# The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

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 off-Broadway at the Entermedia Theatre on April 17, 1978. It reopened on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre on June 19, 1978, and ran for 1,584 performances until March 27, 1982. 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 first U.S. National Tour, from September 1979 through February 1981, with stops in major cities from Boston to Los Angeles.
The Sydney production opened at Her Majesty's Theatre on 13 September 1980. Produced by J. C. Williamson Ltd, it starred Lorraine Bayly as Miss Mona and Alfred Sandor as Sherriff Ed Earl Dodd, with Mona Richardson as Jewel, Judi Connelli as Doatsy Mae and Peter Whitford as the Governor.
The West End production opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on February 26, 1981. Produced by Bernard Delfont, it again starred Carlin Glynn and Henderson Forsythe, with Miquel Brown as Jewel and Betsy Brantley as Angel. It included Sally Ann Triplett and Robert Meadmore and ran for 204 performances.
A "summer stock" production that toured the northeastern U.S. in 1982 starred Barbara Eden, William Hardy and Jay Garner.
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 Carlin Glynn and Delores Hall.
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.
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.

## Synopsis

It is the late 1970s, and a brothel has been operating outside of fictional Gilbert, Texas (based on La Grange) for more than a century. It is currently under the proprietorship of Miss Mona Stangley, who inherited it from original owner Miss Wulla Jean. While caring for her girls, she is also on good terms with local sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, and donates to the greater community. When crusading television reporter Melvin P. Thorpe (based on real-life Houston news personality Marvin Zindler) decides to publicize the illegal activity, the ensuing political ramifications eventually cause the business to be closed down.

## Principal casts

Major casts :
| Character | Broadway (1978) | Film (1982) | Tour (2001) | The Actors' Fund (2006) |
| Mona Stangley | Carlin Glynn | Dolly Parton | Ann-Margret | Emily Skinner |
| Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd | Henderson Forsythe | Burt Reynolds | Gary Sandy | Terrence Mann |
| Jewel | Delores Hall | Theresa Merritt | Avery Sommers | Jennifer Hudson |
| Melvin P. Thorpe | Clinton Allmon | Dom DeLuise | Rob Donohoe | Bob Martin |
| The Governor of Texas | Jay Garner | Charles Durning | Ed Dixon | Harry Groener |
| C.J. Scruggs | Jay Garner | Barry Corbin | Ed Dixon | Bob Amaral |
| Chip Brewster | Jay Garner | — | Ed Dixon | Barrett Foa |
| Rio Grande Bandleader/Deputy Fred Wilkins | Craig Chambers | Jim Nabors | Hal Davis | Christian Hoff |
| Doatsy Mae/Dulcie Mae | Susan Mansur | Lois Nettleton | Roxie Lucas | Andrea McArdle |
| Angelette Imogene Charlene | Lisa Brown | — | — | Sharon Wheatley |
| Linda Lou | Donna King | — | Erin Malloy | Jennifer Cody |
| Ruby Rae | Becky Gelke | — | Gina Milo | Rachelle Rak |
| Beatrice | Jan Merchant | — | Kristin Reitter | J. Elaine Marcos |
| Eloise | Marta Sanders | — | Jennifer Evans | Michelle Kittrell |
| Dawn | Lisa Brown | — | Mary Bond Davis | Roxane Barlow |
| Taddy Jo | Carol Chambers | Terri Treas | Tracy Jai Edwards | Amber Efé |
| Durla | Debra Zalkind | — | Quisha Freeman | Christina Marie Norrup |
| Ginger | Louise Quick-Brown | — | Jane Labanz | Angie Schworer |
| Shy | Joan Ellis | Andrea Pike | Jen Celene Little | Mary Faber |
| Amber/Angel | Pamela Blair | Valerie Leigh Bixler | Terri Dixon | Felicia Finley |
| Mayor Rufus Poindexter | J. Frank Lucas | Raleigh Bond | Matt Landers | Richard Poe |
| Senator Wingwoah | J. Frank Lucas | Robert Mandan | Matt Landers | Richard Kind |

## Song list

"The Bus from Amarillo" was moved to the final scene, sometime late in the run of the original production and has generally played that way ever since.
† was added in the 2001 production.

## Awards and nominations
### Original Broadway production

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

## Discography

* The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: original cast. LP with gatefold jacket. MCA, 1978. MCA-3049. Cassette as MCAC-3049.
* The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: original cast. Audio CD. MCA, 1997. MCAD-11683; MCA-3049.
* Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: New cast recording. Audio CD. Fynsworth Alley/Varèse Sarabande, 2001. 302 062 117 2.