PHOENIX PRODUCTIONS LAUNCH NATIONWIDE
TOUR OF THE TONY AWARD WINNING MUSICAL

Winner of Six Tony Awards Including Best Musical
The New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical
The Drama Desk Award for Best Musical
The Grammy Award for Best Musical

THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, winner of six 1991 Tony Awards including Best Musical and the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album embarks on a nationwide tour in the Fall, 2005.

THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, opened on Broadway at The Palace Theatre in New York on May 1, 1991 to rave reviews. THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES presents the life and career of Will Rogers as the great showman Florenz Ziegfeld would have – with all the girls, the glitter and the glamour of pure entertainment.

THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES has a book by Peter Stone, with a Tony awardwinning score by composer Cy Coleman and lyricists Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The director/choreographer is Steve Minning, a protégé to Tony Award winner, Tommy Tune from the original Broadway production. The set design is by Tony Walton from the original touring design; the Tony-winning costumes are by Willa Kim; lighting design by Mike Baldassari and sound by Craig Cassidy.

THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, a musical extravaganza is a highly visual account of the life of the famed folk hero, performer and philosopher. Will Rogers narrates his life story through a series of spectacular Ziegfeld Follies production numbers which come to life with Ziegfeld Girls, Ziegfeld’s Favorite, wranglers, and a roper.

In addition to the six Tony Awards and the Grammy Award, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES won the Drama Desk Award and New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. The tour of THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES is produced by Phoenix Productions. Phoenix develops, produces, presents and general manages under the direction of producers Stephen Kane and Michael McFadden, who personally lead the creation, development and management of their international touring enterprise. Their careers span more than two decades of theatrical success and industry partnership and resulted in over 50 live productions on four continents.

WHO WAS WILL ROGERS?

∗ He was the top box office attraction in the world
∗ He made 70 films
∗ His daily newspaper column was carried by more than 350
newspapers.
∗ He never missed a day in 12 years
∗ He was the highest paid radio star of his time
∗ He was the most sought-after public speaker of his day
∗ He was the personal friend of five presidents
∗ He stayed at the White House whenever he was in Washington D.C.
∗ He was the biggest star of “The Ziegfeld Follies” for 10 years


“Deft and winning lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, which have Cy Coleman coming up with his best Broadway musical in years.” – New York Post

“Spectacular production numbers with what looks like two million dollars worth of costumes and enough sequins to pave every street in Manhattan.” – WWOR-TV

"It shakes, shimmies, struts, high kicks, parades, glides, grinds, taps, twirls, and just about jumps off the stage." – Associated Press