Roy Rogers Musical Coming to Broadway

“Annie Hall” and “Jersey Boys” vet Marshall Brickman leading creative team

It’s time to blaze happy trails to Broadway: a new musical announced Thursday from “Jersey Boys” co-creator Marshall Brickman will celebrate the life of Roy Rogers.

The Roy Rogers Family Entertainment Corporation, Happy Trails, LLC and the Spangler Group will produce a new Broadway musical inspired by Rogers’ life and music. (No word on his hamburgers.)The musical is expected in late 2014 or early 2015.

Also read: Bada Bing: Jersey Boys Restore Some Common Sense to Copyright Fair Use

Brickman, who wrote the book for “Jersey Boys” and collaborated with Woody Allen on “Annie Hall,” is leading the creative team.

“I’m excited to be able to introduce Rogers to a new generation – and to re-introduce him to his older fans,” said Brickman. “At the height of his popularity, Roy had millions of fans worldwide and reigned for decades as the embodiment of simple, honest American values. It will be interesting to contrast that ideal with the current environment of ambivalence and moral uncertainty.”

Happy Trails, LLC is a new joint venture developed by Larry Spangler (the Spangler Group) with the Roy Rogers Family Entertainment Corporation and The Roy and Dale Evans Rogers Children’s Trust to reintroduce the iconic Roy Rogers brand.

Also read: ‘Jersey Boys’ Film Taps ‘Hugo’ Screenwriter John Logan

Between 1945 and 1975, the Roy Rogers brand generated an estimated $1 billion in revenue derived from 88 films, the musical’s producers said. His TV show aired 100 episodes, and his name sold 150 million comic books. His image covered 2.5 billion boxes of Post Cereal.

Boys who didn’t want to order Shirley Temples ordered plenty of his namesake drink.

Larry Spangler, head of the Spangler Group, and Happy Trails LLC CEO Wally Hoelzel have led the charge in developing this business deal.  Spangler stated, “We believe Roy Rogers represents a billion dollar brand.  His name and image will have broad appeal to people of all ages around the world.”

Also read: Jon Favreau Tweets He’s Directing ‘Jersey Boys’

Bill Wolfe, CEO of International Marketing Partners, the company responsible for executing the licensing strategy, added,  “That belief is supported by the excitement of many of our manufacturing partners and key strategic retailers, already on board.  We’re introducing a broad range of products under the private ‘Roy Rogers’ label. We have over 100 new products in development and a number of products already in production.”

Larry Spangler has brought together an experienced team including: Roy “Dusty” Rogers Jr. and Jeff Kramer, co-founders of the Roy Rogers Family Entertainment Corporation, The Ziffren Brittenham law firm and partners Sam Fischer and Gary Stiffelman, former International Creative Management, Inc agent and head of casting for Paramount Pictures Andrea Eastman; Jason Baruch of Baruch and Sendroff, LLP as Broadway council, advertising and branding legend George Lois, along with Stuart Sher, Happy Trails, LLC equity partner, with 40 plus years of experience in apparel, fragrance and branding.

Rounding out the executive team are music and entertainment business veterans Bruce Glatman (Encore/Mama Concerts), Tad Dowd (Scotti Bros and Joe Namath’s Namanco Corp) and producer, Bob Ezrin.

Comments