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

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:38pm

Justme2 ~ If LeAnn was in the original then she would know Mr. Tune's original choreography. To my knowledge he has absolutely nothing to do with this tour and I really can't imagine that he would be involved.

lildogs ~ On that note, are they using original choreography? I will find out what she thinks and let you know. Once again, thanks for all the info!

[justme2]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:42pm

Thanks wonderboy...you asked the question a little more clearly than I did! :)

My question was suppposed to be: I wanted to know if they were indeed using the original chorecography and if so, did Tune have to be involved.

[lildogs]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:47pm

I have heard nothing about Tommy Tune being involved. Though I must say, when they were doing "Grease" Jim Jacobs made more than one appearance at the show.

I also would imagine that LeAnn will use alot of origianl choreo and maybe just switch hands or feet or something like that. Not exactly the most ethical or creative method, but that would be my guess.

Final Note: If LeAnn can remember the original choreo, she should get a Tony--that was a VERY long time ago to try to recall!

[justme2]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:49pm

LOL...I was thinking that same thought!! I remember some of My Favorite Son, but to remember the whole show would be amazing.

I do have a videotape of the japanese broadcast of the show (with Keith and Dee) (a LEGAL copy) and love showing the show to my nieces and nephews.

[lildogs]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:52pm

I think you would find the choreo was the same in spirit and concept, but the moves may be slightly different...

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:52pm

Yeah, the title of this thread was supposed to be 'just SAW' not 'just say'...fyi

I just saw it last night here in Austin...I really enjoyed it, but I must say, the Bass HAll (which seats about 3000) was quite empty. I got tickets right before the show started and was sitting just right of center orchestra, row M. And the show was only here for four days.

The more I think about it, the more I really did enjoy it..but did anyone else feel like act 2 is a lot more energetic and fun than act 1?

AND: Has anyone seen BOTH this tour AND the original Broadway production? I'd really like to know in what ways they differed.

[lildogs]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:55pm

I had a feeling audiences would be sparse for this one...i felt the company would have profited more with something geared more for kids or Christmas or religious folks....they are playing mostly one-nighters in small venues...just my opinion...

[justme2]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 6:08pm

I only saw the tour in SF and LA. I agree with lildogs..the feel of this show would have played well around the Holiday season.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 7:42pm

The 1991 Tony win was not unexpected. Some of the pundits (whoever they are) predicted WRF as the winner but no one thought it was the best of the 4 nominess.

MISS SAIGON came in with plenty of negative publicity (over the British cast. When Equity refused to allow them to perform, Cam Mackintosh announced he was pulling the show. Suddenly all the people who supported Equity started doing an about face and accusing the union of blocking jobs for American performers in subsequent casts, tours and even supporing roles. The union backed down but there was grumbling that the tail was wagging the dog. Well, we have heard that one before.) The reviews were mixed but favourable. Business was sensational. Tony voters however had grown weary of all the British specatcles (LES MIZ, PHNATOM and CATS) and felt that it was time to reward home grown product that seemed to need the support. One for WRF!

SECRET GARDEN opened to less than favourable reviews and after the opening the authors went to work and trimmed 20 minutes. As it stood at Tony time the show was overlong and tedious. (It never quite got over that, although the trims helped a lot.) So, it won Best Book and Daisy Egan won for best SUPPORTING actress (and her tearful speech was a highlight of the telecast) but really, she should have been up as Best Actress! Also, SECRET GARDEN is one of those shows that take a while to warm to, and it was just too new whne the awards were given out. There is a downside to opening the week before the deadline. Score Two for WRF.

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND was probably the most original of the nominees but it was considered an off-Broadway transfer and in 1991 it was not something the Tonys endorsed much. Score Three for WRF.

In the end though it was not the best musical or the best score, WRF won by default but it was a good season. All 4 shows were popular successes, 3 of the 4 made money (GARDEN did not by the time it closed but so what? It has remained popular with regionals and community groups.) And the awards seemed more evenly split up over the shows.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 7:46pm

"Follies" is a beautiful score. Sure... it was true, American musical sound as opposed to the synth MS stuff. But songs like "Never Met A Man", "The Big Time", and "Wil-A-Maina" are fantastic. I'd vote for this over MS. And ever more so over Secret Garden.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 9:58pm

Here Here

The show was recorded for Japanese TV but it was never released commercially like Victor Victoria was

[justme2]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 10:48pm

I mentioned earlier in this thread that I have a videotape of the Japanese Broadcast and feel lucky to have it!

Frontrowcenter - "In the end though it was not the best musical or the best score, WRF won by default but it was a good season"

That may be YOUR assessment, but many others thought it was a great show and KNOW it won fair and square. The score is beautiful and it's some of Coleman's and Comden and Green's best work.

[StandingO]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 11:24pm

Hello,
New here to posting, but have enjoyed reading for some time now. Thought I could add to this thread so here goes...The current Will Rogers Tour is using the original Broadway choreography as well as the original Broadway/tour sets and costumes - so, it should be pretty darn close to the original. The original production had 16 girls in the ensemble, but most productions now cut that number down to 10 or 12. The smaller number of "Follies Girls" works O.K., but with the original 16 the TT choreography is breathtaking. Also, lots of productions cut the dog act and the Will's four kids. So, count the girls, look for kids and dogs, and you'll know how close it is to the original.
Also, It was my understanding that the current tour is choreographed by an original cast member named Eileen and her assistant Kirsten. Eileen has staged first class productions of "Will" everywhere.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 12:28am

Thankyou, StandingO for finally answering my question!

The dogs WERE there.

And they talked about the kids but there weren't actors portraying them...were there ACTUAL kids in the original?

[justme2]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 12:42am

There were indeed....three living and one deceased child. He "wanted to be in the show too" so he was kind of ghostly painted.

[StandingO]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 1:34pm

You are most welcome! The original show used FOUR children. Three boys and one girl. They first appeared during the song "Small Time" from a trunk when Betty says "thank goodness, we have no family, it's only Will and me." The song is on the original recording. Although one child did actually die in "real life", in the show, they made a joke about it and let him stay and finish the show anyway. It was actually a very cute moment in the show.

[lildogs]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 4:46pm

Guess I was wrong about LeAnn choreographing anything in the show--but she was in the national tour of the show and she is maried to one of the producers...easy mistake...

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 6:55am

WRF is SUCH a terrific show I was sorry it never made it across to the UK with a professional production. Unfortunately we British didn't really know much about WILL ROGERS!! Not that I think that matters once you're in your seat however selling the tickets would probably have been difficult!!!

Fortunately I have the Japanese recording too and it gives me my regular CY COLEMAN fix!

[lildogs]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 10:44am

Why do I get the feeling StandingO has something to do with Will Rogers Follies?

[dottedquarter]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 6:26pm

Hey all,

new to the boards, but working on the Will tour. The show sounds and looks beautiful... and it's pretty huge. There are no children on this tour. The dog show is with us at the moment, but only for certain cities. As is Larry Gatlin, who is incredible. Our other Will (Mike Z.) is also terrific. If ya like the show, check us out, you won't be disappointed. I think you also have the choreographer's name wrong. I don't know her last name, so I won't post it, but it's not who you mentioned. Happy performing!

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 6:57pm

"Frontrowcenter - "In the end though it was not the best musical or the best score, WRF won by default but it was a good season"

That may be YOUR assessment, but many others thought it was a great show and KNOW it won fair and square. The score is beautiful and it's some of Coleman's and Comden and Green's best work.

Oh, having recently seen two community theatre groups perform it I realize that the razzle dazzle of the Tommy Tune staging covered up a slim book and an even slimmer score.

For Comden and Green, I don't see it as their best or even near the top of their form. ON THE 20TH CENTURY, BELLS ARE RINGING, ON THE TOWN, WONDERFUL TOWN and even their contributions to PETER PAN or SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING are better. Coleman's scores for CITY OF ANGELS, SWEET CHARITY and even I LOVE MY WIFE are (IMO) far better. Tommy Tune's direction of NINE and GRAND HOTEL - THE MUSICAL is far more inventive. In short, WRF was a fun show but not one of the top musicals to come along.

[StandingO]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 9:52am

No, I have nothing "to do" with WRF. I'm just a big fan of the show, and have several dear friends who were involved with the original show.

[lildogs]

Posted: 9/6/05 at 10:17am

Sure you don't--you just signed on the same day the thread was posted.

[StandingO]

Posted: 9/6/05 at 8:23pm

Geez, tough crowd. As I said in my original post, I have been reading the boards here for a long time. I felt I could contribute to this thread with an educated answer, so I signed up and responed to the original question. But thanks, Lildogs for the warm welcome. Guess I'll stick to reading.

Updated On: 9/6/05 at 08:23 PM

[justme2]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 12:14am

Hit here frontrowcenter!

Yeah...I see your point about some of the music for Comden and Green's other shows being more popular; although I still feel (IMO) that this was some of their best work.

I agree with your assessment of Coleman's work on City of Angels,as well (never seen a production of I love my wife, though).

I can't comment on Tune's other work you named, as I never got to see a production of Tune's Nine or Grand Hotel...

I guess I just have a soft spot for Will Rogers Follies...it was the first "broadway" show I had seen, and it still holds a place dear in my heart! It seems to be one of those "ignored gems", as well. Everyone I talk to loved it, but rarely does anyone list it in one of the many "list threads" that are always on here.

Having said that, though...I still don't believe it robbed any other show out of "rightfully" winning that year.

and one more thing...lildogs, I joined this site last year specifically to answer a poster asking if anyone had seen White Christmas in SF. Does that make me a shill? I did like the show...