Just saw the Will Rogers Follies...2 questions.

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

Totally 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!

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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.

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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

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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.

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Updated On: 8/31/05 at 01:20 PM

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.

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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.

I am so glad people are posting their love for this show!

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oh 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?

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Non-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...

Yes, please do! And thanks for the info regarding equity vs non-quity tours!

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