Review Roundup: PTC's THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES

Pioneer Theatre Company previously announced Donny Osmond's involvement in the upcoming production of the musical The Will Rogers Follies: A Life in Review, running May 5 - 20, 2017.

Osmond will serve as the recorded voice of "Florenz Ziegfeld," a role recorded by Gregory Peck in the original Broadway production. Osmond has contributed his time and talent in support of Pioneer Theatre Company.

Check out the reviews below!

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BroadwayWorld (Tyler Hinton): "The top-notch cast (including a hard-working, precise ensemble) is led by the affable David M. Lutken, who understudied the part on Broadway, as Will Rogers. At his side as Will's wife, Betty, is the enchanting Lisa Brescia, who has played a number of leading roles on Broadway, including Donna in MAMMA MIA!, Elphaba in WICKED, and Amneris in AIDA."

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Salt Lake Magazine (Jeremy Pugh): "David M. Lutken is pitch perfect as with his aww-shucks Rogers recreation and Lisa Brescia perfectly sings and dances as his devoted bride, Betty Blake. The lead showgirl (Mr. Ziegfeld's Favorite) Chryssie Whitehead is mighty fine as she keeps the show going parading around stage in an illusory birthday suit. The sets by George Maxwell are splendiferous. The choreography by DJ Salsibury comes complete with some of the greatest hits of Vaudeville and is top- notch. The only thing missing was an Abbott and Costello routine and the only thing that maybe should be missing is the out-of-touch indian, wampum dance routine. Despite attempts to be sensitive about the cultural appropriation that was the norm of Rogers' early career in wild west shows, it misses the mark and seems unnecessary."

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Salt Lake Tribune (Barbara Bannon): "Peter Stone's book is only skin deep, and you're not likely to leave the theater singing Cy Coleman's tunes and Betty Comden and Adolph Green's lyrics; what sells "The Will Rogers Follies" is the wit and warmth of its central character's personality. Rogers once said that "people are what life is all about," and that affection for everything human, accomplished or flawed, spills across the footlights and makes the world a little bit brighter."

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