HPS Presents "The Will Rogers Follies: A Life in Revue"
Make plans to attend The Hawken Players' Society production of "The Will Rogers Follies: A Life in Revue," Fri & Sat Feb. 14-15, 21-22 at 7:30pm, and Sun Feb. 23 at 3pm at Gates Mills.
The Will Rogers Follies opened on Broadway in 1991 and ran for nearly a thousand performances winning 6 Tony Awards, 3 Drama Desk Awards, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.
The musical focuses on the life and career of famed humorist and performer Will Rogers, using as a backdrop the Ziegfeld Follies, which he often headlined, and describes every episode in his life in the form of an elaborate production number. The revue contains Rogers' famous homespun style of wisdom and common sense, conveying the personality of this quintessentially American figure whose most famous quote was "I never met a man I didn't like." Featuring such musical numbers as “Will-a-mania,” “Our Favorite Son,” and "Give A Man Enough Rope," The Will Rogers Follies cleverly entwines Will’s life and wisdom with Ziegfeld’s lavish showmanship to create an uplifting evening of theatre suitable for the whole family.
The musical focuses on the life and career of famed humorist and performer Will Rogers, using as a backdrop the Ziegfeld Follies, which he often headlined, and describes every episode in his life in the form of an elaborate production number. The revue contains Rogers' famous homespun style of wisdom and common sense, conveying the personality of this quintessentially American figure whose most famous quote was "I never met a man I didn't like." Featuring such musical numbers as “Will-a-mania,” “Our Favorite Son,” and "Give A Man Enough Rope," The Will Rogers Follies cleverly entwines Will’s life and wisdom with Ziegfeld’s lavish showmanship to create an uplifting evening of theatre suitable for the whole family.
The cast features Robby Gray ‘15 (Will Rogers), Sarah Parker ’16 (Betty Blake), Matthew Thompson ’15 (Clem Rogers) and Elise Larochelle ’14 (Ziegfeld’s Favorite).
Four students from Hawken’s Lyndhurst campus, Jackson Slater ’20, Annie Gunning ’22, Frances Connors ’22 and Taylor Sobol ’22 will be featured as Will and Betty Rogers’ children in the production.
The singing and dancing ensemble of cowboys and showgirls includes Ben Wu ’14, Bryce Lewis ’14, Grant Farmer ’14, Lauren Perry ’14, Lena Goren ’14, Liz Riley ’14, Rose Musto ’14, Sarah Stark ’14, Alex Ashley ’15, Arianna Marino ’15, Katie Prybyla ’15, Brandon Solomon ’16, Jasmine Walker ’16, Karen Yao ’16, Leah Meisel ’16, Mitchell Maly ’16, Tara Krantz ’16, Hannah Miao ’17, Joey Tate ’17, Johnny Connors ’17 and Nick Buchanan ’17, with Grant Gilchrist ’14 making a cameo appearance as Will’s friend and famed aviator Wiley Post.
Four students from Hawken’s Lyndhurst campus, Jackson Slater ’20, Annie Gunning ’22, Frances Connors ’22 and Taylor Sobol ’22 will be featured as Will and Betty Rogers’ children in the production.
The singing and dancing ensemble of cowboys and showgirls includes Ben Wu ’14, Bryce Lewis ’14, Grant Farmer ’14, Lauren Perry ’14, Lena Goren ’14, Liz Riley ’14, Rose Musto ’14, Sarah Stark ’14, Alex Ashley ’15, Arianna Marino ’15, Katie Prybyla ’15, Brandon Solomon ’16, Jasmine Walker ’16, Karen Yao ’16, Leah Meisel ’16, Mitchell Maly ’16, Tara Krantz ’16, Hannah Miao ’17, Joey Tate ’17, Johnny Connors ’17 and Nick Buchanan ’17, with Grant Gilchrist ’14 making a cameo appearance as Will’s friend and famed aviator Wiley Post.
The creative team for The Will Rogers Follies includes Mr. Mike Larochelle (Hawken Upper School Theater Director / Designer), Mr. Sergio Castellanos (Hawken Upper School Music Director), Brenda Larochelle (Choreographer), and Hannah Krall ‘16 (Assistant to the Director).
Visit hawken.edu/willrogers for ticket and cast info.
An independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school, toddler through grade 12
Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
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