Just saw the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Just saw the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Rentaholic2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/14/04
#0Just saw the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 1:08am
First of all, does anyone know how closely the current Larry Gatlin tour is to the original Broadway production? I'm just wondering, cause it seemed pretty full scale.
2nd - I know that a lot of people here agree that Miss Saigon isn't the greatest musical ever, but it lost best musical AND best score to THIS? I mean, i really enjoyed the show (very very much more in the second act), but the score did not seem in any way better to me than Miss Saigon's, and the rest of it just didn't compare for me. I thought it was great and had some wonderful moments though...maybe it's just me, i was just wondering what others thought about this. Was this win an unexpected upset in 1991?
Updated On: 8/31/05 at 01:08 AM
#1re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 1:09am
Cy Coleman was a GENIUS. That's why it won Best Score.
Updated On: 8/31/05 at 01:09 AM
#2re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 4:07amTotally agree with LJAY889! Also Keith Carradine and DEE HOTY were pretty brilliant! Great TOMMY TUNE direction and choreagraphy AND I loved CADY HUFFMAN as Ziegfields favourite!
"Your eyes..... they shine like the pants on my blue serge suit"
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#3re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 6:23am
This is the show I took my wife to on our first date
I saw the original with Keith Carradine & with her Larry Gatlin. We both enjoyed it immensely
Poster Emeritus
#4re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 8:40am
I don't think the "Will Rogers" Tony win was all that much of an upset. Cy Coleman had made a huge splash with "City of Angels" the year before, ditto Tommy Tune with "Grand Hotel", and the addition of B'way favorites Peter Stone and Comden and Green made this a musical theatre lovers dream. The early '90s marked a turnaround on B'way shunning the previously much-loved British popera. Audiences and critics alike were happily realizing Americans could still create musical theatre. This is why "Miss Saigon" lost its Tonys (IMO). I also happen to be of an apparently small majority who adored this production. The staging, costumes, performances - it was one of my favorite shows of the 90s. I smile ear to ear everyone time it comes up on my iPod. 
"When you're a gay man, you have to feel good about yourself when a urologist says, "Yeah. I pick you". - Happy Endings
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#5re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 9:01am
Forget MISS SAIGON. The Tony for Best Score that year should have gone to SECRET GARDEN.
Coleman deserved his Tony for CITY OF ANGELS. He didn't deserve another one a year later.
#6re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 10:05am
For my money, this was the worst show of the 4 nominees that year. The only thing I liked about it was Keith Carradine, who was wonderful and charming. I thought Dee Hoty (who I've loved in other things) was kind of forgettable and Cady Huffman was annoying.
#1. Once on this Island - best musical and score
#2. Secret Garden - close second for both
#3. Miss Saigon
#4. Will Rogers Follies
IMHO
"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
#7re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 10:38amI know some of the crew on this tour but I doubt any of them saw the original, although the choreo. for the tour was in the original national tour, i think as the Cady Huffman role--she's a tall blonde as well...
#8re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 1:20pm
aaahhhh...Will Roger's Follies. Saw it three times back in 1993 - once in SF, twice in LA. I am also among the "small" majority that adored this show...you are not alone Barihunk!
Cy Coleman DID deserve the accolades he received for this show. The score is fantastic, and very faithful to the era the show represents (around 1915-1935). The costumes for the show were absolutely gorgeous...I still remember the "Diamonds for Mrs Rogers" number with each chorsu girl descending the staricase dripping in the gemstone she represented! This show was the last show I saw with any really good choreography (until I saw White Christmas last winter in SF) and I await Tommy Tune's return to the NY boards still.
Now why can't someone win two years in a row if their work is deserving of it? There are plenty of other examples of this happening, so why not Cy Coleman? City of Angels was a stunning production and deserved the awards it reaped. Will Rogers was gorgeous, well choreographed and had a fantastic score...there's no reason to deny Coleman an award simply because he won the year before.
Saw Keith, Dee, Cady, Leigh Zimmerman, Luba Mason (back when her last name was Gregus) Collen Moore, and, because Keith's back gave out in LA, I saw Mac Davis go on in his place. Davis didn't even come out on stage via the rope that Carradine did each night. His performance was lacking. I remember waiting at the scary stage door behind the Pantages for over an hour to get Dee Hoty's autograph...and Leigh Z signed as well.
I'm glad I was not around NY when the stunt casting started...remember when Marla Maples Trump and Kathy Lee Gifford were playing the role of Ziegfield's favorite?
The show deserves to be revived on Broadway (though WonderBoy tells me it's too soon...
) and I hope the original poster sees the tour and enjoys it very much.
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
Updated On: 8/31/05 at 01:20 PM
#9re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 1:27pm
Someone told me that when Susan Anton did a 6-week stint as Ziegfeld's Favorite, her heel got caught on the lift that brought her up out of the stage on one of her first performances. She tried to get the orchestra to stop the show, but they just kept going (as they should). I guess she thought it was like being on a TV / Movie set where someone would just yell "CUT."
LOL
". . . POP . . ."
BwayTheatre11
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
#10re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 2:29pm
https://www.broadwayworld.com/showinfo.cfm?showid=897
More dates coming ASAP. I have them, just need to find the time to add them. Larry only does certain cities.
CCM '10!
#11re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 2:33pmDo you know who is playing Will when Larry is out?
Di2
Broadway Star Joined: 11/18/04
#12re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 3:11pm
Anyone know the cast list of this tour. My boyfriend was the first guy hired (along with Larry Gaitlin) but he turned it down to do a different contract.
I did this show for 5 months and I absolutely loved it.
Great fun...
Thanks.
#13re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 3:18pmWho's your bf Di? Jayme?
#14re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 3:34pmI am so glad people are posting their love for this show!
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
#15re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 4:32pmI too adore this show! The only thing I know about this tour is that it is a non-Equity tour and one of my former dancers is in the ensemble. And yes, justme2 as much as I too would love to see it revived, I still think it is too soon.
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds."
~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
#16re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 4:50pmoh no...a non-equity tour? Doens't that mean the quality of the production is not "Broadway" standards? Meaning...cheaper sets, costumes, pay for cast, etc?
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
#17re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 4:54pmWell, non-Equity doesn't mean that it is a bad production it does normally mean that it isn't "Broadway calibre." Normally they are physically and financially scaled down productions.
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds."
~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
#18re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:00pmNon-equity simply means the actors are non-equity; however, i would imagine this version is greatly scaled-down. I'm very familiar with the production company and I know they have a very rough schedule--With all those one-nighters I can't imagine the sets being very extensive. The prop master and costumer are good friends of mine--i can give you some more info on the show, but it will be filtered through them...
#19re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:06pmThat would be great lildogs! I would love to hear about it. It's my girls first "big" show and she is very excited about it. Hope all is going well with it and please do keep us posted.
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds."
~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
#20re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:07pmYes, please do! And thanks for the info regarding equity vs non-quity tours!
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
#21re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:09pm
I totally agree with Jon, Secret Garden should have won for score.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone
amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.
--Dave Berry
#22re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:16pm
That's nice. Thanks for sharing.
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
Updated On: 8/31/05 at 05:16 PM
#23re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:28pm
I don't want to burn any bridges, but the company is not doing so well and have cut back alot to put this show out so I hope it can turn a profit. I haven't heard anything yet, i spoke to the PM two weeks ago and they were opening in Austin and then going to the DFW area. ANd like I said, LeAnn is the choreo and she was in the original cast--
PS--Wonderboy--I would LOVE to know what your girl thinks of LeAnn!
#24re: Just say the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.
Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:33pm
lildogs - Do you know if Toomy Tune was involved at all in preparing the choreography for this tour, or worked with Leann regarding the choreography? I don't know how that works for non-equity, but would like to know.
Thanks!
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
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