"Will Rogers, Now"

"Your one-man show on my father, Will Rogers was excellent! It was an audience holding performance."

• Will Rogers, Jr.

                     Drawing on over 15 years experience portraying Will Rogers, Lance Brown brings this great American hero to life to motivate and inspire his audiences. Rogers’ down-to-earth style, and common sense wit and wisdom, are perfect antidotes to the fast-paced world we live in today.

                      Mr. Brown has an intimate knowledge of his subject. His extensive research at the Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore, Oklahoma while writing his book, "On the Road with Will Rogers" has put at his fingertips an endless collection of Will’s radio monologues, newspaper articles, and off-the-cuff comments.

                       Lance has always had an interest in the cowboy life in general and Will Rogers in particular. Having been born in Roswell, New Mexico and raised in Texas and Colorado, the West is in Lance’s blood. His uncle, Carl Johnson Jr., was a horseback rancher, who owned and operated the Diamond and a Half Ranch outside of Jal, New Mexico. Lance recalls from his childhood going out to his uncle’s place to ride the horses and swim in the big galvanized steel water tanks. The scene was straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting – a windmill overhead, cattle drinking all around the edge of the tank, and the kids skinny-dipping in the middle. The men who worked on his Uncle Carl's ranch were tremendous admirers of Will Rogers. Early on, Lance understood that Will's life and accomplishments were legendary. Even though Lance was born nearly a decade after Rogers died, he almost feels as if he knew him.

                      Brown earned a degree in Fine Arts from Denver University, spent four years in the United States Navy, then became a social worker for the mentally disabled. He became a full-time performing artist in 1976 and never looked back. He now lives in Chicago and has been married to his soul mate, Debra, for 20 years.

                       In 1997, Lance stopped performing long enough to write a book entitled, "On the Road with Will Rogers," chronicling much of Will’s commentary and how his words still connect with us some 65+ years after his death. In the foreword, Will’s son, Jim says, "As an actor, humorist, singer, writer, and humanitarian himself, Lance has a unique connection to, and understanding of Will Rogers…Reading Lance Brown is as great as seeing and hearing him."

                          As Will Rogers, Lance Brown brings us history and hilarity, a few rope tricks, and food for thought, but mostly he brings us the irrepressible spirit of Will Rogers and hope for our uncertain times.

For Further Information Contact:

Lance Brown

(312) 961-6034