Annie Get Your Gun , the long-awaited Irving Berlin musical revival starring Bernadette Peters and Tom Wopat, finally begins its Broadway run Feb. 2, when previews start at the Marquis Theatre. The show, which played a pre-Broadway engagement Dec. 29, 1998-Jan. 24, 1999 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, will officially open March 4.
The Irving Berlin and Herbert & Dorothy Fields musical is directed by Ragtime 's Graciela Daniele and choreographed by Daniele and Jeff Calhoun. Designers include Tony Walton (sets), William Ivey Long (costumes) and Beverly Emmons (lighting). Veteran book writer Peter Stone has significantly revised the musical's book for this revival. And songs such as the dated "I'm an Indian, Too" and "I'm a Bad, Bad Man" have been cut.
Annie Get Your Gun tells of rough and tumble sharp shooter Annie Oakley, who nevertheless falls for Frank, the kind of man who wants the girl that he marries to be "as soft and as pink as a nursery" -- not quite a perfect match for a gal used to "doin' what comes natur'lly." The title role was originated on Broadway in 1946 by Ethel Merman.
The classic Irving Berlin score includes "The Girl That I Marry," "I Got Lost in His Arms," "Anything You Can Do," and the Broadway anthem, "No Business Like Show Business." It was Berlin's longest-running show.
Peters' career has included starring roles in Sunday in the Park with George, Mack and Mabel, The Goodbye Girl, Dames at Sea, Song and Dance and Into the Woods, among others. Valerie Wright, Ron Holgate and Ronn Carroll are also in the cast, as well as Gregory Zaragoza and Peter Marx.
Holgate is a theatre veteran who won a Tony for his performance in the original production of 1776 . More recent roles include Lend Me a Tenor and Milk and Honey . Ronn Carroll appeared as Mr. Biggley in the recent Broadway revival of How to Succeed... . He also acted on Broadway in Crazy for You and the Tyne Daly Gypsy . Wright most recently appeared in the Goodspeed Opera House's production of the musical Redhead . Before that, she performed in Steel Pier on Broadway.
For tickets and information on Annie Get Your Gun at the Marquis Theatre, call (212)307-4100.
