by Mike Haber | Aug 13, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
HELLO, BROADWAY FANS!!!! Can you believe it’s just 44 DAYS AWAY left till we celebrate the return of Live Theater on the Great Bright Way with The 74th Annual
Tony Awards? We at New York Broadway Tours are waking you up each morning with many of our favorite performances from previous telecasts on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. This is getting even all of us hype on returning to the Theater. Without further ado, bring on more Broadway showstoppers!!
At # 44 on our countdown, we put on our….. NOT OUR SUNDAY CLOTHES…. OUR FESTIVE CLOTHES as everyone’s favorite street smart matchmaker is in town. We are talking about “Dolly Gallagher Levi”. Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time to say…… Hello, Dolly. Based on Thorton Wilder’s play THE MATCHMAKER and John Oxenford’s play A DAY WELL SPENT, the show features a score by Jerry Herman and a book by Michael Stewart.
From the 2017 telecast, we get to meet one of Dolly’s clients and eventual love interest sharing what he’s all about. Tony Award winner David Hyde Pierce as the gruff and authoritative millionaire widower himself “Horace Vandergelder” from the recent Tony winning revival performs the Act’s 2 opener PENNY IN MY POCKET (a song that was performed in the show’s world premiere tryout, cut from its original production, but put back for the recent revival).
HELLO, DOLLY was first conceived in 1955 when Thorton Wilder’s play THE MERCHANT OF YONKERS renamed THE MATCHMAKER expanded the character of “Dolly Levi ” who was originally featured. It caught the attention of Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart turning it into a musical originally entitling it DOLLY: A DAMNED ESPARATING WOMAN and later CALL ON DOLLY. The show was originally written for the late Ethel Merman and later Mary Martin. However, they both turned it down and eventually went on to play the role in later productions. The show’s Pre-Broadway run had a rocky start with the book originally being a complete mess. During the weeks before it’s Broadway opening, scenes were cut and new dialogue and songs were written including BEFORE THE PARADE PASSES BY. Plus it was also given a name change following the success of
Louis Armstrong‘s rendition of the what would become title song HELLO, DOLLY!
HELLO, DOLLY officially arrived on Broadway in 1964 at the St. James Theatre. It ran for a total of 2,844 performances. Under the direction and choreography by Gower Champion, the cast was led by….
the legendary
Carol Channing (later Ginger Rogers, Martha Raye, Bibi Osterwald, Pearl Bailey, Betty Grable, Phyllis Diller, Thelma Carpenter, and
Ethel Merman) in the title role,
David Burns (later Max Showalter, Cab Calloway, Richard Deacon, and Jack Goode) as “Horace Vandergelder”,
Charles Nelson Reilly (later Russel Nype, Will Mackenzie, Jack Crowder, and Bill Mullikin) as “Cornelus Hackel”,
Jerry Dodge (later Harvey Evans, Winston DeWitt Hemsley, John Mineo, and Danny Lockin) as “Barnaby Tucker”,
Eileen Brennan (later Emily Yancy, June Helmers, and Erstentine Jackson) as “Irene Molloy”,
Sondra Lee (later Leland Palmer, Chris Calloway, Georgia Engel, and Sherri Peaches Brewer) as “Minnie Fay”,
Igors Gavon (later Roger Lawson, Ronald Young, Howard Porter, and David Evans) as “Ambrose Kemper”,
Alice Playten (later Sherri Peaches Prewer, Marion Ramsey, Edloe R. Brown, and Andrea Bell) as “Ermengarde”,
Mary Jo Catlett (later Alyce Webb, Marcia Lewis, and Mabel King) as “Ernestina Money”.
The original production was nominated for 14 Tony Awards winning the most (at the time) 10 including BEST MUSICAL, a record held for 37 years until The Producers.
Following its original run, HELLO, DOLLY would go on to become a worldwide hit in London’s West End, Australia, and around the world. The show would later be revived on Broadway 4 times,
The first revival happened in 1975 playing Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre for only 47 performances. It was known for featuring a full cast of Actors of Color in these iconic roles. Under the direction of Lucia Victor, this production starred….
Pearl Bailey (who previously appeared in the original production as a later replacement) in the title role
Billy Daniels as “Horace Vandergelder”,
Terrence Emmanuel as “Cornelus Hackel”,
Grenaldo Fraizer as “Barnaby Tucker”,
Mary Louise as “Irene Molloy”,
Chip Fields as “Minnie Fay”,
Howard Porter as “Ambrose Kemper”,
Karen Hubbard as “Ermengarde”,
Bessye Ruth Scott as “Ernestina Money”.
That first revival did not receive any Tony nominations or wins that year.
The 2nd revival in 1978 brought back Gower Champion and members of the original creative team for 5 previews and 147 performances at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. This remounted revival starred….
Carol Channing reprising her legendary performance as the title role,
Eddie Bracken as “Horace Vandergelder”,
Lee Roy Reams as “Cornelus Hackel”,
Robert Lyliard as “Barnaby Tucker”,
Alexandra Korey as “Minnie Fay”,
Michael C. Booker as “Ambrose Kemper”,
K.T. Baumann as “Ermengarde”,
P.J Nelson as “Ernestina Money”.
It received only 1 Tony nominee that year for BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Eddie Bricken) who lost the category.
The 3rd revival happened in 1995, It returned to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre with an updated version of the remounting of the original staging directed by Lee Roy Reams (after having played “Cornelus Hackel” in 1978). It ran for 116 performances. This cast was led by….
Carol Channing reprising her signature role as “Dolly Gallagher-Levi” one last time,
Jay Garner as “Horace Vandergelder”,
Michael DeVries as “Cornelus Hackel”,
Cory English as “Barnaby Tucker”,
Florence Lacey reprising her 1978 performance as “Irene Molloy”,
Lori Ann Mahl as “Minnie Fay”,
James Darrah as “Ambrose Kemper”,
Christina DeVito as “Ermengarde”,
Monica M. Wemitt as “Ernestina Money”.
This 1995 revival was nominated for only 1 Tony for BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL but lost the category.
The most recent revival of HELLO, DOLLY played Broadway’s Shubert Theatre in 2017 playing a complete total of 34 previews and 550 regular performances. Under the direction of
Jerry Zaks and choreographed by
Warren Carlyle, this legendary production starred….
David Hyde Pierce (later
Victor Garber) as “Horace Vandergelder”,
Gavin Creel (later Santino Fontana) as “Cornelus Hackel”,
Taylor Trensch (later Charlie Stemp) as “Barnaby Tucker”,
Kate Baldwin as “Irene Molloy”,
Will Burton as “Ambrose Kemper”,
The recent revival was nominated for 10 Tony Awards winning 4 including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL and BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Bette Midler – which included a history making 5 minute Thank You Speech even with the Orchestra playing the exit music).
At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic recently, that recent 2017 revival was playing to packed houses on a critically acclaimed National Tour (led by Betty Buckley and later Carolee Carmello). However at the time of the shutdown, the tour closed 1 week early than expected.
Along with its success on stage, HELLO DOLLY was also a smash hit on the big screen. The film version was released in 1969 from
20th Century Fox. Under the direction of Gene Kelly, the film was led by….
the legendary
Barbra Streisand (being the youngest actress ever) to play the titular role of “Dolly Gallagher-Levi”,
Walter Matthau as “Horace Vandergelder”,
Danny Lockin as “Barnaby Tucker”,
Marianne McAndrew as “Irene Molloy”,
E.J Peaker as “Minnie Fay”,
Tommy Tune as “Ambrose Kemper”,
Joyce Ames as “Ermengarde”,
Judy Knaiz as “Ernestina Money” (last name renamed “Semple”).
The original film was nominated that same year for 7 Academy Awards that year taking home 4 including BEST SCORE.
Today,
Hello Dolly is a popular show that continues to play in schools, community, and regional theatre productions everywhere.
Doesn’t this musical make you want to FEEL YOUR HEART COME ALIVE AGAIN?!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7VrytuP02c&fbclid=IwAR2W8_RLBHVu_xlUXJIkcqn2BlvwhEoQzbT4u-gkttVRY_z4u-X29eKLAA0
by Mike Haber | Aug 10, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, Shows
HELLO BROADWAY FANS! Can’t believe we’re only 47 DAYS closer to Broadway’s biggest night of the year and celebrating the return of Live Theater at the same time. So much anticipation in the air for The 74th Annual
Tony Awards. The fun continues here at New York Broadway Tours presenting you more of your favorite Musical Theater showstoppers from past telecasts in our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN.
At # 47 on our countdown today, we take you to a local pajama factory in 1940 that is in boiling hot water. The factory workers are asking the head of staff to have a larger raise of 7 1/2 cents. At the same time, romance blooms between the new superintendent and the head of the grievance committee. This is
The Pajama Game. The show features an original score written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross (in addition Frank Loesser but is uncredited), a book by George Abbott and Richard Bissell, and original staging by Bob Fosse, It’s based on a 1953 novel by Bissell entitled 7 1/2 CENTS.
From the 1971 telecast (where many of your favorite Broadway stars at the time reprised their signature roles for one night only), the phenomenal
John Raitt as “Sid Sorokin” sings one of the show’s signature ballads….. The one that expresses romance for that special someone but the feelings are not mutual….. HEY THERE.
THE PAJAMA GAME originally premiered on Broadway in 1954 at the St. James Theatre where it ran for a total of 1,063 performances. Under the direction of George Abbott and Jerome Robbins along with choreography by Bob Fosse, the cast was led by….
John Raitt (later Stephen Douglas) as “Sid Sorokin”,
Eddie Foy Jr. as “Hines”,
Ralph Dunn as “Mr. Hasler”,
Carol Haney as “Gladdys”,
Thelma Pelish as “Mae”,
And more.
In addition, the legendary actress
Shirley MacLaine got her start appearing in the Ensemble and covering the role of “Gladys Hotchkiss” (usually played by Carol Haney). During a performance going on for the role of “Gladys”, MacLaine was discovered by Hal B. Wallis (who was in the audience) and was offered her contract with
Paramount Pictures.
The original production of THE PAJAMA GAME was nominated and won all 3 of it’s Tony Awards in 1955 including BEST MUSICAL.
The show was later revived on Broadway TWICE.
The first Broadway revival of THE PAJAMA GAME happened in 1973 at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre running for only 65 performances.
starting in 1973. It played the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre running for only 5 previews and 65 regular performances. Once again directed by George Abbott and choreography by Bob Fosse, cast featured…
Barbara McNair as “Babe Williams”.
Cab Calloway as “Hines”,
Williard Waterman as “Mr. Hasler”,
Sharron Miller as “Gladdys”,
Margret Coleman as “Mae”,
And more.
It did not receive any Tony nominations that season.
The most recent Broadway revival happened in 2006 from
Roundabout Theatre Company. It played the American Airlines Theatre for a limited engagement of 41 previews and 129 regular performances. This revival featured a revised and updated book by Peter Ackerman (screenwriter of The
Ice Age Movies), additional songs that were cut from the original production added back into the show, and all new orchestrations of some of the beloved songs showcasing the show’s leading man
Harry Connick Jr‘s voice. The song HERNANDO’S HIDEAWAY also included an additional dance break featuring the music having a swing and jazzier edge (which also featured Connick Jr playing the piano on stage). With brand new direction and choreography by Kathleen Marshall, the cast was led by…..
Harry Connick Jr. as “Sid Sorokin”,
Richard Poe as “Mr. Hasler”,
Megan Lawrence as “Gladdys”,
Joyce Chittick as “Mae”,
And more.
The 2006 revival was nominated for 9 Tony Awards winning 2 for BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL and BEST CHOREOGRAPHY (for Kathleen Marshall).
THE PAJAMA GAME was also a smash hit on the big screen in 1957 produced by
Warner Bros. Pictures. It featured majority of the cast from Broadway reprising their roles on the big screen along with some newcomers. Under the direction of George Abbott and Stanley Donen plus choreography by Bob Fosse, the film cast was led by….
John Raitt reprising his Broadway performance as “Sid Sorokin”,
Eddie Foy Jr. as “Hines”,
Ralph Dunn as “Mr. Hasler”,
Carol Haney as “Gladdys”,
Thelma Pelish as “Mae”,
And more.
Today THE PAJAMA GAME is a popular show performed in schools, Community Theatres, Regional Theatres, and around the world.
Doesn’t this show make you want to join in the fun and romance??!!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 9, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
RISE & SHINE SUPER BROADWAY FANS EVERYONE! Today marks 48 DAYS till we celebrate Broadway’s biggest night of the year….. The 74th Annual Tony Awards. Been a rough past year and a half without Live Theater. However, the Great Bright Way is making its comeback and we are celebrating with our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. With Broadway’s return, this community has come together to celebrate the art Live Theater is & what can we do to make it a BRIGHTER BROADWAY…… especially when it comes to diversity. Are you ready for more of Broadway’s best?!!!
Speaking of diversity, our choice at # 48 on our countdown takes us to the New York City cabaret and jazz club scene…. 1940’s era. That classic big band era playing the latest hottest beat called swing. This particular show celebrates that legacy. This is AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’. This musical is a revue celebrating the music of the acclaimed jazz entertainer Fats Waller (which the show is named after his famous song). It also includes a book by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr.,
From the 1978 telecast, the legendary talents of Tony winners André De Shields and the late Nell Carter along with Ken Page, Tony nominee Charlayne Woodard, and the late Armelia McQueen perform a toe-tapping medley of LADIES WHO SING WITH THE BAND and OFF-TIME.
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ originally premiered in February of 1978 as a cabaret act part of Manhattan Theatre Club’s former East 73rd Street cabaret space. It earned so much critical praise that the full show was expanded into a full-scale Broadway production. It immediately moved to the Great Bright Way in the Spring of that very same year opening at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre before transferring to the Plymouth Theatre (now the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre) and the Belasco Theatre. It ran for a complete total of 1,618 performances. Under the direction of Richard Maltby Jr. and choreographed by Arthur Faria, the cast was led by…..
The original production was nominated for 5 Tony Awards that very same year winning 3 for BEST MUSICAL, BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Nell Carter), and BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL (for Richard Maltby Jr). It also won various other Awards including being the recipient of 2 Theatre World Awards and the Drama Desk for OUTSTANDING MUSICAL.
The show would eventually debut overseas in London’s West End in 1979.
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ was later revived on Broadway in 1988 at the Ambassador Theatre for a strictly limited engagement of 184 performances. It reunited BOTH the full creative team and original cast, all reprising their performances.
That remounted revival would be nominated for a Tony Award again that same year for BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL but lost the category.
It later launched several National Tours both in 1995 (that almost went to Broadway) and then later in 2008 commemorating the show’s 30th Anniversary.
Along with its success on stage, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ was also captured on film. In 1982 filmed the show directly for television with the original cast and aired on NBC, It was well received being nominated for 8 Primetime Emmy Awards that year. It took home 2 for INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE IN A VARIETY OR MUSIC PROGRAM (both for Nell Carter and Andre De Shields).
Today, there have been productions of AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ produced in Regional Theaters and around the world.
How soulful and toe-tapping was that performance?
#TonyAwards #CountdownToTheTonys #NYBTTop50TonyAwardsCountdown #BroadwaysBiggestNight #BroadwaysBack #TheShowMustGoOn #ThisIsBroadway #livetheaterreturns
by Mike Haber | Aug 8, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS! We are celebrating the best of the Great Bright Way making its way to a comeback. Most importantly, we are just 49 DAYS AWAY till we finally celebrate Broadway’s biggest night of the year….. The 74th Annual
Tony Awards. To keep us entertained and celebrate this community we love and dream about, our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN continues with more of our favorite show stopping performances from previous telecasts.
Speaking of dreams, our choice at # 49 on our countdown is truly a musical all about that. This show is a tale from the bible about a young boy with so many dreams, possibilities, and a “Coat of Many Colors”. We of course are talking about
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This all sung-through musical features no book but a score by Sir
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Tim Rice.
FUN FACT: JOSEPH is a very personal show that means so much to both NYBT’s very own
Amada and Mike. Both have gotten to perform in professional productions of the show. Amada appeared in one of the show’s National Touring companies as a young girl. Meanwhile, Mike took part in MCP’s sold out & one night only 50th Anniversary concert production at
Lincoln Center.
From the 1982 telecast, the late and great
Laurie Beechman as “The Narrator”, Bill Hutton as the titular role of “Joseph”, and the full original cast perform a medley of many of the show’s notable songs. It includes JACOB & SONS, ONE MORE ANGEL IN HEAVEN, POTIPHAR, BENJAMIN CALYPSO, GO GO GO JOSEPH, SONG OF THE PHARAOH, A PHARAOH’S STORY, ANY DREAM WILL DO, and JOSEPH’S COAT.
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT was first conceived in 1967. At the time, a young 17 year old composer by the name of Andrew Lloyd Webber and 20 year old pop songwriter Tim Rice were just off the hands off from writing their first show THE LIKES OF US. A friend of Lloyd-Webber’s family and London schoolteacher Alan Doggett commissioned both Andrew and Tim to write a piece for the Colet Court school choir. Doggett requested a “pop cantata” along the lines of Herbert Chappell’s The Daniel Jazz (1963) and Michael Hurd’s Jonah-Man Jazz (1966), both of which had been published by music publisher Novello. Both the pieces were based on the Old Testament. However, the request for the new piece came with a 100-guinea advance from Novello. This ended up resulting in creating a pop-vaudeville retelling of the biblical story of Joseph.
The piece officially had its world premiere in March 1968 as a 15-minute pop cantata at Colet Court School in London. It was well received by the audience that William Lloyd Webber (Andrew’s father) arranged for a second performance 2 months later. The 2nd performance was held at Westminster Central Hall, where William worked as the organist. The pop cantata was revised and expanded for an additional 20-minutes. It featured the choir boys of Colet Court and members of the band Mixed Bag singing through the piece. One of the children’s parents in that audience was Derek Jewell, a Sunday Times music critic. At the 2nd performance, he reviewed the piece in the newspaper, calling it a new pop oratorio and raving its innovation and exuberance. 6 months later came a 3rd performance at St Paul’s Cathedral with the piece being expanded once more for an additional 35 minutes. Novello published the lyrics and sheet music of the 20-minute version at the beginning of 1969, as the third of their Old Testament pop cantatas. Decca Records, which had already recorded the St Paul’s Cathedral version of the musical in the summer of 1968, released the recording in 1969, credited to the Joseph Consortium, following the Novello publication. The recording featured singer David Daltrey as “Joseph” along with Tim Rice as “The Pharaoh”, the group Mixed Bag, and the Colet Court School choir. 4 years later, an updated concept album of the musical was released in 1971 from Scepter Records. Once again it featured David Daltrey as “Joseph” along with Tim Rice as “The Pharaoh”, and the Colet Court School choir.
In 1970 following the success of both the concept album of JOSEPH and their acclaimed previous stage hit Jesus Christ Superstar, Webber and Rice decided to pull off a full scale stage show of JOSEPH as a “follow-up” to SUPERSTAR. The first American production of the show was an amateur stage production in May 1970, at the Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in Douglaston, Queens, New York City. Following the production, schools and colleges sought to produce the piece. It later went on to launch productions in the UK including a 1972 Fringe staging at the Edinburgh International Festival by the Young Vic Theatre Company. It was well received that the following year of 1973, it transferred to London’s West End at the Albery Theatre running for 243 performances. It would later go through various changes and final updates to the full sung-through musical we all know today.
The final updated version of JOSEPH embarked on a mini Pre-New York tour before officially hitting the Big Apple in 1981 as an Off-Broadway production playing the Entermedia Theatre for 3 months. It was well received that the production officially transferred to its life ON BROADWAY the following year playing the Royale Theatre (now the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre) for 747 performances. Under the direction and choreography of Tony Tanner, the cast was led by….
Bill Hutton (later David Cassidy) as “Joseph”,
Laurie Beechman (later Sharon Brown) as “The Narrator”,
Tom Carder (later Michael Speero) as “The Pharaoh”,
Gordon Stanley as “Jacob”,
David Ardao as “Potiphar”,
and more.
JOSEPH was nominated for 7 Tony Awards in 1982 including BEST MUSICAL. However, the show lost all its categories.
Following its life on Broadway, the show went on to continue to inspire audiences around the world including a North American National Tour and several revamped and updated new productions.
The most recent major production of JOSEPH here in NYC happened in the 90’s. This 1st and only revival was based on an acclaimed 1991 staging that played The London Palladium which its cast album debuted on the UK Album charts at # 1. The revamped revival following London played Toronto, a brief US Tour, and eventually hit Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre in 1993 running for 231 performances. Under the direction of Steven Pimlott and choreography by Anthony Van Laast, the cast was led by….
Robert Torti as “The Pharaoh”,
Clifford David as both “Jacob” and “Potiphar”,
and more.
It did not receive any nominations or wins from the Tony Awards in 1994.
JOSEPH later went on to launch more notable productions around the world including a remounting of the 1991 Palladium production in 2007 (which also included a
BBC casting reality show in the UK voting a new lucky talent to play “Joseph”), several touring companies, and more. Currently, it’s being performed as a brand new production at
The London Palladium.
Most recently prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, JOSEPH made its way back to the Big Apple with a successful one night only sold out concert staging in celebration of the show’s 50th Anniversary. Produced by
Manhattan Concert Productions, it was performed at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center featuring an all-star cast. Under the direction of Michael Arden, the cast was led by….
Along with its triumph on stage, JOSEPH was a smash on the screen. In 2001,
PolyGram Video released a direct-to-video presentation of the musical. It later world air on PBS part of Great Performances. Under the direction of David Mamet and bits from the Palladium production, the film featured….
Maria Friedman as “The Narrator”,
Robert Torti as “The Pharaoh”,
Richard Attenborough as “Jacob”,
Ian McNeice as “Potiphar”,
and more.
Today, there are various productions of JOSEPH all around the world in schools, community, and regional theaters everywhere. It’s one of the most popular shows put on.
Isn’t this musical so powerful?
by Mike Haber | Aug 7, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
YEEEEEEEEE HAWWWWWWWWW! Live Theater is making its way back to the Great Bright Way. Today marks 50 DAYS till we finally get to celebrate Broadway’s biggest night of the year….. the 74th Annual
Tony Awards. This past year alone has been really rough with the COVID-19 pandemic and how it affected this magical place we call home. So many shows from the 2019-2020 season have opened. There were other shows that were just starting their runs. Of course, there were the shows that did NOT even begin performances yet. With ongoing safety precautions, we are taking things in that slow and steady approach as we get closer each day to those curtains rising once more. That first night for most shows….especially our favorite musicals is going to be an emotional magical evening. Anyways, to get us in the mood of the Great Bright Way making its comeback and celebrating the Tony Awards in just 50 DAYS….. we at New York Broadway Tours are once again proud to present our TOP 5o TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN!!! Each morning, we will be waking you up each morning playing many of our favorite show stopping performances from previous Tony telecasts. You’ll also discover the history of these beloved shows we know in love. Without further or do…. LET’S GO ON WITH THE SHOW!!
Speaking of saying LET’S GO ON WITH THE SHOW, kicking it all off at # 50 is a classic Musical that truly believes in the spirit of that mantra. We are about to take you deep into the Wild Wild West following the life of one of the most famed sharp shooters in American History….. Annie Oakley. We are talking about the Great American classic that hits the ENTERTAINMENT BULLSEYE itself…..
Annie Get Your Gun. The show features a renowned score by
Irving Berlin along with a book by Dorothy and Herbert Fields.
From the 1999 telecast. the legendary
Bernadette Peters in the titular role of “Annie Oakley”,
Tom Wopat as “Frank Butler”, and the cast of that year’s revival take us to the ultimate Wild West Reception at the Hotel Brevoort. Here they are performing a medley of 2 of the musical’s notable classics I GOT THE SUN IN THE MORNING and AN OLD FASHION WEDDING.
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN was first conceived by Dorothy Fields who wanted to create a musical about the famed sharpshooter Annie Oakley for her friend and celebrated powerhouse
Ethel Merman. After a rocky start with producer Mike Todd, Fields approached a new producing team….. Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II (who had just come off the success of their breakout debut musical
OKLAHOMA!). Along with continuing to become successful writers, Rodgers & Hammerstein became Theater entrepreneurs going into the world of producing for both their new shows and other authors. They immediately got attached to the project asking acclaimed songwriter Jerome Kern to do the score. At the same time, Dorothy Fields would do the lyrics along with co-writing the book with her brother Herbert. However, tragedy struck just 3 DAYS after beginning work on the musical….. Jerome Kern suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while walking at the corner of Park Avenue and 57th Street. He was hospitalized and died a week later.
Following Kern’s tragic passing,
Rodgers & Hammerstein reached out to Irving Berlin in taking over on the project. However, he originally refused to do the project due to fear of not being able to write certain songs that would be the perfect fit for each scene. Oscar Hammerstein II mentored Berlin in helping him study the script which eventually led to inspiration for some of the musical’s notable songs today including DOIN’ WHAT COMES NATURALLY and the show’s anthem THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS. The songs themselves were perfect for BOTH the script and Ethel Merman’s vocal chops. At the same time, Dorothy Fields agreed to step down as the lyricist focusing on the book. The work continued for the team till the show was ready.
Finally on May 16th, 1946, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN made its Broadway debut at the Imperial Theatre running for 1, 146 performances. Under the direction of Joshua Logan, the original production was led by….
Ethel Merman in her signature performance as “Annie Oakley”,
Ray Middleton (later Milton Watson) as “Frank Butler”,
William O’Neal as “Colonel Buffalo Bill Cody”,
Marty May as “Charlie Davenport”,
Lea Penman as “Dolly Tate”,
Harry Bellaver (later Bert Freed) as “Chief Sitting Bull”,
Kenny Bowers as “Tommy Keeler”,
Betty Anne Nyman as “Winnie Tate”,
George Lipton as “Pawnee Bill”,
The original production of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN did not receive any Tony Award nominations or wins. The Tonys was created a year later in 1947.
With the success of the original Broadway run, the show went on to become a worldwide phenomenon. It embarked on a North American National Tour that following year of 1947 (starring Mary Martin as the title role), in London’s West End (starring Dolores Gray) playing the
London Coliseum for 1,304 performances, and in Australia (starring Evie Hayes). It also launched various productions worldwide including Paris and Mexico.
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN would later be revived several times on the New York stage including 2 BROADWAY REVIVALS.
The 1st Broadway revival of the musical happened in 1966. It played the Vivian Beaumont at
Lincoln Center Theater for a strictly limited engagement of 78 performances. This version was abridged. Several songs, storyline, and characters were cut including the love story between “Tommy Keeler” and “Winnie Tate”. This production would later go on a short 10 week North American National Tour. Under the direction of Jack Sydow, the cast was led by….
Ethel Merman reprising her performance as “Annie Oakley”,
Bruce Yarnell as “Frank Butler”,
Rufus Smith as “Colonel Buffalo Bill Cody”,
Benay Venutta who previously appeared in the 1950 film version reprising the role as “Dolly Tate”,
Jack Dabdoub as “Pawnee Bill”,
This revival was nominated for 2 Tony Awards that year including BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL (for Jack Sydow) and BEST CHOREOGRAPHY (for Danny Daniels). However, it lost both its categories.
From there, the show went on to continue launching more productions around the world including 2 West End revivals both in 1986 (starring Suzi Quatro) and 1992 (starring Kim Criswell).
The most recent ON Broadway revival of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN happened in 1999. Following a triumphant out-of-town tryout at
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in our Nation’s Capitol of Washington D.C., it made its way to Broadway’s Marquis Theatre where it ran for 35 previews and 1,045 regular performances. This version was a fully updated take on the musical for this generation. The book was revised by Peter Stone being structured as a “Show within a show” vibe using Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show as a traveling big-top circus act. Notable changes included the show opening with THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS (replacing the initial opening number COLONEL BUFFALO BILL) featuring “Frank Butler” singing and “Buffalo Bill” himself introducing and narrating the story. The “Tommy” and “Winnie” love story was put back in. Under the direction of Graciela Danielle, the cast of this revival was led by….
Peter Marx as “Charlie Davenport”,
Valerie Wright (later Michelle Blakely and Kerry O’Malley) as “Dolly Tate”,
Gregory Zaragoza (later Larry Storch) as “Chief Sitting Bull”,
Andrew Palermo (later Randy Donaldson, Eric Scottio, and Craig D’Amico) as “Tommy Keeler”,
Nikki Snelson (later Emily Rozek and Claci Miller) as “Winnie Tate”,
Ron Caroll (later Gerry Vicchi) as “Pawnee Bill”,
This legendary revival of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN was nominated for 3 Tony Awards that same year of 1999. It won 2 out of the 3 categories for BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL and BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (marking the 2nd win for Bernadette Peters). Its cast album also won the
Grammy Award for BEST MUSICAL SHOW ALBUM. It also took home a
Drama Desk Award both in 1999 (for OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL for Peters) and 2001 (getting the SPECIAL AWARD for Reba McEntire when she took over).
There have continued to be many more productions of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN everywhere around the world.
The recent New York production of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN served as a concert production at
New York City Center for its annual GALA show. Under the direction of John Rando, this cast was led by….
Brad Oscar as “Charlie Davenport”,
Marshall Factora as “Chief Sitting Bull”,
Chuck Cooper as “Pawnee Bill”,
and more.
Along with its triumph on stage, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN was also a triumphant success on the Big Screen.
The original film version was released in 1950 from
MGM. However, its jump from stage to screen had tons of Behind the Scenes drama. The original budget for this film was $1.5 million with $600,000 payable to Irving Berlin and Dorothy and Herbert Fields to use BOTH the score and book. Produced by Arthur Freed, the film was initially made for and starred
Judy Garland in the role of “Annie Oakley”. At the time, Garland was extremely exhausted from film after film after film at MGM. She insisted on taking 6 months off to recover and recharge. However, the studio refused, forced and threw her right into the movie causing her to feel exhausted, get more sick, and grumpy. The worst situation was that the film’s original director and choreographer was Busby Berkeley. Previously, Garland worked with his tyrannical director on various MGM films including STRIKE UP THE BAND and GIRL CRAZY (which Berkeley previously got fired after causing her to faint). There were days where Garland NOT showed up to set, arrived late, and had several walk outs….. She refused to work with Busy Berkley. With the reports of the un-professionalism, Garland would be BOTH fired from the film and it also officially terminated her contract from MGM. The news of Garland’s termination caused her to even cause a few suicide attempts (which included breaking a glass and slashing her throat in the bathroom). Berkeley would be fired as well. Along with the whole Judy Garland drama, her former
Wizard of Oz co-star Frank Morgan (who was originally tapped to play “Colonel Buffalo Bill Cody” unexpectedly died of a heart attack in the midst while shooting. After a rocky start, MGM put together a full new package for the film. With new direction by George Sidney, the cast was led by….
Betty Hutton (replacing Judy Garland) as “Annie Oakley”,
Louis Calhern as “Colonel Buffalo Bill Cody”,
Keenan Wynn as “Charlie Davenport”,
Benay Venutta as “Dolly Tate”,
J. Carol Naish as “Chief Sitting Bull”,
Edward Arnold as “Pawnee Bill”,
and more.
The film went on to become one of the most successful movie musicals of all time. During its initial release, it earned over $4,708,000 in the US and Canada and $3,048,000 overseas, resulting in a profit of $1,061,000. It also was nominated for 4 Oscars winning 1 for BEST MUSIC SCORING.
The musical would also be captured on film an additional 2 times.
6 years after the original film’s release, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN was captured on film again. This time, it was done as a critically acclaimed live TV production in 1957 on
NBC. Under the direction of Vincente J. Donehue, the cast was led by….
Mary Martin (direct from the 1st National Tour) as “Annie Oakley”,
John Raitt as “Frank Butler”,
William O’Neal reprising his original Broadway role as “Colonel Buffalo Bill Cody”,
Donald Burr as “Charlie Davenport”,
Reta Shaw as “Dolly Tate”,
Norman Edwards as “Tommy Keeler”,
Susan Luckey as “Winnie Tate”,
Zachary Charles as “Chief Sitting Bull”,
Robert Nash as “Pawnee Bill”,
and more.
This 1957 live production was nominated for 1 Emmy Award for BEST LIVE CAMERA WORK.
The previous filmed presentation of the musical would happen in 1966…. It was an abbreviated 90 minute version of that year’s Lincoln Center Theatre revival that also aired on NBC. It starred the full cast of that revival (including Ethel Merman as “Annie Oakley”).
Today, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN has been continued to be performed in schools. Community, and Regional Theaters everywhere. There are 2 VERSIONS that are available for licensing consisting…. The 1966 revival for Amateur Performers and the 1999 revival. Truly a celebration of SHOW BUSINESS!!!
How about that toe-tapping performance?
Annie Get Your Gun – YouTube
