The stage production closely follows the plot of its predecessors, providing a glimpse into the life of a farming family, the Frakes, and their three-day adventure at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines in 1946.
While parents Abel and Melissa are hoping to win a few blue ribbons, siblings Margy and Wayne are more interested in finding romance on the midway.
In 1969, The Muny in St. Louis presented the world stage premiere of State Fair starring Ozzie and Harriet Nelson with Ron Husmann, Jerry Lanning, Bonnie Schon, Carol Richards, Jack Goode, Tom Pedi, Tommy Tune and Lawrence Leritz in the children's chorus.
In 1992 a new stage adaptation, by Tom Briggs and Louis Mattioli, was produced as part of the Broadway Preview Series at the North Carolina School of the Arts, and was directed and choreographed by Randy Skinner.
[2] A re-staging of the 1992 version played on Broadway at the Music Box Theater opening March 27, 1996, following to a 23-city tour inaugurated with an engagement at the real Iowa State Fair August 12–20, 1995.
[3][4][5] The final credit for iconic Broadway producer David Merrick, the 1995-1996 production of State Fair was co-directed by James Hammerstein (Oscar's son) and Randy Skinner, with the latter doubling as choreographer.
Headlined by John Davidson as Abel, Kathryn Crosby as Melissa, and Andrea McArdle and Ben Wright as Margy and Wayne, the production also starred Donna McKechnie as Emily and Scott Wise as Pat.
When McArdle was sidelined by a foot injury incurred onstage June 5, she was replaced by Susan Egan who had played Margy in the 1992 tryout tour of State Fair.
The Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia hosted a production of State Fair September 10-October 19, 2008, which starred Mark Jacoby and Dee Hoty as Abel and Melissa Frake.
The Guardian reviewer wrote of the 2009 production: "It may not be one of the great musicals, but, in its melodic paean to middle America, I found this infinitely more enjoyable than some of Rodgers and Hammerstein's later, tendentious excursions into east-west politics.
Abel's wife, Melissa, has her heart set on ribbons for her mincemeat and sour pickles, while their son, Wayne, is practicing throwing hoops, hoping to win prizes from the midway games (“Opening (Our State Fair)”).
After arriving at the fair on Wednesday morning, Wayne heads straight for the midway, where he is hustled by a carnie at a ring-throwing game.
Meanwhile, Pat Gilbert, a former World War II reporter, arrives with Charlie, a photographer, to cover the fair for the Des Moines Register.
Unknowingly, Abel spiked Melissa's with a full bottle of brandy, sending the judges into a drunken fit of giggles and tipsiness.
Afterwards, Charlie tells Pat that he has landed a job interview with the Chicago Tribune, but it would mean catching the first train out of Iowa (“The Man I Used to Be (Reprise)”).
Harry enters, pleading to Margy for her hand in marriage, though her refusal finally leads him to realize that she simply just doesn't love him.
Upon returning to the family farm on Saturday morning, there is a full spread in the local newspaper detailing their experience at the Fair word-by-word, with extra emphasis on Margy, secretly written by Pat.
"Driving at Night" was created by co-director James Hammerstein and the production's orchestrator, Bruce Pomahac, with music from a song that had been cut from Allegro entitled "Two Short Years".