The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public

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Original Cast Recording
The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public

Music	Carol Hall
Lyrics	Carol Hall
Book	Larry L. King Peter Masterson
Based upon	Sequel to The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Productions	1994 Broadway

The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public is a musical with a book by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson and music and lyrics by Carol Hall.

Ostensibly a sequel to the creative team's 1978 hit The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, it is more a series of burlesque-style sketches and musical interludes than a traditional book musical. Hoping to recover $26 million in back taxes owed them by Las Vegas whorehouse Stallion Fields, the IRS lures former brothel madam Mona Stangley out of retirement to run the operation. Complications arise when billionaire Sam Dallas arranges the sale of shares in the enterprise on the stock exchange and right-wing politician Senator A. Harry Hardast objects to his plan.

The Vegas locale allows for an ongoing parade of barely-dressed showgirls in glitzy Bob Mackie costumes, Sonny and Cher, Elvis Presley, Liberace, and Siegfried and Roy impersonators, and a two-bit stand-up comic acting as emcee against a background of flashing neon lights and accompanied by the sound of ever-jangling slot machines.

After 28 previews, the Broadway production, directed by Tommy Tune and Peter Masterson and choreographed by Tune and Jeff Calhoun, opened on May 10, 1994 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, where it ran for 16 performances. The cast included Dee Hoty as Mona, Scott Holmes as Sam, Ronn Carroll as the Senator, and Jim David as the emcee.

An original cast recording was released by Varese Sarabande.