The Will Rogers Follies is a musical which focuses on the life and career of humourist and performer Will Rogers, with the Ziegfeld Follies used as a backdrop.

Rogers often performed as a headliner for the Follies and describes every episode in his life in the form of a lavish production number. 

Containing snippets of Rogers’ famous homespun style of wisdom and common sense and conveying the personality of the stereotypical American, performing rope tricks between scenes and whose most famous quote was “I never met a man I didn’t like”.

The Broadway production opened on 1 May 1991 at the Palace Theatre and ran until 5 September 1993. It was directed and choreographed by Tommy Tune and 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 favourite chorus girl. 

Gregory Peck was heard as the recorded voice of Ziegfeld.

The original choice to play Will Rogers was John Denver but it was rumoured that due to an insult from librettist Peter Stone, he opted out of the casting.

The first national tour of the production was in 1993, followed by another in 1994 with Pat Boone starring, where the music was digitised instead of using a live band.

Songs include ‘Will-a-Mania’, ‘The Big Time’, ‘The Powder Puff Ballet’, ‘Our Favorite Son’, ‘Never Met a Man I Didn’t Like’ and ‘No Man Left for Me’.

FACTS:

Music: Cy Coleman

Lyrics: Betty Comden and Adolph Green

Book: Peter Stone

Theatre: Palace Theatre, Broadway

Run: 1 May 1991 – 5 September 1993

TONYS:

1991 (WON): Best Musical (Pierre Cossette, Martin Richards, Sam Crothers, James M Nederlander, Stewart F. Lane, Max Weitzenhoffer), Best Original Score (Cy Coleman, Betty Comden and Adolph Green), Best Direction of a Musical (Tommy Tune), Best Choreography (Tommy Tune), Best Costume Design (Willa Kim), Best Lighting Design (Jules Fisher).

(NOMINATED): Best Book of a Musical (Peter Stone), Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Keith Carradine), Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Dee Hoty), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Cady Huffman), Best Scenic Design (Tony Walton).

DRAMA DESK AWARD:

1991 (WON): Outstanding Choreography (Tommy Tune), Outstanding Music (Cy Coleman).

(NOMINATED): Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Keith Carradine), Outstanding Orchestrations (Billy Byers).

Will Rogers Follies - ‘Favourite Son’ - Tony Awards 1991: