Character guide
Ziegfeld's Favorite
Ziegfeld's Favorite is the glamorous stage figure who helps host and narrate The Will Rogers Follies, embodying the showgirl spectacle at the heart of the production's format.
- Show
- The Will Rogers Follies
- Premiered
- 1991
- Role
- Supporting
- Composer
- Cy Coleman
Who is Ziegfeld's Favorite?
The Will Rogers Follies is staged as if it were being produced by legendary impresario Florenz Ziegfeld himself, and Ziegfeld's Favorite represents his idealized leading showgirl within that framing device. The character helps guide the audience through the revue-style presentation of Will Rogers's life, embodying the glitz and polish associated with the classic Ziegfeld Follies stage tradition.
Rather than existing within the literal story of Will Rogers's life, the character operates as part of the show's theatrical machinery, bridging scenes and adding to its variety-show atmosphere.
Ziegfeld's Favorite's role in the show
Ziegfeld's Favorite is a supporting role built around striking stage presence, movement, and glamour, in keeping with the show's revue structure. The part calls for a performer comfortable commanding attention through poise and stagecraft, since the character is meant to visually embody the polished spectacle Ziegfeld's productions were known for.
While not a book role driving the plot forward, the character contributes meaningfully to the show's tone and pacing.
Why the role resonates
The character appeals to fans of classic American stage tradition, offering a direct nod to the golden age of the Ziegfeld Follies within a modern book musical. For performers, the role is a chance to embody old-school showbiz glamour, and for audiences it reinforces the show's central conceit: that Will Rogers's life is being told to us as if it were itself a glittering Broadway revue.
Frequently asked
What show is Ziegfeld's Favorite from?
Ziegfeld's Favorite appears in The Will Rogers Follies, a 1991 musical.
Is Ziegfeld's Favorite a lead or supporting role?
It is a supporting role centered on stage presence and showmanship within the revue format.
Who wrote the music for The Will Rogers Follies?
Cy Coleman composed the music for The Will Rogers Follies.
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