''The Will Rogers Follies'' is a musical with a book by

Peter Stone Peter Stone may refer to: *Pete Stone, Australian footballer in the 1956 Summer Olympics * Peter G. Stone (born 1957), British archaeologist *Peter Stone (cricketer) (born 1938), New Zealand cricketer *Peter Stone (professor) (born 1971), professo ...

, lyrics by

Betty Comden Betty Comden (May 3, 1917 - November 23, 2006) was an American lyricist, playwright, and screenwriter who contributed to numerous Hollywood musicals and Broadway shows of the mid-20th century. Her writing partnership with Adolph Green spanned ...

and

Adolph Green Adolph Green (December 2, 1914 – October 23, 2002) was an American lyricist and playwright who, with long-time collaborator Betty Comden, penned the screenplays and songs for some of the most beloved film musicals, particularly as part of Ar ...

, and music by Cy Coleman. It focuses on the life and career of famed humorist and performer Will Rogers, using as a backdrop the

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as ''The Ziegfeld Follies of the Ai ...

, which he often headlined, and describes every episode in his life in the form of a big production number. The Rogers character also performs rope tricks in between scenes. The revue contains snippets of Rogers' famous homespun style of wisdom and common sense and tries to convey the personality of this quintessentially American figure whose most famous quote was "I never met a man I didn't like."

Productions

After thirty-three previews, the

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 ...

production opened on May 1, 1991, at the Palace Theatre, and closed on September 5, 1993 after 981 performances. Directed and choreographed by

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 ...

, the original cast included

Keith Carradine Keith Ian Carradine ( ; born August 8, 1949) is an American actor who has had success on stage, film, and television. He is known for his roles as Tom Frank in Robert Altman's film ''Nashville'', Wild Bill Hickok in the HBO series '' Deadwood ...

as Rogers,

Dee Hoty Dee Hoty (born August 16, 1952) is an American actress known for her work in musical theatre. Over the course of her career, she has appeared in numerous Broadway productions and earned three Tony Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical, ...

as Betty Blake,

Dick Latessa Richard Robert Latessa (September 15, 1929 – December 19, 2016) was an American stage, film, and television actor. Early life Latessa was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1929. After serving in the Army in maybe 1952, he began performing in Clevelan ...

as Will's father Clem, and

Cady Huffman Cady Huffman is an American actress. Early life Huffman was born in Santa Barbara, California, to Lorayne, a pre-school assistant director turned realtor, and Clifford Huffman, an attorney. She is the younger sister of actor Linus Huffman and a ...

as Ziegfeld's favorite chorus girl. Replacements later in the run included Mac Davis and

Larry Gatlin Larry Wayne Gatlin (born May 2, 1948) is an American country and Southern gospel singer and songwriter. As part of a trio with his younger brothers Steve and Rudy, he achieved considerable success within the country music genre, performing on ...

as Rogers, Mickey Rooney as Clem, and

Susan Anton Susan Ellen Anton is an American actress and singer. Early life Anton attended Yucaipa High School in Yucaipa, California, and graduated in 1968. After high school, Anton attended San Bernardino Valley College. She first experienced fame ...

and

Marla Maples Marla Ann Maples (born October 27, 1963) is an American actress, television personality, model, singer and presenter. She was the second wife of Donald Trump. They married in 1993, two months after the birth of their daughter Tiffany, and div ...

as Ziegfeld's favorite chorus girl. The recorded voice of Gregory Peck was heard as Ziegfeld. The original choice of the authors to play Will Rogers was John Denver, but, due to a perceived insult from librettist Peter Stone, Denver bowed out of consideration for casting. The show also enjoyed a number of national tours, with Carradine, Davis, and Gatlin in the first National tour in 1993 and 1994.

Pat Boone Patrick Charles Eugene Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer and actor. He was a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He sold more than 45 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and appeared in mo ...

starred in the musical in

Branson, Missouri Branson is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri. Most of the city is situated in Taney County, with a small portion in the west extending into Stone County. Branson is in the Ozark Mountains. The community was named after Reuben Branson, postm ...

in 1994. The role of Betty (his wife) was played by Marylee Graffeo(Fairbanks). ''Variety'' noted that "Broadway Came To Branson with the bow of the 'Will Rogers Follies: A Life in Review' in the new Will Rogers Theater last Saturday...Pat Boone is a solid hit in Branson as Will Rogers in the 'Follies.'" The music was not live but digitalized.Archerd, Army. "Just for Variety", ''Daily Variety'', April 13, 1994 (no page number)

Synopsis

;Act I Rogers frequently speaks directly to the audience and to Florenz Ziegfeld himself, who often interjects to question the progress of the show and to give some directorial advice. After introducing the audience to his friends and family, Rogers discusses leaving home at 19 to become a cowboy in Argentina. Ziegfeld tells Rogers that he must "meet the girl". Although Rogers met Betty Blake at a train station, Ziegfeld creates a more "theatrical" meeting by having her lowered romantically from the moon. Because Betty is eager to marry Rogers, the show moves forward several years to a time when Rogers is playing in a small

Wild West The American frontier, also known as the Old West or the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial ...

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own dur ...

. The couple is about to be married, but Ziegfeld interrupts, saying that the wedding has to be delayed, because it must occur in the first act finale. So, as Rogers' success continues to grow, he and Betty travel around the country performing and produce four children. Rogers gets his big break when he is invited to join the Ziegfeld Follies and, by the early 1910s, he is a big

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

and

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmi ...

star. He is about to leave for Hollywood to start a career in film, when it is at last time for the finale and the wedding. ;Act II Rogers is at the zenith of his popularity, the country's biggest and highest paid star of every medium of his time– stage, screen, radio, newspapers, and public appearances– and is even asked to run for president. This doesn't leave him much time for Betty, and she begins to feel neglected and starts singing the blues. Rogers comes home with "a treasury of precious jewels," and all is forgiven. The good mood doesn't last long, however, as bill collectors and creditors come knocking at the door. Ziegfeld has lost his fortune, and the Great Depression is in full swing.

Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was an American politician who served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 and a member of the Republican Party, holding office during the onset of the Gr ...

asks Rogers to give a speech to the nation, and everyone is inspired. Rogers also reconciles with his estranged father. The show ends with the tragic plane ride in

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...

that he shares with

Wiley Post Wiley Hardeman Post (November 22, 1898 – August 15, 1935) was a famed American aviator during the interwar period and the first pilot to fly solo around the world. Also known for his work in high-altitude flying, Post helped develop on ...

, a character whose cheerful invitation, "Let's go flyin' Will!" is heard throughout the show.

Songs

;Act I * Prelude - "Let's Go Flying" - Chorus * "Will-a-Mania" - Ziegfeld's Favorite and Chorus * "Give a Man Enough Rope" - Will and Ziegfeld's cowboys * "It's a Boy!" - Clem and Girls Sextet (Will's sisters) * "It's a Boy! (Reprise)" - Clem * "My Unknown Someone" - Betty Blake * "The St. Louis Fair" - Girls Sextet (Betty's sisters) * "The Big Time" - Will, Betty, Will Jr., Mary, James, and Freddy * "My Big Mistake" - Betty Blake * "The Powder Puff Ballet" - Ziegfeld Girls * "Marry Me Now" - Will, Betty, and Ensemble * "I Got You" - Will, Betty and Ensemble ;Act II * "Give a Man Enough Rope (Reprise)" - Will and Ziegfeld's cowboys * "Look Around" - Will Rogers * "Our Favorite Son" - Will, Ziegfeld's Favorite, Ziegfeld Girls, and Ziegfeld's cowboys * "No Man Left For Me" - Betty Blake * "Presents for Mrs. Rogers" - Will and Ziegfeld's cowboys * "Never Met a Man I Didn't Like" - Will Rogers * "Will-a-Mania (Reprise)" - Clem, Will, and Chorus * "Without You" - Betty Blake * "Never Met a Man I Didn't Like (Reprise)" - Will and Chorus

Characters and original cast

*Will Rogers -

*Betty Blake - Dee Hoty *Clem Rogers (Will's father) -

*Ziegfeld's Favorite -

*Mr. Ziegfeld (voice) - Gregory Peck *Wiley Post - Paul Ukena Jr. *Will Rogers Jr. - Rick Faugno *Mary Rogers - Tammy Minoff *James Rogers - Lance Robinson *Freddy Rogers - Gregory Scott Carter *Betty's sisters; Will's sisters; some of the New Ziegfeld Girls; The Will Rogers Wranglers, etc.

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

References

External links

*
Information about the show and national toursCast Album
{{DEFAULTSORT:Will Rogers Follies, The 1991 musicals Broadway musicals Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album Musicals inspired by real-life events Tony Award for Best Musical Musicals by Cy Coleman Musicals by Betty Comden and Adolph Green Musicals by Peter Stone Plays set in the United States Plays based on real people Plays set in the 1910s Plays set in the 1920s Plays set in the 1930s Cultural depictions of Will Rogers Cultural depictions of Herbert Hoover Tony Award-winning musicals