By Rob Hopper

December 2000

There's no business like show business, which is especially true when you have a great cast performing a classic musical. Marilu Henner (Taxi, Evening Shade) and Tom Wopat (Dukes of Hazzard) are the big headliners in this national tour of the Annie Get Your Gun Broadway revival. They sing and dance to the snappy music and lyrics of Irving Berlin (White Christmas, Holiday Inn, Easter Parade, There's No Business Like Show Business, and about a dozen other hit musicals). For this revival, writer Peter Stone (Titanic, 1776, The Will Rogers Follies, Charade) modified the original book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields.

Annie Get Your Gun is an entertaining account of the rise to fame of sharpshooter extraordinaire, Annie Oakley (1860 - 1926). When Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show rides through Cincinnati, Frank Butler (Buffalo Bill's biggest star) gets outgunned by a young, unknown country gal by the name of Annie Oakley. They offer her a chance to join the tour and see the world, but she'll have to leave Ohio to do it. Completely smitten with Frank, Annie doesn't need much time to make up her mind. The rest of the tale follows their on-and-off-and-on-again romance amidst shootin' duels and ego wars. In addition to There's No Business Like Show Business, the play features such hit songs as Anything You Can Do, They Say It's Wonderful, Doin' What Comes Natur'lly, and You Can't Get a Man With a Gun (which turns out to be wrong).

Both Marilu Henner and Tom Wopat live up to their billing with terrific performances. Marilu is the Country Queen of Melodramatic Swoons when she first meets Frank Butler. And they both really excel in Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better) where they compete against each other in numerous and amusing ways. Although best known for their television roles, Broadway musicals are not new to either of them. Marilu most recently starred as Roxie Hart in Chicago. Tom started his stage career in musicals while in college, and after Dukes of Hazzard has starred in several other plays including Guys and Dolls.

Another standout couple in the show is Winnie (Claci Miller) and Tommy (Eric Sciotto). Winnie's sister Dolly (Susann Fletcher) doesn't approve of the match between Winnie and Tommy because he is half-Indian. But Winnie defies her sister, insisting that she and Tommy are going to get married and "make some quarter-Indians." The newlyweds shine in the song-and-dance number Who Do You Love, I Hope - I Hope - I Hope.

Also turning in a swell performance were Annie's little nieces and nephew (Ainsley Binnicker, Gracie Winchester, and Mitchel Federan). They get the whole comedy rolling in their Doin' What Comes Natur'lly scene with Marilu Henner.

And last but not least, the ensemble put on some energetic dance numbers that helped bring the entire stage to life. Jeff Calhoun and Graciela Daniele, who directed the production, also choreographed the routines.

If you like romantic comedy musicals, y'all should try to get down to the Civic Theatre before the tour rides off into the sunset. Your last "shot" is on Sunday, December 17th.

~ Cast ~

Annie: Marilu Henner
Frank Butler: Tom Wopat
Dolly Tate: Susann Fletcher
Buffalo Bill: George McDaniel
Foster Wilson/Pawnee Bill: Charles Goff
Charlie Davenport: Joe Hart
Winnie Tate: Claci Miller
Tommy Keeler: Eric Sciotto
Sitting Bull: Vince Viverito
Jessie Oakley: Ainsley Binnicker
Little Jake: Mitchel Federan
Nellie Oakley: Gracie Winchester
Ensemble:
Paul Canaan
Celina Carvajal
Keith Fortner
Sean Haythe
Andrew Husmann
Ron Kidd
Shane Kirkpatrick
Brian J. Marcum
Jennifer Marcum
Catherine Marsh
Sean Michael McKnight
Carolyn Ockert
Lisa Marie Panagos
Michele Tibbitts
Debra Walton
James R. Whittington
Catherine Wreford
Tony Yazbeck
Music and Lyrics: Irving Berlin
Original Book: Herbert and Dorothy Fields
New Book: Peter Stone
Director/Choreographer: Graciela Daniele and Jeff Calhoun
Scenic Designer: Tony Walton
Costume Designer: William Ivey Long
Lighting Designer: Beverly Emmons
Sound Designer: Tom Clark