I was going to ask this in the theatre thread but I'm not sure which one to use. What can people tell me about Annie get your gun? I've never seen it but do have some comments/questions

1. Why is Annie usually played by a middle aged woman? Grannie get your gun indeed!

2. Will it ever be revived? It would surely get cancelled now

3. Why couldn't they have gotten Reba instead of Bernadette in the last revival? Bern seems so wrong and in the clips I have heard, her accent is horrible! Reba has such a different energy in the clips I have seen

4. Didn't Patti star in an encores production right before than the 99 revival... Was she ever up for the revival that went to Bernadette?

5. I love you can't get a man with a gun and old fashion wedding(which is almost Sondheimque in some of it's lyrics)

anyone have any stories or thoughts?

by Anonymous

reply 13

April 27, 2021 7:15 PM

Cheryl Ladd KILLEd it on Broadway in "Annie Get Your Gun"

by Anonymous

reply 1

April 25, 2021 5:09 PM

1: Ethel Merman was 38 when she opened the show in 1946. Annie Oakley worked in Buffalo Bill's show until she was 41 and continued acting in a show about herself and in shooting competitions, setting records until she was 66.

2: Of course it will be revived. Do you honestly think the cancel shit will last forever?

3: Why does any production get one person and not another? Lack of interest in the role or scheduling difficulties, most often.

4: Yes, in 1998 and again with the Chicago Symphony in Ravinia, summer 2010. No idea why but again, most likely other commitments.

5: The role of Annie was originally offered to Mary Martin, who turned it down. On opening night, she was represented by her husband, Richard Halliday. Upon his return home following the premiere, he informed her, "You're going to kill yourself!" Merman didn't want to do the national tour and Martin jumped at the chance.

by Anonymous

reply 2

April 25, 2021 5:15 PM

They wont include “I’m an Indian Too” in subsequent productions

by Anonymous

reply 3

April 25, 2021 5:17 PM

I saw Reba play the role on Broadway. She was good, but not the revelation that everyone remembers. Yes, she sang beautifully, but some of her acting choices were high school drama club. I wonder if she had been given more rehearsal time, if the director could have brought a better performance? Did she even get much time with a director or was she rehearsed by the stage manager?

Bernadette was completely wrong for the role as was Patti. Just because a woman can belt doesn’t mean she should be playing a Merman role.

Plus, times have changed. When Merman was a star, theater was very different. Audiences didn’t demand as much naturalism in their theater, so acting took a back seat. Today, audiences want to see good acting if they’re paying $200 for a seat.

by Anonymous

reply 4

April 25, 2021 5:19 PM

The show gives almost all the songs to the title character, which is kind of a bore.

by Anonymous

reply 5

April 25, 2021 5:20 PM

Cheryl Ladd was Reba's replacement and got huge accolades for her talent. People saw her beyond her "Charlies Angels" role. She really brought something to the role that Reba wasn't able to

by Anonymous

reply 6

April 25, 2021 5:23 PM

[quote]1: Ethel Merman was 38 when she opened the show in 1946. Annie Oakley worked in Buffalo Bill's show until she was 41 and continued acting in a show about herself and in shooting competitions, setting records until she was 66.

The musical ends when Annie Oakley is in her twenties.

by Anonymous

reply 7

April 25, 2021 5:52 PM

Soap star Susan Lucci was the Christmas holiday filler when Bernadette took vacation.

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 8

April 25, 2021 6:09 PM

Mary Martin also did the live tv version. In an interview, she talks about a stage hand having to carry her on his back between sets so that she wouldn't arrive on the next set out of breath.

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by Anonymous

reply 9

April 25, 2021 6:16 PM

As long as we don't end up with Tranny Oakley, I'm fine with another revival.

by Anonymous

reply 10

April 25, 2021 6:23 PM

Wow that Susan Lucci clip was pretty bad, she wasn’t really a good actress is she? she has a couple things she does well and I guess she’s made a career at it

by Anonymous

reply 12

April 26, 2021 6:10 PM

R6 hahahaha yeah sure. You must be joking.

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by Anonymous

reply 13

April 27, 2021 7:15 PM