It focuses on the life and career of famed humorist and performer Will Rogers, using as a backdrop the Ziegfeld Follies, 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."
The original choice of the authors to play Will Rogers was John Denver,[2] 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.[3]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.[4][5]
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 Westrevue. 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, and everyone is inspired. Rogers also reconciles with his estranged father. The show ends with the tragic plane ride in Alaska that he shares with Wiley Post, 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
^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)
will, rogers, follies, musical, with, book, peter, stone, lyrics, betty, comden, adolph, green, music, coleman, original, broadway, playbillmusiccy, colemanlyricsbetty, comden, adolph, greenbookpeter, stoneproductions1991, broadwayawardstony, award, best, musi. 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 The Will Rogers FolliesOriginal Broadway PlaybillMusicCy ColemanLyricsBetty Comden Adolph GreenBookPeter StoneProductions1991 BroadwayAwardsTony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best ScoreIt focuses on the life and career of famed humorist and performer Will Rogers using as a backdrop the Ziegfeld Follies 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 Contents 1 Productions 2 Synopsis 3 Songs 4 Characters and original cast 5 Awards and nominations 5 1 Original Broadway production 6 References 7 External linksProductions EditAfter 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 1 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 2 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 3 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 4 5 Synopsis EditAct IRogers 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 IIRogers 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 and everyone is inspired Rogers also reconciles with his estranged father The show ends with the tragic plane ride in Alaska that he shares with Wiley Post a character whose cheerful invitation Let s go flyin Will is heard throughout the show Songs EditAct IPrelude 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 ChorusCharacters and original cast EditWill Rogers Keith Carradine Betty Blake Dee Hoty Clem Rogers Will s father Dick Latessa Ziegfeld s Favorite Cady Huffman 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 EditOriginal Broadway production Edit Year Award Category Nominee Result1991 Tony Award Best Musical Pierre Cossette Martin Richards Sam Crothers James M Nederlander Stewart F Lane Max Weitzenhoffer WonBest Book of a Musical Peter Stone NominatedBest Original Score Cy Coleman Betty Comden and Adolph Green WonBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Keith Carradine NominatedBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Dee Hoty NominatedBest Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Cady Huffman NominatedBest Direction of a Musical Tommy Tune WonBest Choreography WonBest Scenic Design Tony Walton NominatedBest Costume Design Willa Kim WonBest Lighting Design Jules Fisher WonDrama Desk Award Outstanding Musical NominatedOutstanding Actor in a Musical Keith Carradine NominatedOutstanding Choreography Tommy Tune WonOutstanding Orchestrations Billy Byers NominatedOutstanding Music Cy Coleman WonReferences Edit 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 Edit The Will Rogers Follies at the Internet Broadway Database Information about the show and national tours Synopsis and music at Guide to Musical Theatre Cast Album Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Will Rogers Follies amp oldid 1117187250, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
