Goodspeed Musicals Announces Casting for The Will Rogers Follies
(© Allison Stock)
Goodspeed Musicals has announced casting for its upcoming production of The Will Rogers Follies, running April 13-June 21. Don Stephenson will direct, with choreography by Kelli Barclay.
The Will Rogers Follies features a book by Peter Stone, music composed and arranged by Cy Coleman, and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Inspired by the words of Will and Betty Rogers, the original New York production was directed and choreographed by Tommy Tune and earned the 1991 Tony Award for Best Musical.
The cast will star David Lutken as Will Rogers, alongside Catherine Walker (Betty Blake), David Garrison (Clem Rogers), Brooke Lacy (Ziegfeld’s Favorite), Dewey Caddell (Wiley Post), Ben Stone-Zelman (Will Rogers Jr.), Riley Briggs (Mary Rogers), Brendan Reilly Harris (Jimmy Rogers), and Nathan Horne (Freddy Rogers). The ensemble will include Michael Biren, Aaron Burr, Sarah Fagan, Kaitlyn Frank, Brad Frenette, Emily Jeanne Phillips, Kelly Sheehan, Karilyn Ashley Surratt, Caitlin Wilayto, and Borris York, with Mallory Davis and Patrick Heffernan as swings, and Ella Briggs as understudy to the roles of Mary, Jimmy, and Freddy Rogers. The Voice of Ziegfeld will be performed by two-time Tony Award winner James Naughton.
The creative team will include scenic design by Walt Spangler, costume design by Ilona Somogyi, lighting design by Rob Denton, projection design by Michael Clark, sound design by Jay Hilton, wig and hair design by Mark Adam Rampmeyer, and music direction by Michael O’Flaherty. William J. Thomas will be assistant music director, while Dan DeLange will lend orchestrations.
