Alan Menken, Glenn Slater & More Working on 2016 Broadway-Bound Musical Happy Trails

The King of the Cowboys and Queen of the West are aiming for the Great White Way! Happy Trails: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in Song & Story has set its eyes on Broadway for next year. Joining the previously announced Oscar-winning bookwriter Marshall Brickman (Annie Hall, Jersey Boys) are composer Alan Menken (Newsies, Aladdin, the upcoming Mrs. Doubtfire) and lyricist Glenn Slater (Sister Act, School of Rock). Tony winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Tommy) will direct.

Initial reports of the project in development surfaced in September 2013, at which point just Brickman had been attached. At the time, the show was aiming to reach Broadway in late 2014 and open early this year.

Rogers—born Leonard Franklin Slye—grew up in an impoverished Ohio community before gaining a reputation as a yodeler and guitar player. It wasn’t before long that he rightfully earned the title “King of the Cowboys,” starring in 88 films between 1945 and 1975, and the popular The Roy Rodgers Show. Equally famous were his wife, “Queen of the West” Dale Evans and his golden palomino, Trigger—the only horse in Hollywood to be billed above the title. Rogers and Evans wed in 1947—three years after meeting on the set of The Cowboy and the Señorita. The two would go on to co-star in 28 films together.

Additional details, including cast and design team, will be announced at a later date.