Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by
Irving BerlinIrving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
and a book by
Herbert FieldsHerbert Fields was an American librettist and screenwriter.Born in New York City, Fields began his career as an actor, then graduated to choreography and stage direction before turning to writing. From 1925 until his death, he contributed to the libretti of many Broadway musicals...
and his sister
Dorothy FieldsDorothy Fields was an American librettist and lyricist.She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films...
. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of
Annie OakleyAnnie Oakley , born Phoebe Ann Mosey, was an American sharpshooter and exhibition shooter. Oakley's amazing talent and timely rise to fame led to a starring role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, which propelled her to become the first American female superstar.Oakley's most famous trick is perhaps...
(1860–1926), who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband,
Frank ButlerFrank E. Butler was a marksman in Wild West variety shows. He was married to sharpshooter Annie Oakley. While his birth date is listed on his and Annie's U.S. Passport application as February 25, 1852, it is possible he was born in 1847.-Biography:Butler was born in county Longford, Ireland and...
.
The 1946
BroadwayBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production was a hit, and the musical had long runs in both New York (1,147 performances) and London, spawning revivals,
a 1950 film versionAnnie Get Your Gun is a 1950 American musical comedy film loosely based on the life of sharpshooter Annie Oakley. The Metro Goldwyn Mayer release, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and a screenplay by Sidney Sheldon based on the 1946 stage musical of the same name, was directed by George Sidney...
and television versions. Songs that became hits include "There's No Business Like Show Business", "
Doin' What Comes Natur'lly"Doin' What Comes Natur'lly" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, written by Irving Berlin. The song was introduced by Ethel Merman in the original production of the musical...
", "
You Can't Get a Man with a Gun"You Can't Get a Man with a Gun" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, by Irving Berlin. It was originally performed by Ethel Merman.Other singers to have recorded the song include Betty Hutton, Bernadette Peters and Judy Garland....
", "
They Say It's Wonderful"They Say It's Wonderful" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the musical Annie Get Your Gun , where it was introduced by Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton.It was sung by Kirsten Dunst in Spider-Man 3 .-Notable recordings:...
", and "Anything You Can Do."
History and background
Dorothy Fields had the idea for a musical about Annie Oakley, to star her friend,
Ethel MermanEthel Merman was an American actress and singer. Known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm", "Everything's...
. After producer
Mike ToddMichael Todd was an American theatre and film producer, best known for his 1956 production of Around the World in Eighty Days, which won an Academy Award for Best Picture...
turned the project down, Fields and Merman went to a new producing team,
Richard RodgersRichard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
and
Oscar Hammerstein IIOscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
, who agreed to produce, with
Jerome KernJerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A...
writing the music to Fields' lyrics and book (together with her brother Herbert). However, before he could produce the score, Kern died suddenly. The producers and Fields then asked Irving Berlin to take on the job of writing both lyrics and music. Berlin initially thought it was not quite "up his alley," worrying that he would be unable to write songs to fit specific scenes in "a situation show." He was eventually persuaded by being able to work with the director,
Joshua LoganJoshua Lockwood Logan III was an American stage and film director and writer.-Early years:Logan was born in Texarkana, Texas, the son of Susan and Joshua Lockwood Logan. When he was three years old his father committed suicide...
.
The musical's showstopper song, "There's No Business Like Show Business," was almost left out of the show because Berlin, mistakenly, got the impression that one of the producers, Richard Rodgers, did not like it.
For the revised 1999 revival, the writer
Peter StonePeter Hess Stone was an American writer for theater, television and movies.-Life and career:Stone was born in Los Angeles. His mother, Hilda , was a film writer, and his father, John Stone was the writer and producer of many silent films, including Shirley Temple and Charlie Chan movies...
said, "The big challenge is taking a book that was wonderfully crafted for its time and make it wonderfully crafted for our time.... But [its insensitivity] had to be dealt with in a way that was heartfelt and not obvious.... In this case, it was with the permission of the heirs. They're terribly pleased with it all."
Plot summary
Act I
When the traveling Buffalo Bill's Wild West show visits
Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
("Colonel Buffalo Bill"§), Frank Butler, the show's handsome, womanizing star ("I'm a Bad, Bad, Man"§), challenges anyone in town to a shooting match. Foster Wilson, a local hotel owner, doesn't appreciate the Wild West Show taking over his hotel, so Frank gives him a side bet of one hundred dollars on the match. Annie Oakley enters and shoots a bird off Dolly Tate's hat, and then explains her simple backwoods ways to Wilson with the help of her siblings ("Doin' What Comes Natur'lly"). When Wilson learns she's a brilliant shot, he enters her in the shooting match against Frank Butler.
While Annie waits for the match to start, she meets Frank Butler and falls instantly in love with him, not knowing he will be her opponent. When she asks Frank if he likes her, Frank explains that the girl he wants will "wear satin... and smell of cologne" ("The Girl That I Marry"). The rough and naive Annie comically laments that "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun". At the shooting match, Annie finds out that Frank is the "big swollen-headed stiff" from the Wild West Show. She wins the contest, and Buffalo Bill and Charlie Davenport, the show's manager, invite Annie to join the Wild West Show. Annie agrees because she loves Frank even though she has no idea what "show business" is. Frank, Charlie, Buffalo Bill, and everyone explain that "There's No Business Like Show Business."
Over the course of working together, Frank becomes enamored of the plain-spoken, honest, tomboyish Annie and, as they travel to
Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
on a train, he explains to her what "love" is ("They Say It's Wonderful"). Buffalo Bill and Charlie discover that the rival show, Pawnee Bill's Far East Show, will be playing in
Saint Paul, MinnesotaSaint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
while the Wild West Show plays in nearby Minneapolis. They ask Annie to do a special shooting trick on a motorcycle to draw Pawnee Bill's business away. Annie agrees because the trick will surprise Frank. She sings her siblings to sleep with the "Moonshine Lullaby."
As Annie and Frank prepare for the show, Frank plans to propose to Annie after the show and then ruefully admits that "My Defenses Are Down". When Annie performs her trick and becomes a star, Chief
Sitting BullSitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
adopts her into the
SiouxThe Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
tribe ("I'm An Indian Too"§). Hurt and angry, Frank walks out on Annie and the show, joining the competing Pawnee Bill's show.
Act II
The Buffalo Bill show tours Europe with Annie as the star, but the show goes broke, as does Pawnee Bill's show with Frank. Annie, now well-dressed and more refined and worldly, still longs for Frank ("I Got Lost in His Arms"). Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill plot a merger of the two companies, each assuming the other has the money necessary for the merger. They all meet at a grand reception, where they soon discover both shows are broke. Annie, however, has received sharpshooting medals from all the rulers of Europe worth one hundred thousand dollars, and she decides to sell the medals to finance the merger, rejoicing in the simple things ("I Got the Sun in the Mornin'").
When Frank appears, he and Annie confess their love and decide to marry, although with comically different ideas: Frank wants "some little chapel," while Annie wants "A wedding in a big church with bridesmaids and flower girls/ A lot of ushers in tail coats/ Reporters and photographers" ("An Old-Fashioned Wedding"°). When Annie shows Frank her medals, Frank again has his pride hurt, and they call off the merger and the wedding. They agree to one last shooting duel ("Anything You Can Do"). Annie deliberately loses to Frank to soothe his ego, and Frank deliberately misses five shots to make it a tie, and they finally reconcile, deciding to marry and merge the shows.
Notes:
- This description is based on the 1966 revised book.
- ° written for 1966 Revival and included in 1999 Revival; not in the original production
- § omitted from the 1999 Broadway Revival
Characters
- Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley , born Phoebe Ann Mosey, was an American sharpshooter and exhibition shooter. Oakley's amazing talent and timely rise to fame led to a starring role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, which propelled her to become the first American female superstar.Oakley's most famous trick is perhaps...
—a sharpshooter in the Wild West show
- Frank Butler
Frank E. Butler was a marksman in Wild West variety shows. He was married to sharpshooter Annie Oakley. While his birth date is listed on his and Annie's U.S. Passport application as February 25, 1852, it is possible he was born in 1847.-Biography:Butler was born in county Longford, Ireland and...
—the Wild West show's star
- Foster Wilson—hotel owner
- Chief Sitting Bull—Sioux warrior; Annie's protector, but used by Pawnee Bill's competing show
- Tommy Keeler—knife-thrower in the Wild West show; Winnie's boyfriend; part Native American
- Charlie Davenport—manager of the Wild West show
- Winnie Tate—Dolly's daughter (sister in the 1999 revival); Tommy's girlfriend and his assistant in the knife-throwing act
- Col. William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill
William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody was a United States soldier, bison hunter and showman. He was born in the Iowa Territory , in LeClaire but lived several years in Canada before his family moved to the Kansas Territory. Buffalo Bill received the Medal of Honor in 1872 for service to the US...
)-owner of the Wild West show
- Dolly Tate—Frank's assistant; Winnie's mother (sister in the 1999 revival)
- Pawnee Bill
Pawnee Bill , born Gordon William Lillie, was a Wild West showman and performer.Best known for his short partnership with Buffalo Bill, Pawnee Bill was born February 14, 1860, in Bloomington, Illinois. Pawnee Bill and his show made several false starts during the latter part of the nineteenth...
—owner of a competing western show
- Annie's brothers and sisters: Jessie, Nellie, Little Jake, and Minnie (Minnie was written out of the 1999 revival)
Original 1946
(
Note: Based on original Broadway production, 1946)
Act I
- Overture — Orchestra
- "Buffalo Bill" — Charlie Davenport, Dolly Tate & Chorus
- "I'm a Bad, Bad Man" — Frank Butler
- "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly
"Doin' What Comes Natur'lly" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, written by Irving Berlin. The song was introduced by Ethel Merman in the original production of the musical...
" — Annie and her siblings
- "The Girl That I Marry
"The Girl That I Marry" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, written by Irving Berlin.It was originally performed by Ray Middleton on stage and on record.Other hit versions in 1946 were by Frank Sinatra and Eddy Howard ....
" — Frank and Annie
- "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun
"You Can't Get a Man with a Gun" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, by Irving Berlin. It was originally performed by Ethel Merman.Other singers to have recorded the song include Betty Hutton, Bernadette Peters and Judy Garland....
" — Annie
- "There's No Business Like Show Business" — Frank, Charlie Davenport, Annie, and ensemble
- "They Say It's Wonderful
"They Say It's Wonderful" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the musical Annie Get Your Gun , where it was introduced by Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton.It was sung by Kirsten Dunst in Spider-Man 3 .-Notable recordings:...
" — Annie and Frank
- "Moonshine Lullaby
"Moonshine Lullaby" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, by Irving Berlin. It was first performed by Ethel Merman.The song is a lullaby, but the lyrics are about a still where moonshine is brewed illegally....
" § — Annie and siblings
- "I'll Share It All With You" — Winnie Tate and Tommy Keeler
- "Ballyhoo" — Riding Mistress and Show People
- "There's No Business Like Show Business" (Reprise) — Annie Oakley
- "My Defenses Are Down
"My Defenses Are Down" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, by Irving Berlin. It was first performed by Ray Middleton.In the song, Frank Butler sings about how falling in love with Annie Oakley has made him lose all his confidence in dealing with women....
" — Frank and ensemble
- "Wild Horse Ceremonial Dance" — Wild Horse, Indian Braves and Maidens
- "I'm an Indian, Too" — Annie and ensemble
- Adoption Dance — Annie Oakley, Wild Horse and Braves
Act II
- Entr'acte — Orchestra
- "I Got Lost In His Arms
"I Got Lost in His Arms" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, written by Irving Berlin. It was performed by Ethel Merman in the original production of the musical....
" § — Annie
- "Who Do You Love, I Hope" — Winnie Tate and Tommy Keeler
- "I Got the Sun in the Morning
"I Got the Sun in the Mornin' " is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, written by Irving Berlin and originally performed by Ethel Merman....
" — Annie and ensemble
- "They Say It's Wonderful" (Reprise) — Annie Oakley and Frank Butler
- "The Girl That I Marry" (Reprise) — Frank Butler
- "Anything You Can Do" — Annie and Frank
- "Show Business" (Reprise) — Ensemble
Notes
- § omitted from the 1950 film version
- "Let's Go West Again" was written by Berlin for the 1950 film but was not used. However, there are recordings by both Betty Hutton
Betty Hutton was an American stage, film, and television actress, comedienne and singer.-Early life:Hutton was born Elizabeth June Thornburg, daughter of a railroad foreman, Percy E. Thornburg and his wife, the former Mabel Lum . While she was very young, her father abandoned the family for...
and Judy GarlandJudy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
1999 Revival
(
Note: Based on the 1999 Broadway revival)
Act I
- "There's No Business Like Show Business" - Frank and Company
- "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly
"Doin' What Comes Natur'lly" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, written by Irving Berlin. The song was introduced by Ethel Merman in the original production of the musical...
" — Annie, Kids and Foster Wilson
- "The Girl That I Marry
"The Girl That I Marry" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, written by Irving Berlin.It was originally performed by Ray Middleton on stage and on record.Other hit versions in 1946 were by Frank Sinatra and Eddy Howard ....
" — Frank and Annie
- "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun
"You Can't Get a Man with a Gun" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, by Irving Berlin. It was originally performed by Ethel Merman.Other singers to have recorded the song include Betty Hutton, Bernadette Peters and Judy Garland....
" — Annie
- "There's No Business Like Show Business" (Reprise) — Frank, Buffalo Bill, Charlie and Annie
- "I'll Share It All With You" — Tommy, Winnie and Company
- "Moonshine Lullaby
"Moonshine Lullaby" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, by Irving Berlin. It was first performed by Ethel Merman.The song is a lullaby, but the lyrics are about a still where moonshine is brewed illegally....
" — Annie, Kids, Ensemble Trio
- "There's No Business Like Show Business" (Reprise) — Annie
- "They Say It's Wonderful
"They Say It's Wonderful" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the musical Annie Get Your Gun , where it was introduced by Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton.It was sung by Kirsten Dunst in Spider-Man 3 .-Notable recordings:...
" — Annie and Frank
- "My Defenses Are Down
"My Defenses Are Down" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, by Irving Berlin. It was first performed by Ray Middleton.In the song, Frank Butler sings about how falling in love with Annie Oakley has made him lose all his confidence in dealing with women....
" — Frank and Young Men
- Finale: "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun (Reprise)" - Annie
Act II
- Entr'acte: The European Tour — Annie and Company
- "I Got Lost In His Arms
"I Got Lost in His Arms" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, written by Irving Berlin. It was performed by Ethel Merman in the original production of the musical....
" — Annie
- "Who Do You Love, I Hope" — Tommy, Winnie and Company
- "I Got the Sun in the Morning
"I Got the Sun in the Mornin' " is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, written by Irving Berlin and originally performed by Ethel Merman....
" — Annie and Company
- "An Old-Fashioned Wedding" - Annie and Frank
- "The Girl That I Marry" (Reprise) — Frank
- "Anything You Can Do" — Annie and Frank
- "They Say It's Wonderful" (Reprise) — Annie, Frank and Company
"An Old-Fashioned Wedding" was written by Berlin for the 1966 revival, sung by Annie and Frank, and was also included in the 1999 revival
Original Productions
Annie Get Your Gun premiered on
BroadwayBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
at the Imperial Theater on May 16, 1946 and ran for 1,147 performances. Directed by
Joshua LoganJoshua Lockwood Logan III was an American stage and film director and writer.-Early years:Logan was born in Texarkana, Texas, the son of Susan and Joshua Lockwood Logan. When he was three years old his father committed suicide...
, the show starred
Ethel MermanEthel Merman was an American actress and singer. Known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm", "Everything's...
as Annie,
Ray MiddletonRaymond Earl Middleton, Jr. , known and billed as Ray Middleton, was an American character actor.Born in Chicago, Illinois, Middleton was the first actor to play Superman in public, which he did on July 3, 1940, during the 1939 New York World's Fair's "Superman Day"...
as Frank Butler, Art Bernett as Foster Wilson,
Harry BellaverHarry Bellaver was an American stage, film and television actor who appeared in many roles from the 1930s through the 1980s.-Life and career:...
as Chief Sitting Bull, Kenneth Bowers as Tommy Keeler, Marty May as Charlie Davenport and William O'Neal as Buffalo Bill. The musical toured the U.S. from October 3, 1947, starting in Dallas, Texas with
Mary MartinMary Virginia Martin was an American actress and singer. She originated many roles over her career including Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria in The Sound of Music. She was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1989...
as Annie. This tour also played Chicago and Los Angeles. Martin stayed with the tour until mid-1948.
The show had its West End premiere on June 7, 1947 at the London Coliseum where it ran for 1,304 performances.
Dolores Gray played Annie with Bill Johnson as Frank. The first Australian production opened at
His Majesty's TheatreHer Majesty's Theatre is a 1706 seat theatre in Melbourne, Australia. Built in 1886, it is located at 219 Exhibition Street, Melbourne. It is classified by the National Trust of Australia and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register....
in Melbourne on July 19, 1947. It starred Evie Hayes as Annie with Webb Tilton as Frank. Later Australian productions have featured Gloria Dawn, Nancye Hayes, Toni Lamond, Bunny Gibson and
Rhonda BurchmoreRhonda Suzanne Burchmore is an Australian entertainer.Born in Sydney, Rhonda has been performing since the age of two, trained in singing, acting and dancing and was awarded a scholarship to the University of New England where she majored in Theatre Arts.She became internationally known for her...
as Annie.
A French version,
Annie du Far-WestAnnie du Far-West is a French operetta, adapted from Annie Get Your Gun by Andre Mouezy-Eon and Albert Willemetzat. It debuted at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on 19 February 1950...
, starring
Marcel MerkesMarcel Merkès , was a French tenor operetta singer.Merkès was born in Bordeaux. After receiving several prizes in singing at the Conservatoire de Bordeaux, he started at the age of 22 years at the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux in the role of Des Grieux in Manon, an opera by Jules Massenet...
and
Lily FayolLily Fayol was a French singer.The artistic career of Lily Fayol began shortly before World War II...
, began production at the
Théâtre du ChâteletThe Théâtre du Châtelet is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.One of two theatres built on the site of a châtelet, a small castle or fortress, it was designed by Gabriel Davioud at the request of Baron Haussmann between 1860 and...
in Paris on 19 February 1950 and ran for over a year.
1966 Broadway revival
The show had its first Broadway revival in 1966 at the Music Theater of Lincoln Center. This production opened on May 31, 1966 and ran until July 9, followed by a short 10-week U.S. Tour. It returned to Broadway at the
Broadway TheatreBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
on September 21 for 78 performances.
Ethel MermanEthel Merman was an American actress and singer. Known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm", "Everything's...
reprised her original role as Annie with
Bruce YarnellBruce Yarnell was an American actor who co-starred in the second season of NBC's Western television series Outlaws, set in the lawless Oklahoma Territory. He was also a noted Broadway and opera baritone.Yarnell played Deputy U.S. Marshal Chalk Breeson, having replaced Jock Gaynor in the role of...
as Frank and
Jerry OrbachJerome Bernard "Jerry" Orbach was an American actor and singer. He was well known for his starring role as Detective Lennie Briscoe in the Law & Order television series and as the voice of Lumière in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. As well, Orbach was a noted musical theatre star...
as Charles Davenport. The secondary romance between Tommy Keeler and Winnie Tate was completely eliminated, and the song "An Old Fashioned Wedding" was added to the second act. This production was telecast in an abbreviated ninety-minute version by
NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
on March 19, 1967 and is the only musical revived at Lincoln Center during the 1960s to be telecast.
1977 LA Civic Light Opera production
In 1977,
Gower ChampionGower Carlyle Champion was an American actor, theatre director, choreographer, and dancer.-Early years:Champion was born in Geneva, Illinois, the son of John W. Champion and Beatrice Carlisle. He was raised in Los Angeles, California, where he graduated from Fairfax High School...
directed a revival for the
Los Angeles Civic Light OperaThe Los Angeles Civic Light Opera was an American theatre/opera company in Los Angeles, California. Founded under the motto "Light Opera in the Grand Opera manner" in 1938 by impresario Edwin Lester, the organization presented fifty seasons of theatre before closing due to financial reasons in...
starring
Debbie ReynoldsDebbie Reynolds is an American actress, singer, and dancer.She was initially signed at age 16 by Warner Bros., but her career got off to a slow start. When her contract was not renewed, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave her a small, but significant part in the film Three Little Words , then signed her to...
as Annie. The Assistant Director was
James Mitchell-Arts, entertainment, and sports :*James Mitchell , American actor who played Palmer Cortlandt on All My Children*James Mitchell , American athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics...
, Co-choreographer was Tony Stevens, along with musical director Jack Lee, and costumes by
Alvin ColtAlvin Colt was an American costume designer. Colt worked on over 50 Broadway shows.His first job was in a theatrical fabric house, he also worked on painting scenery during the summer. On the Town was the first Broadway show he worked on in 1944...
.
Harve PresnellHarve Presnell was an American actor and singer. He began his career in the mid 1950s as a classical baritone, singing with orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States...
as Frank Butler was paired again in this production with Reynolds after "Unsinkable Molly Brown." The cast featured
Art LundArt Lund was an American baritone singer, initially with bandleaders Benny Goodman and Harry James, and was also a television and stage actor.-Biography:...
as Buffalo Bill, Bibi Osterwald as Dolly Tate,
Gavin MacLeodGavin MacLeod is an American actor most notable for playing Happy Haines on McHale's Navy, Murray Slaughter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Captain Merrill Stubing on The Love Boat...
as Charlie Davenport,
Peter Bruni as Foster Wilson,
Don PotterDonald Steele Potter , was an English sculptor, wood carver, potter and teacher.-Early life:Don Potter was born in Newington, near Sittingbourne, Kent, the son of a school teacher, and attended a private school...
as Pawnee Bill, and Manu Tupou as Sitting Bull. The cast also included Trey Wilson and Debbie Shapiro. The production later toured various North American cities, but never ran on Broadway, its planned destination.
1992 London Production
A short-lived London production ran at the Prince of Wales Theatre in the West End, starring Kim Criswell as Annie. Criswell's studio cast recording of the show - made with Thomas Hampson and conductor John McGlinn - provided the impetus for the production.
1999 Broadway revival
In 1999, a new production had its pre-Broadway engagement at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., from December 29, 1998 to January 24, 1999. Previews began on
BroadwayBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
on February 2, 1999 at the
Marquis TheatreThe Marquis Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 1535 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan.Situated on the third floor of the Marriott Marquis Hotel, the 1611-seat venue was designed by developer/architect John C. Portman, Jr...
, with an official opening on March 4, 1999, and closed on September 1, 2001 after 35 previews and 1,046 performances.
This revival starred
Bernadette PetersBernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
as Annie and
Tom WopatTom Wopat is an American actor and singer. He first achieved fame as Luke Duke in the long-running 1979 television series The Dukes of Hazzard, along with John Schneider. He also played Jeff, one of Cybill Shepherd's ex-husbands in the TV series Cybill.-Life and career:Wopat was born in Lodi,...
as Frank, with direction by
Graciela DanieleGraciela Daniele is an Argentine-American dancer, choreographer, and theatre director.-Biography:Born at Buenos Aires, Daniele began her dance training at the age of seven at Teatro Colón, Argentina's equivalent of Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre...
, choreographey by Jeff Calhoun, and music arrangements by
John McDanielJohn William McDaniel is an American theatre producer, composer, conductor, and pianist. He is known as the lead composer and producer of the 1996 television talk show The Rosie O'Donnell Show, for which he received six Daytime Emmy Award nominations, winning two.McDaniel is also known for his...
. Peters won the 1999
Tony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Leading Actress in a Musical and the production won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical.
This production had a revised book by
Peter StonePeter Hess Stone was an American writer for theater, television and movies.-Life and career:Stone was born in Los Angeles. His mother, Hilda , was a film writer, and his father, John Stone was the writer and producer of many silent films, including Shirley Temple and Charlie Chan movies...
and new orchestrations, and was structured as a "show-within-a-show", set as a Big Top travelling
circusA circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
. "Frank Butler" is alone on stage and introduces the main characters, singing "There's No Business Like Show Business", which is reprised when "Annie" agrees to join the traveling Wild West show. The production dropped several songs (including "Colonel Buffalo Bill", "I'm A Bad, Bad Man", and "I'm an Indian Too"), but included "An Old-Fashioned Wedding". There were several major dance numbers added, including a ballroom scene. A sub-plot, which had been dropped from the 1966 revival, involving the romance between Winnie, the young sister of Frank Butler's assistant and Tommy, her part-Native-American boyfriend was also included, and Winnie is Dolly's sister rather than her daughter. In this version, the final shooting match between Annie and Frank ends in a tie.
Notable replacements
While Peters was on vacation,
All My ChildrenAll My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
star
Susan LucciSusan Victoria Lucci is an American actress and entrepreneur, best known for portraying Erica Kane on the daytime drama All My Children. The character is considered an icon, and Lucci has been called "Daytime's Leading Lady" by TV Guide, with New York Times and Los Angeles Times citing her as the...
made her Broadway debut as Annie from December 27, 1999 until Jan. 16, 2000. Peters and Wopat left the show on September 2, 2000.
Cheryl LaddCheryl Ladd is an American actress, singer and author. Ladd is best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the television series Charlie's Angels, hired amid a swirl of publicity prior to its second season in 1977 to replace the departing Farrah Fawcett-Majors...
took over as Annie on September 6, 2000, with
Patrick CassidyPatrick Cassidy may refer to: * Patrick Cassidy , Irish classical composer of movie soundtracks* Patrick Cassidy , U.S. actor in musical theatre and television...
as Frank Butler. Country music superstar
Reba McEntireReba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
made her Broadway debut as Annie from January 26, 2001 to June 22, 2001 opposite
Brent BarrettBrent Barrett is an American actor and tenor who is mostly known for his work within American theatre. Barrett has performed in musicals and in concerts with theatres, symphony orchestras, opera houses, and concert halls internationally...
as Frank.
Crystal BernardCrystal Lynn Bernard is an American actress and singer, most widely known for her seven-year-long role on the situation comedy Wings. While her main work has been on television, she has appeared in some films, and also attempted to pursue a music career as a songwriter/performer.-Early...
left the national tour on June 23, 2001 to join the Broadway cast.
Nick JonasNicholas Jerry "Nick" Jonas is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actor best known as one of the Jonas Brothers, a pop-rock band he formed with his brothers Joe and Kevin. The Jonas Brothers originally started as an attempted solo singing career for Nick, but the record producer liked the...
, who would later rise to fame playing with brothers (
Joe JonasJoseph Adam "Joe" Jonas is a Pop American singer, musician, actor, and dancer. He is a member of the Jonas Brothers, a pop-rock band made up of him and his two brothers, Nick and Kevin...
and
Kevin JonasPaul Kevin Jonas II , better known as Kevin Jonas and K2, is an American musician and actor. He is the oldest member of the Jonas Brothers, a pop rock band he created with his younger brothers Joe and Nick...
) in the
Jonas BrothersThe Jonas Brothers are an American boy band. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel children's television network. From the shore region of New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Paul Kevin Jonas II , Joseph Adam Jonas , and Nicholas Jerry Jonas...
, played as Little Jake in 2001.
2000 U.S. Tour
The 1999 Broadway production, in a "slightly revised version", toured in a U.S. national tour starting in Dallas, Texas on July 25, 2000 with
Marilu HennerMary Lucy Denise "Marilu" Henner is an American actress, producer and author. She is best known for her role as Elaine O'Connor Nardo on the sitcom Taxi from 1978 to 1983.-Early life:...
and
Rex SmithRex Smith is an American actor and singer. Smith debuted in the Broadway play Grease in 1978. He is noted for his role as Jesse Mach in the 1985 television series Street Hawk, as well as being a singer and stage actor. During the late 1970s, Smith was popular as a teen idol...
. Tom Wopat joined the tour in late October 2000, replacing Smith.
2006 Prince Music Theatre production
In 2006, the Prince Music Theater, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, revived the 1966 Lincoln Center Theater version, running for one month. This production starred
Andrea McArdleAndrea McArdle is an American singer and actress best known for playing Annie in the Broadway musical Annie, as well as for her alto range and strong vocal belt.-Career:She was born in Philadelphia...
(the original Annie of the 1977 Broadway musical
AnnieAnnie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years with a blonde Annie as the poster...
), Jeffrey Coon as Frank Butler, John Scherer as Charlie Davenport, Chris Councill as Buffalo Bill, Mary Martello as Dolly Tate and Arthur Ryan as Sitting Bull. The production was well received by critics. The production was directed by Richard M. Parison, Jr. and choreographed by Mercedes Ellington.
2009 London revival
Jane HorrocksBarbara Jane Horrocks is an English voice, stage, screen and television actress, voice artist, musician, and singer. She is best known for her role as "Bubble" in the TV series Absolutely Fabulous as well as her distinctive voice....
,
Julian OvendenJulian Ovenden is an English stage, television and film actor and singer. He is one of three children of Canon John Ovenden, chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II....
and multi prize-winning director
Richard JonesRichard Jones is a British theatre and opera director.- Early life :Jones was born in London, and studied at the University of Hull and London...
mounted a major London revival at the Young Vic, Waterloo. The show opened at the Off-West End venue on 16 October 2009, initially booking until 2 January 2010 but with an extra week added due to popular demand.
Horrocks played "Annie", while Ovenden played "Frank". The production featured new arrangements by Jason Carr for a band consisting four pianos. Carr's credits include
La Cage aux Folles in the
West EndWest End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
.
London's Guardian newspaper awarded the show 5 stars, claiming that "Richard Jones's brilliant production offers the wittiest musical staging London has seen in years."
2010 Ravinia Festival concert
A concert staging of the original version of
Annie Get Your Gun took place at the Ravinia Festival, Chicago from August 13–15, 2010 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Annie Oakley's birth. Directed by
Lonny PriceLonny Price is an American actor, writer, and director, primarily in theatre. He is known for making statements on current events in versions of his musicals. His acclaimed May 2008 New York Philharmonic production of Camelot was making a statement about the current war including having different...
, the concert starred
Patti LuPonePatti Ann LuPone is an American singer and actress, known for her Tony Award-winning performances as Eva Perón in the 1979 stage musical Evita and as Madame Rose in the 2008 Broadway revival of Gypsy, and for her Olivier Award-winning performance as Fantine in the original London cast of Les...
as Annie,
Patrick CassidyPatrick Cassidy may refer to: * Patrick Cassidy , Irish classical composer of movie soundtracks* Patrick Cassidy , U.S. actor in musical theatre and television...
as Frank and
George HearnGeorge Hearn is an American actor and singer, primarily in Broadway musical theatre.-Early years:Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Hearn studied philosophy at Southwestern at Memphis, now Rhodes College before he embarked on a career in the theater, training for the stage with actress turned acting...
as Buffalo Bill. The concert received unanimously strong reviews, notably for LuPone and Price's direction.
Other major productions
Lucie ArnazLucie Désirée Arnaz is an American actress, singer, dancer and producer. She is the daughter of actors Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, and is the sister of actor Desi Arnaz, Jr..- Early life :...
starred in a production in the summer of 1978 at the Jones Beach Theater on
Nassau County, New YorkNassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
. This was the first major production of the musical done in the New York area after the 1966 revival.
The
Paper Mill PlayhousePaper Mill Playhouse is a regional theatre with approximately 1200 seats, located in Millburn, New Jersey, less than 25 miles from Manhattan. Due to its location, it can draw from the pool of actors who live in New York City. Its location, as well as its focus on producing large-scale shows, makes...
produced a well-reviewed production in June 1987 starring
Judy KayeJudy Kaye is an American singer and actress. She has appeared in stage musicals, plays, and operas. Kaye has been in long runs on Broadway in the musicals The Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime and Mamma Mia!-Biography:...
as Annie and Richard White as Frank.
In 2004,
Marina PriorMarina Prior is an Australian singer and actress.- Early life :When she was a young child her parents returned to Australia and she grew up in Melbourne, attending Syndal South Primary School and Korowa Anglican Girls' School...
and
Scott IrwinScott K. Irwin was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his tag team with his brother Barney "Bill" Irwin.-Debut and the World Wide Wrestling Federation:...
starred in an Australian production of the 1999 Broadway rewrite of the show.
Film and television versions
In 1950, Metro Goldwyn Mayer made a well-received
movie version of the musicalAnnie Get Your Gun is a 1950 American musical comedy film loosely based on the life of sharpshooter Annie Oakley. The Metro Goldwyn Mayer release, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and a screenplay by Sidney Sheldon based on the 1946 stage musical of the same name, was directed by George Sidney...
. Although MGM purchased the rights to the film version with an announced intention of starring legendary singer-actress
Judy GarlandJudy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
as Annie, early work on the film was plagued with difficulties, some attributed to Garland. Garland was fired and replaced by the brassier, blonde
Betty HuttonBetty Hutton was an American stage, film, and television actress, comedienne and singer.-Early life:Hutton was born Elizabeth June Thornburg, daughter of a railroad foreman, Percy E. Thornburg and his wife, the former Mabel Lum . While she was very young, her father abandoned the family for...
.
In 1957, a production starring
Mary MartinMary Virginia Martin was an American actress and singer. She originated many roles over her career including Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria in The Sound of Music. She was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1989...
as Annie and
John RaittJohn Emmett Raitt was an American actor and singer best known for his performances in musical theater.-Early years:...
as Frank Butler was broadcast on
NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. In 1967, the Lincoln Center production described above, starring Ethel Merman and Bruce Yarnell, was broadcast on NBC.
Recordings
There are various recordings of the
Annie Get Your Gun score, including:
- 1946 Original Broadway Cast
- 1957 TV Cast
- 1963 Studio Cast
- 1966 Broadway Revival Cast
- 1991 Studio Cast
- 1999 Broadway Revival Cast (Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
)
Conductor John Owen Edwards along with JAY Records recorded the first ever complete recording (with all musical numbers, scene change music and incidental music) of the show's score in the 1990s with
Judy KayeJudy Kaye is an American singer and actress. She has appeared in stage musicals, plays, and operas. Kaye has been in long runs on Broadway in the musicals The Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime and Mamma Mia!-Biography:...
and
Barry BostwickBarry Knapp Bostwick is an American actor and singer. He is known for playing Brad Majors in the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, replacing Peter Scolari as Mr. Tyler in the sitcom What I Like About You, and playing mayor Randall Winston in the sitcom Spin City...
featured.
Awards and nominations
- Mary Martin received a Special Tony Award
The Special Tony Award category includes the Lifetime Achievement Award and Special Tony Award. These are non-competitive awards, and the titles have changed over the years...
in 1948 for "Spreading Theatre to the Country While the Originals Perform in New York" (1947-48 US Tour)
1966 Broadway revival
| Year |
Award Ceremony |
Category |
Nominee |
Result |
| 1966 |
Tony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
|
Best Direction of a Musical This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical. Prior to 1960, category for direction included plays and musicals.-1950s:Note: this category was for both dramatic and musical productions...
|
Jack Sydow |
|
| Best Choreography -1940s:* 1947: Agnes de Mille – Brigadoon / Michael Kidd – Finian's Rainbow* 1948: Jerome Robbins – High Button Shoes* 1949: Gower Champion – Lend An Ear-1950s:* 1950: Helen Tamiris – Touch and Go* 1951: Michael Kidd – Guys and Dolls...
|
Danny Daniels Danny Daniels is an American choreographer, tap dancer, and teacher.Daniels was a featured dancer in several 1940s Broadway musicals, including Billion Dollar Baby, Street Scene, and Kiss Me, Kate; although he continued performing during the 1950s and after, including a tour with the Agnes de Mille...
|
|
1999 Broadway revival
| Year |
Award Ceremony |
Category |
Nominee |
Result |
| 1999 |
Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
|
Outstanding Revival of a Musical The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical was first awarded at the 1994 Drama Desk Awards.-1990s:* 1994: She Loves Me** Carousel** Damn Yankees** My Fair Lady* 1996: The King and I** I Do! I Do!...
|
|
| Outstanding Actor in a Musical The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical was first awarded at the 1974-1975 Drama Desk Awards and has been awarded every year since...
|
Tom Wopat Tom Wopat is an American actor and singer. He first achieved fame as Luke Duke in the long-running 1979 television series The Dukes of Hazzard, along with John Schneider. He also played Jeff, one of Cybill Shepherd's ex-husbands in the TV series Cybill.-Life and career:Wopat was born in Lodi,...
|
|
| Outstanding Actress in a Musical The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical was first awarded at the 1974-1975 Drama Desk Awards and has been awarded every year since...
|
Bernadette PetersBernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
|
|
Grammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
|
Best Musical Show Album The Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album has been awarded since 1959. The award was given only to the album producer, and to the composer and lyricist who wrote at least 51% of the music which had not been recorded previously....
|
|
Tony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
|
Best Revival of a Musical The Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical has been awarded since 1994. Before that time, both plays and musicals were considered together for the Tony Award for Best Revival....
|
|
| Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival...
|
Tom Wopat Tom Wopat is an American actor and singer. He first achieved fame as Luke Duke in the long-running 1979 television series The Dukes of Hazzard, along with John Schneider. He also played Jeff, one of Cybill Shepherd's ex-husbands in the TV series Cybill.-Life and career:Wopat was born in Lodi,...
|
|
| Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical |
Bernadette PetersBernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
|
|
| 2001 |
Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
|
Special Award The Drama Desk Special Award is presented by the Drama Desk, a committee comprising New York City theatre critics, writers, and editors. It is a non-competitive award that honors an individual or an organization that has made a significant contribution to Broadway, off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway,...
|
Reba McEntireReba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
|
|
| Theatre World Award The Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway.-History:...
|
|
2009 London revival
| Year |
Award Ceremony |
Category |
Nominee |
Result |
| 2009 |
Laurence Olivier Award |
Best Musical Revival |
|
External links