangley, who inherited it from the original owner Miss Wulla Jean. While taking care of her girls, she is also on good terms with the local sheriff, Ed Earl Dodd, and donates to the greater community. When crusading

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

reporter Melvin P. Thorpe (based on real-life

Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...

news personality

Marvin Zindler Marvin Harold Zindler (August 10, 1921 – July 29, 2007) was a news reporter for television station KTRK-TV in Houston, Texas, United States. His investigative journalism, through which he mostly represented the city's elderly and working cl ...

) decides to publicize the illegal activity, the ensuing

political Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that stud ...

ramifications eventually cause the business to be closed down.

Principal casts

Production history

''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'' opened off-Broadway at the

Entermedia Theatre Village East by Angelika (originally the Louis N. Jaffe Art Theatre, also Village East, and formerly known by several other names) is a movie theater at 189 Second Avenue (Manhattan), Second Avenue, on the corner with 12th Street, in the East ...

on April 17, 1978. It reopened on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

at the

46th Street Theatre The Richard Rodgers Theatre (formerly Chanin's 46th Street Theatre and the 46th Street Theatre) is a Broadway theater at 226 West 46th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1925, it was designed by He ...

on June 19, 1978, and ran for 1,584 performances. The production was directed by

and

Tommy Tune Thomas James Tune (born February 28, 1939) is an American actor, dancer, singer, theatre director, producer, and choreographer. Over the course of his career, he has won ten Tony Awards, the National Medal of Arts, and a star on the Hollywood Wal ...

and choreographed by Tune and

Thommie Walsh Thomas Joseph "Thommie" Walsh III (March 15, 1950 – June 16, 2007) was an American dancer, choreographer, director, and author. Biography Thommie Walsh was born in Auburn, New York, and began to study dance at age five at the Irma Baker Schoo ...

. The opening cast included Carlin Glynn,

Henderson Forsythe Henderson Forsythe (September 11, 1917 – April 17, 2006) was an American actor. Forsythe was known for his role as Dr. David Stewart #2 on the soap opera ''As the World Turns'', a role he played for 32 years, and for his work on the New York sta ...

Jay Garner Jay Montgomery Garner (born April 15, 1938) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who in 2003 was appointed as Director of the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for Iraq following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, makin ...

, Joan Ellis,

Delores Hall Delores Hall is an American stage and television actress who made her Broadway debut as a replacement in the ensemble of '' Hair''. Musical theatre career Starting in 1968 and through at least the summer of 1969 she was an original member of the ...

, and

Pamela Blair Pamela Blair (born December 5, 1949), known as Pam, is an American actress, singer, and dancer best known for originating the role of "Val" in the musical ''A Chorus Line'' and several appearances on American soap operas. Early life and career ...

. Glynn was replaced by

Fannie Flagg Fannie Flagg (born Patricia Neal; September 21, 1944) is an American actress, comedian and author. She is best known as a semi-regular panelist on the 1973–1982 versions of the game show ''Match Game'' and for the 1987 novel '' Fried Green To ...

and

Anita Morris Anita Rose Morris (March 14, 1943 – March 2, 1994) was an American actress, singer and dancer. She began her career performing in Broadway musicals, including ''Jesus Christ Superstar'', ''Seesaw'' and ''Nine'', for which she received a Tony Awa ...

later in the run. Alexis Smith starred as Miss Mona in the first U.S. National Tour, September 1979 through February 1981, with stops in major cities from

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

. The Sydney production opened at

Her Majesty's Theatre Her Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre situated on Haymarket in the City of Westminster, London. The present building was designed by Charles J. Phipps and was constructed in 1897 for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who established t ...

on 13 September 1980. Produced by

J. C. Williamson Ltd J. C. Williamson's, formerly Williamson, Garner, & Musgrove and Williamson and Musgrove, was an Australian theatrical management company and theatre owner. With its beginnings in the theatrical productions of J. C. Williamson and his pa ...

, it starred

Lorraine Bayly Lorraine Daphne Bayly AM (born 16 January 1937) is an Australian actress of film, television and theatre, presenter, singer, dancer, pianist and theatre director and writer. She is perhaps best known to small screen audiences for her soap ...

as Miss Mona and Alfred Sandor as Sherriff Ed Earl Dodd, with Mona Richardson as Jewel,

Judi Connelli Judi Connelli AM (born 20 July 1947) is an Australian singer and actress in theatre, opera and television. Connelli is best known for her career in opera and stage musicals. As a singer she has starred in performable with the Sydney Symphon ...

as Doatsy Mae and

Peter Whitford Peter Whitford (born 1939) is an Australian former radio, theatre, television and film character actor known for numerous roles particularly as wealthy businessmen and members of the aristocracy. Peter Whitford was born in Adelaide, South Austr ...

as the Governor. The West End production opened at the

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dr ...

on February 26, 1981. Produced by

Bernard Delfont Bernard Delfont, Baron Delfont (born Boris Winogradsky; 5 September 1909 – 28 July 1994) was a leading Russian-born British theatrical impresario. Life and career Delfont was born in Tokmak, Berdyansky Uyezd, Taurida Governorate, Russian ...

, it again starred Carlin Glynn and Henderson Forsythe, with

Miquel Brown Miquel Brown (born Michael Brown February 8, 1945) is a Canadian actress, disco/soul singer, former dancer and music video director, in the 1970s and 1980s, most popular for the songs "Close to Perfection" and the Hi-NRG songs " So Many Men – ...

as Jewel and Betsy Brantley as Angel. It included

Sally Ann Triplett Sally Ann Triplett (born 15 April 1962, London, England) is a British singer and actress. She participated in two editions of the Eurovision Song Contest and West End productions. Career Triplett first represented the United Kingdom in the E ...

and Robert Meadmore and ran for 204 performances. A "

summer stock In American theater, summer-stock theater is a theater that presents stage productions only in the summer. The name combines the season with the tradition of staging shows by a resident company, reusing stock scenery and costumes. Summer stock th ...

" production that toured the northeastern U.S. in 1982 starred

Barbara Eden Barbara Eden (born Barbara Jean Morehead; August 23, 1931) is an American actress, singer, and producer best known for her starring role as Jeannie in the sitcom '' I Dream of Jeannie'' (1965-1970). Other notable roles include Roslyn Pierce opp ...

, William Hardy and

. In what was described as "a return engagement", the show opened on Broadway at the

Eugene O'Neill Theatre The Eugene O'Neill Theatre, previously the Forrest Theatre and the Coronet Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 230 West 49th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The theater was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and ...

on May 31, 1982, and closed on July 24, 1982, after nine previews and 63 performances. The cast featured Carlin Glynn and Delores Hall. A short-lived sequel entitled ''

The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public ''The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public'' is a musical with a book by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson and music and lyrics by Carol Hall. It is a sequel to the 1978 musical ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''. Plot Hoping to recover $26 m ...

'' was staged on Broadway in 1994. "The Aggie Song" was performed on the

Tony Awards The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...

broadcast, but was heavily censored because of the nature of the lyrics and choreography. A U.S. National Tour starring

Ann-Margret Ann-Margret Olsson (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish–American actress, singer, and dancer. As an actress and singer, she is credited as Ann-Margret. She is known for her roles in '' Pocketful of Miracles'' (1961), ''State Fair'' (1962), '' ...

opened on February 14, 2001. A benefit concert took place on October 16, 2006, to benefit the Actor's Fund. The concert was directed by Mark S. Hoebee and choreographed by Denis Jones. The cast included

Terrence Mann Terrence Vaughan Mann (born July 1, 1951) is an American theatre, film and television actor. He is best known for his appearances on the Broadway stage, which include Chester Lyman in '' Barnum'', Rum Tum Tugger in ''Cats'', Javert in '' Les ...

(as Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd), Emily Skinner, and

Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981), also known by her nickname J.Hud, is an American singer, actress, and talk show host. Throughout her career, she has received various accolades for her works in recorded music, film, televisio ...

.Gans, Andrew
"Actors' Fund's 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' Benefit Concert Presented Oct. 16"
Playbill, October 16, 2006

Song list

; Act I * "Prologue" – The Rio Grande Band Leader and the Rio Grande Band * "20 Fans" – Company * "A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place" – Mona Stangley and the Girls * "Girl, You're a Woman" – Mona Stangley, Shy, Jewel and the Girls * "Watch Dog Theme" – The Dogettes * "Texas Has a Whorehouse in It" – Melvin P. Thorpe, the Thorpe Singers and the Dogettes * "Twenty Four Hours of Lovin'" – Jewel and the Girls * "Watch Dog Theme" (Reprise) – The Dogettes * "Texas Has a Whorehouse in It" (Reprise) – Melvin P. Thorpe and the Dogettes * "Doatsy Mae" – Doatsy Mae * "Angelette March" – Angelette Imogene Charlene and the Angelettes * "The Aggie Song" – The Aggies * "The Bus from Amarillo" – Mona Stangley ; Act II * "The Sidestep" – The Governor of Texas & Company * "No Lies" – Mona Stangley, Jewel and the Girls * "Good Old Girl" – Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd and the Aggies * "

Hard Candy Christmas "Hard Candy Christmas" is a song written by composer-lyricist Carol Hall for the musical ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''. Near the end of the original play, individual girls of the brothel sing lines of the verses as they are preparing to ...

" – The Girls * "Finale" – Company "The Bus from Amarillo" was moved to the final scene, sometime late in the run of the original production and has generally played that way ever since.

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

Discography

* ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'': original cast. LP with gatefold jacket. MCA, 1978. MCA-3049. Cassette as MCAC-3049. * ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'': original cast. Audio CD. MCA, 1997. MCAD-11683; MCA-3049. * ''Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'': New cast recording. Audio CD. Fynsworth Alley/Varèse Sarabande, 2001. 302 062 117 2.

References

Bibliography

* Hall, Carol. Vocal selections from ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''. Melville, N.Y.: MCA Music, 1979. * King, Larry L., and Masterson, Peter. ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''. Music and lyrics by Carol Hall. French's Musical Library. New York, N.Y.: S. French, 1978. . * King, Larry L. ''The Whorehouse Papers''. New York: Viking Press, 1982. .

External links

*
Licensing Information from Samuel French, Inc.

Plot summary & character descriptions from StageAgent.com
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The 1978 musicals Broadway musicals Musicals inspired by real-life events Texas in fiction Tony Award-winning musicals Plays set in Texas