The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

by Larry L. King, Peter Masterson, Carol Hall (Music and Lyrics)

Musical

Book by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson. Music and Lyrics by Carol Hall.

Characters: 13 male, 14 female, extras.

Unit set

This happy go lucky view of small town vice and statewide political side stepping recounts the good times and the demise of the Chicken Ranch, known since the 1850s as one of the better pleasure palaces in all of Texas. Governors, senators, mayors and even victorious college football teams frequent Miss Mona's cozy bordello until that puritan nemesis Watchdog focuses his television cameras and his righteous indignation on the institution.

"Utterly charming, lively and genial."--- The New York Daily News

"Humorous and good natured."---The New York Post

"A font of fun and friendliness, engagingly rich in regional nostalgia and spiced with delicate bawdry. The country and western score is a delight."---Time

"Best Broadway musical of the season."---WABC TV7

Genres: Plays, Humor, Fiction

93 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Larry L. King (January 1, 1929 –December 20, 2012) was an American playwright, journalist, and novelist, best remembered for his 1978 Tony Award-nominated play The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which became a long-running production on Broadway and was later turned into a feature film starring Burt Reynolds, Charles Durning and Dolly Parton.

Reviews

[Brian McCann]

Terrific book and music.

This was my first FIRST NATIONAL TOUR in the fall of 1979 at the Shubert in Boston starting Alexis Smith.

Just. Wonderful.

[Andrew Mendoza]

Bakawk!

[Amy]

Love Miss Mona and her little whores xoxo

[Julie]

I happily borrowed this play to memorize a monologue for an audition. I saw a production of "The Voice of the Prairie" when one of my sisters was in college. I fell in love with the story about a man named David reminising about his youth over the airways at the dawn of the radio era in the 1920's. David tells stories about his Poppy and a blind girl named Frankie that he met and ended up traveling with across the midwest during the late 1800's. David stories of their adventures together captivated audiences across the airwaves which leaves them wondering about what happened to the real Frankie. How the plays moves between the different time periods and multiple character portrayals by a small group of actors was mesmorizing. This is a show that I would love to direct and possibly perform someday.

[Dan Blackley]

A very funny musical. The best little house in Texas is based on the story of the chicken ranch which ran into Playboy magazine. Eventually, they decide to write. This is a musical that Tommy tune directed, and it was a very big hit. I have done the Music and it’s a wonderful show. The biggest problem is trying to get all the Aggie boys to be in the show.

[Nan]

A fun musical, but one I will forget in a few days. I don't even if I'd like to see it or be in it. It does make some points about morality. The points, though, are lost because of the stereotypical small-town-Texas setting.

[Beverly Wiedemann]

I had the pleasure of directing this in college. It's a wonderful piece!