The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

For the 1982 feature film, see The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (film).
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Original cast album
Music Carol Hall
Lyrics Carol Hall
Book Larry L. King
Peter Masterson
Basis Story by Larry L. King
Productions 1978 Broadway
1980 U.S. Tour
1981 West End
1982 Broadway
2001 U.S. Tour
2011 London Fringe Revival

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is a musical with a book by Texas author Larry L. King and Peter Masterson and music and lyrics by Carol Hall. It is based on a story by King that was inspired by the real-life Chicken Ranch in La Grange, Texas.

Production history

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas opened on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre on June 19, 1978 and ran for 1,584 performances. The production was directed by Peter Masterson and Tommy Tune and choreographed by Tune and Thommie Walsh. The opening cast included Carlin Glynn, Henderson Forsythe, Jay Garner, Joan Ellis, Delores Hall, and Pamela Blair. Glynn was replaced by Fannie Flagg and Anita Morris later in the run. Alexis Smith starred as Miss Mona in the National Company, which toured major cities for more than a year, ending with a seven-month run in Los Angeles.

In what was described as "a return engagement", the show opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on May 31, 1982 and closed on July 24, 1982 after nine previews and 63 performances. The cast featured Glynn and Hall.[1]

The West End production opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on February 26, 1981, again starring Glynn and Forsythe. It ran for 204 performances.[2]

A short-lived sequel entitled The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public was staged on Broadway in 1994.

"The Aggie Song" was performed on the Tony Awards broadcast, but was heavily censored because of the nature of the lyrics and choreography.

A U.S. National Tour starring Ann-Margret opened on February 14, 2001.[3]

A benefit concert took place on October 16, 2006, to benefit the Actor's Fund. The concert was directed by Mark S. Hoebee and choreographed by Denis Jones. The cast included Terrence Mann (as Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd), Emily Skinner, and Jennifer Hudson.[4]

A Revival production of the musical was staged on London's Fringe at The Union Theatre From October 2011- November 2011, starring Sarah Lark as Miss Mona, Nancy Sullivan as Shy and Leon Craig as Melvin P. Thorpe. Ensemble members included Jarred Page, Sasi Strallen, Katy Streader, Frankie Jenna, Patrick George, Dayle Hodge & Dan O'Brian. The production was directed by Paul Taylor-Mills.

A Broadway revival, with direction and choreography from Rob Ashford, was reportedly in the works in 2015.[5][6]

Synopsis

It is the late 1970s, and a brothel has been operating outside of fictional Gilbert, Texas, (subbing for real locale La Grange) for more than a century. It is under the proprietorship of Miss Mona Stangley, having been left to her by the original owner. While taking care of her girls, she is also on good terms with the local sheriff, Ed Earl Dodd. When crusading television reporter Melvin P. Thorpe (based on real-life Houston news personality Marvin Zindler) decides to make the illegal activity an issue, political ramifications cause the place to be closed down.

Song list

Act I
  • "Prologue" – The Rio Grande Band Leader and the Rio Grande Band
  • "20 Fans" – Company
  • "A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place" – Mona Stangley and the Girls
  • "Girl, You're a Woman" – Mona Stangley, Shy, Jewel and the Girls
  • "Watch Dog Theme" – The Dogettes
  • "Texas Has a Whorehouse in It" – Melvin P. Thorpe, the Thorpe Singers and the Dogettes
  • "Twenty Four Hours of Lovin'" – Jewel and the Girls
  • "Watch Dog Theme" (Reprise) – The Dogettes
  • "Texas Has a Whorehouse in It" (Reprise) – Melvin P. Thorpe and the Dogettes
  • "Doatsy Mae" – Doatsy Mae
  • "Angelette March" – Angelette Imogene Charlene and the Angelettes
  • "The Aggie Song" – The Aggies
  • "The Bus from Amarillo" – Mona Stangley
Act II
  • "The Sidestep" – The Governor of Texas & Company
  • "No Lies" – Mona Stangley, Jewel and the Girls
  • "Good Old Girl" – Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd and the Aggies
  • "Hard Candy Christmas" – The Girls
  • "Finale" – Company

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1979 Tony Award Best Musical Nominated
Best Book of a Musical Larry L. King and Peter Masterson Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Henderson Forsythe Won
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Carlin Glynn Won
Joan Ellis Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Peter Masterson and Tommy Tune Nominated
Best Choreography Tommy Tune and Thommie Walsh Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical Nominated
Outstanding Actor in a Musical Henderson Forsythe Nominated
Outstanding Actress in a Musical Carlin Glynn Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Pamela Blair Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Musical Peter Masterson and Tommy Tune Won
Outstanding Choreography Tommy Tune and Thommie Walsh Nominated
Outstanding Lyrics Carol Hall Won
Outstanding Music Won
Theatre World Award Carlin Glynn Won

Notes

  1. ↑ The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas 1982 Listing". PlayBillVault.com, accessed July 25, 2012
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ Jones, Kenneth. "Nothin' Dirty: Ann-Margret Opens 'Whorehouse' Feb. 13 in CT".Playbill, February 13, 2001
  4. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Actors' Fund's 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' Benefit Concert Presented Oct. 16" Playbill, October 16, 2006
  5. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Will Stomp Its Way Back to Broadway, Run by Rob Ashford". Playbill Club. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  6. ↑ Cox, Gordon (7 August 2014). "'Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' Heads Back to Broadway". Variety. Retrieved 8 June 2015.

Bibliography

Discography

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