Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Archive Donated to Ransom Center

Masterson received Tony nominations for his book (co-authored with Larry L. King) and direction (with Tommy Tune) of the musical’s original Broadway production in 1978. Glynn won the Tony Award that year as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Mona Stangley.

The show, which features music and lyrics by Carol Hall, tells the story of Miss Mona Stangley, proprietor of the famed Chicken Ranch, as she and local sheriff Ed Earl Dodd fight to keep the doors open to the century-old brothel. The musical was also adapted into a 1982 film, which starred Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds.

The donated materials include eight document boxes which have various versions of the stage and film script, publicity photographs, correspondence, financial documents, a shirt Glynn wore during the Broadway production, and even a hand-made quilt that was constructed and given to her as a gift by the younger actresses in the production. The collection also includes material related to the Broadway run of the 1994 sequel, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public.

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