''Will Rogers' USA'' is a one-man play about humorist

Will Rogers William Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator. He was born as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, in the Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma ...

that

James Whitmore James Allen Whitmore Jr. (October 1, 1921 – February 6, 2009) was an American actor. He received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Theatre World Award, and a Tony Award, plus two Aca ...

appeared in for more than 30 years. It was first staged by Frankie Hewitt at the Loretto-Hilton Theater in Webster Groves, Missouri in January 1970Dennis McClellan
"James Whitmore dies at 87; veteran award-winning actor brought American icons to the screen"
''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'', February 7, 2009. and then at Ford's Theatre in September 1970. It was broadcast on television and recorded on record in 1972 and had a limited run on Broadway in May 1974. The Broadway production was produced by George Spota. The play was produced and conceived by George Spota, adapted and directed by Paul Shyre, with research by associate producer

Bryan Sterling Bryan B. Sterling (Bryan Bruno Sterling, January 27, 1922 – March 13, 2008) was an authority on the life and work of American political commentator, humorist, and entertainer Will Rogers. He scripted and co-produced "Will Rogers' USA," a one-man B ...

. Whitmore changed his monologue each time he performed it, using actual quotations from Will Rogers to comment on current events at the time of the performance. Gene McFall was reportedly the first person other than Whitmore to perform in the play in 1982. He was stage manager and understudy to Whitmore while on tour in 1983 and 1984. Another source says that actor

Paul Tripp Paul Tripp (February 20, 1911 – August 29, 2002) was an American children's musician, author, songwriter, and television and film actor. He collaborated with a fellow composer, George Kleinsinger. Tripp was the creator of the 1945 " Tubby ...

starred in a national tour of the play in 1974. Whitmore reprised the role numerous times through February 2000, when he performed it for the eighth and final run at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C.Staff (11 February 2009) "Actor refused to be typecast" ''The Courier Mail'' (Australia) page 94 His costume was later sent to the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

. The play was recently revived by Kaleidoscope Theatre Company.

Notes

External links

Ford's Theatre Production History
{{DEFAULTSORT:Will Rogers' Usa American plays Plays based on real people Cultural depictions of Will Rogers Plays set in the United States 1970 plays