View source for The Will Rogers Follies

{{Infobox musical
|name= The Will Rogers Follies
|subtitle=
|image= WillRogersPlaybill.jpg
|caption= Original Broadway ''[[Playbill]]''
|music=[[Cy Coleman]]
|lyrics=[[Betty Comden]] <br> [[Adolph Green]]
|book=[[Peter Stone (writer)|Peter Stone]]
|basis=
|productions= 1991 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]
<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
|awards= [[Tony Award for Best Musical]] <br> [[Tony Award for Best Score]]  
}}
'''''The Will Rogers Follies''''' is a [[Musical theatre|musical]] with a book by [[Peter Stone (writer)|Peter Stone]], lyrics by [[Betty Comden]] and [[Adolph Green]], and music by [[Cy Coleman]].

It focuses on the life and career of [[humor]]ist 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==
;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 [[theatre director|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 [[American Old West|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, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] to start a career in [[Classical Hollywood cinema|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==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;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
{{col-break}}
;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

{{col-end}}

== Original cast and characters ==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:50%; text-align:center"
!scope="col"|Character
!Broadway (1991)<ref>[https://www.playbill.com/production/the-will-rogers-follies-palace-theatre-vault-0000009147#carousel-cell126216''Playbill 1991 Bio Cast List'']accessed 07/31/2023</ref>
|-
![[Will Rogers]]
| colspan="1" |[[Keith Carradine]]
|-
![[Will Rogers|Betty Blake-Rogers]]
| colspan="1” |[[Dee Hoty]]
|-
![[Clement V. Rogers|Clem Rogers]]
| colspan="1” |[[Dick Latessa]]
|-
![[Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.|Ziegfeld's Favorite]]
| colspan="1" |[[Cady Huffman]]
|-
!Unicyclist/Roper
| colspan="1" |Vince Bruce
|-
![[Wiley Post]]
| colspan="1" |[[Paul Ukena|Paul Ukena Jr.]]
|-
!Mary Rogers
| colspan="1" |Tammy Minoff
|-
!Freddy Rogers
| colspan="1" |Gregory Scott Carter
|-
![[Jimmy Rogers (actor)|Jimmy Rogers]]
| colspan="1" |Lance Robinson
|-
![[Will Rogers Jr.]]
| colspan="1" |Rick Faugno
|}

==Productions==
After thirty-three previews, the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] production opened on May 1, 1991, at the [[Palace Theatre (New York City)|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]]<ref>Witchel, Alex. [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/24/theater/on-stage-and-off.html?pagewanted= "On Stage, and Off"] ''The New York Times'', April 24, 1992</ref> 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]],<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://bolesblogs.com/2010/09/20/the-irreparable-insult-john-denver-does-not-star-on-broadway-as-will-rogers/|title = THE IRREPARABLE INSULT: JOHN DENVER DOES NOT STAR ON BROADWAY AS WILL ROGERS|date = September 20, 2010|access-date = August 28, 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>(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."</ref>  [[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.<ref>CBS News Transcripts, Show: CBS This Morning, "Pat Boone Discusses His Role In "Will Rogers Follies"", Anchors: Mark McEwen, April 26, 1994</ref><ref>Archerd, Army. "Just for Variety", ''Daily Variety'', April 13, 1994 (no page number)</ref>

==Awards and nominations==

===Original Broadway production===
{| class="wikitable" width="95%"
|-
! width="5%"| Year
! width="20%"| Award
! width="40%"| Category
! width="25%"| Nominee
! width="10%"| Result
|-
| rowspan="17" align="center"| 1991
| rowspan="11"| [[Tony Award]]
| [[Tony Award for Best Musical|Best Musical]]
| [[Pierre Cossette (producer)|Pierre Cossette]], [[Martin Richards (producer)|Martin Richards]], [[Sam Crothers]], [[James M. Nederlander]], [[Stewart F. Lane]], [[Max Weitzenhoffer]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical|Best Book of a Musical]]
| [[Peter Stone (writer)|Peter Stone]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
| [[Cy Coleman]], [[Betty Comden]] and [[Adolph Green]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical|Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical]]
| [[Keith Carradine]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical|Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical]]
| [[Dee Hoty]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical|Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical]]
| [[Cady Huffman]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical|Best Direction of a Musical]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Tommy Tune]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Scenic Design|Best Scenic Design]]
| [[Tony Walton]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| [[Willa Kim]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Lighting Design|Best Lighting Design]]
| [[Jules Fisher]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[Drama Desk Award]]
| colspan="2"| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical|Outstanding Musical]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical|Outstanding Actor in a Musical]]
| [[Keith Carradine]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography|Outstanding Choreography]]
| [[Tommy Tune]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations|Outstanding Orchestrations]]
| [[Billy Byers]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music|Outstanding Music]]
| [[Cy Coleman]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[New York Drama Critics' Circle|New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards Past Winners|url=https://www.dramacritics.org/dc_pastawards.html |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=New York Drama Critics Circle|language=en}}</ref>
| Best Musical
| Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Peter Stone
| {{won}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ibdb title|4643 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070610130027/http://www.willrogers.org/follies.html Information about the show and national tours]
*[http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_w/will_rogers_follies.htm Synopsis and music at Guide to Musical Theatre]
*[http://www.masterworksbroadway.com/music/the-will-rogers-follies-original-broadway-cast-recording-1991/ Cast Album]

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for ''The Will Rogers Follies''
| list = 
{{Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album}}
{{TonyAwardBestMusical 1976-2000}}
{{TonyAward MusicalScore 1976-2000}}
}}
{{Cy Coleman}}
{{Comden and Green}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Will Rogers Follies, The}}
[[Category:1991 musicals]]
[[Category:Broadway musicals]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album]]
[[Category:Musicals inspired by real-life events]]
[[Category:Tony Award for Best Musical]]
[[Category:Musicals by Cy Coleman]]
[[Category:Musicals by Betty Comden and Adolph Green]]
[[Category:Musicals by Peter Stone (writer)]]
[[Category:Musicals set in the United States]]
[[Category:Musicals based on real people]]
[[Category:Musicals set in the 1910s]]
[[Category:Musicals set in the 1920s]]
[[Category:Musicals set in the 1930s]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Will Rogers]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Herbert Hoover]]
[[Category:Tony Award–winning musicals]]