Musical
The Will Rogers Follies
is a
musical
with a book by
Peter Stone
, lyrics by
Betty Comden
and
Adolph Green
, and music by
Cy Coleman
.
It focuses on the life and career of
humorist
and performer
Will Rogers
, using as a backdrop the
Ziegfeld Follies
, which he often headlined, and describes episodes in his life in the form of production numbers. The Rogers character also performs rope tricks in between scenes. The revue contains snippets of Rogers' "homespun" style of wisdom.
Synopsis
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- 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
revue
. 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
and
radio
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
asks Rogers to give a speech to the nation. Rogers also reconciles with his estranged father. The show ends with the fatal plane ride in
Alaska
that Rogers shares with
Wiley Post
, a character whose cheerful invitation, "Let's go flyin' Will!" is heard throughout the show.
Songs
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- 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
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- 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
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Original cast and characters
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Productions
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After thirty-three previews, the
Broadway
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
, the original cast included
Keith Carradine
as Rogers,
Dee Hoty
as Betty Blake,
Dick Latessa
as Will's father Clem, and
Cady Huffman
as Ziegfeld's favorite chorus girl. Replacements later in the run included
Mac Davis
[2]
and
Larry Gatlin
as Rogers,
Mickey Rooney
as Clem, and
Susan Anton
and
Marla Maples
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
,
[3]
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.
[4]
Pat Boone
starred in the musical in
Branson, Missouri
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.
[5]
[6]
Awards and nominations
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Original Broadway production
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References
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- ^
Playbill 1991 Bio Cast List
accessed 07/31/2023
- ^
Witchel, Alex.
"On Stage, and Off"
The New York Times
, April 24, 1992
- ^
"THE IRREPARABLE INSULT: JOHN DENVER DOES NOT STAR ON BROADWAY AS WILL ROGERS"
. September 20, 2010
. Retrieved
August 28,
2014
.
- ^
(no author). "People in the News, Domestic News",
The Associated Press
, September 4, 1993 (no page number):"The national tour, now in Los Angeles, will continue its 96-week run through June 26. Mac Davis has replaced Keith Carradine as Will Rogers in the touring show. Gatlin, now the lead on Broadway, is expected to replace Davis early next year."
- ^
CBS News Transcripts, Show: CBS This Morning, "Pat Boone Discusses His Role In "Will Rogers Follies"", Anchors: Mark McEwen, April 26, 1994
- ^
Archerd, Army. "Just for Variety",
Daily Variety
, April 13, 1994 (no page number)
External links
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Awards for
The Will Rogers Follies
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1950s
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1960s
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1970s
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1980s
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1990s
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2000s
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2010s
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2020s
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1949?1975
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1976?2000
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2001?present
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1947?1975
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1976?2000
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2001?present
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