Tom Wopat Stars in THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES at Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, Now thru 9/24
By: BWW News Desk Sep. 03, 2014
One of the "Good Old Boys" is coming to Auburn.
Tom Wopat - famed for his role as Luke Duke on "The Dukes of Hazzard" - will play the title role of Will Rogers in the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival's production of "The Will Rogers Follies." The show runs from today, Sept. 3 - 24 at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (MGR) in Auburn, New York.
"People surely know Tom from 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' 'Cybill' and his other television and movie appearances, but some may not know that he has earned two Tony nominations and starred in 11 Broadway shows," said Brett Smock, the Festival's producing artistic director. "Tom is the perfect example of an artist who seamlessly crosses over from camera to stage. He will be an incredible Will Rogers. We're excited to welcome him to the Festival and honored to have him on our stage."
After starring in "The Dukes of Hazzard" in the 1908s, Wopat went on to play a variety of television and movie roles, including appearances on "Home Improvement"," Moonlighting," "Medium," "Blue Bloods" and many more in addition to last summer's blockbuster, "Django Unchained."
Wopat has appeared on Broadway in "Annie Get Your Gun," "Chicago," "42nd Street," "Sondheim on Sondheim," "Glengarry Glen Ross, A Catered Affair" (with MGR alum Leslie Kritzer), and most recently in "Catch Me If You Can" (with fellow MGR alum Aaron Tveit) and "The Trip to Bountiful" with Vanessa Williams. Tom has recorded several albums, and this holiday season he will release a Christmas album featuring himself and fellow "Dukes of Hazzard" star John Schneider.
"The Will Rogers Follies" celebrates the life of famed humorist, performer and Oklahoma-native Will Rogers in this song and dance spectacular. Set within the famous Ziegfeld Follies, every scene and song in this musical comedy is a lavish production number allowing the audience to reminisce with one of America's beloved folk heroes. With beautiful showgirls, tapping wranglers, stellar rope tricks and one of Cy Coleman's best scores, this winner of six Tony Awards (including Best Musical) is a feel-good hit.
Tickets are now available for "The Will Rogers Follies" and all other Festival productions by calling the box office at 1-800-457-8897or by visiting www.FingerLakesMTF.com/tickets.
For more information on the 2014 season, visit http://fingerlakesmtf.com.
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