- Over Here!
-
Over Here!
Original Cast RecordingMusic Richard M. Sherman
Robert B. ShermanLyrics Robert B. Sherman
Richard M. ShermanBook Will Holt Productions 1974 Broadway Over Here! is a musical with a score by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman and book by Will Holt. The original Broadway production was directed by Tom Moore and choreographed by Patricia Birch, with scenic design by Douglas W. Schmidt and costumes by Carrie F. Robbins.
Over Here! was a follow-up to the Sherman brothers' World War II musical Victory Canteen, an off-Broadway production that featured 1940s icon Patty Andrews. The setting is a cross-country train trip in the United States during World War II (hence the name of the play, in contrast to the popular patriotic war anthem entitled Over There). The show begins as a nostalgic look at 1940s America but quickly evolves into a social commentary about the fear of dying in battle, prejudice, and discrimination.
Contents
Production history
After thirteen previews, the show opened on March 6, 1974 at the Shubert Theatre, where it ran for 341 performances. The opening night cast included Patty and Maxene Andrews (of the Andrews Sisters) and newcomers John Travolta, Treat Williams, Marilu Henner, Samuel E. Wright, and Ann Reinking, all of whom went on to achieve successful careers. The show closed on January 4, 1975 under controversial conditions. "The producers blamed Patty and Maxine, claiming they wanted more money and made unreasonable demands, and cancelled the national tour. The Andrews sisters blamed the producers, claiming they had mismanaged the show from the beginning and were now using them as scapegoats."[1] According to an article in The New York Times, the tour was cancelled due to a "salary dispute" between the Andrews sisters and the producers.[2]
Radar online and the Official site reports that Cody Linley will be starring in an all new production of Over Here! set to launch early in 2010 at the Saban Theatre, Beverly Hills and an official website shows open auditions. In an interview, Linley confirmed that he will play the role of Bill.[3]
The scheduled 2010 production is an "all-new" production with a modified book, choreographed by Tony Stevens, designed by Mark Walters with associate designer Christopher Hone and Costume Designer David Toser. Dick Van Dyke had agreed to head the all-star cast however was forced to withdraw days before the start date when his partner Michelle's illness became terminal. Unable to find an immediate replacement for Van Dyke at such short notice, the producers rescheduled the production to premiere in California in Fall 2012, following which a US tour is being planned.
Song list
- Act I
- The Beat Begins (Overture) - The Big Band
- Since You're Not Around - Makeout, Rankin, Mother, Father, Sarge and Company
- Over Here! - Paulette and Pauline de Paul
- Buy a Victory Bond - Company
- My Dream for Tomorrow - June and Bill
- Charlie's Place - Pauline de Paul, Maggie, Lucky, The Big Band and Company
- Hey Yvette/The Grass Grows Green - Spokesman, Rankin and Father
- The Good-Time Girl (later called "The V.D. Polka") - Paulette de Paul and Company
- Wait for Me Marlena - Mitzi and Company
- We Got It - Paulette de Paul, Pauline de Paul, Mitzi and Company
- Act II
- The Beat Continues (Entr'acte) - The Big Band and Company
- Wartime Wedding - Paulette de Paul, Pauline de Paul and Company
- Don't Shoot the Hooey to Me, Louie - Sam
- Where Did the Good Times Go? - Paulette de Paul
- Dream Drummin'/Soft Music - Misfit, The Big Band and Company
- The Big Beat - Paulette de Paul, Pauline de Paul and Mitzi
- No Goodbyes - Paulette de Paul, Pauline de Paul and Company
Awards and nominations
- Tony Award for Best Musical (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Janie Sell, winner)
- Tony Award for Best Costume Design (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Choreography (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (nominee)
- Theatre World Award for Outstanding Performance in a Musical (John Driver, Ann Reinking, and Janie Sell, winners)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design (winner)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design (winner)
References
- ^ Nimmo, Harry. The Andrews Sisters (2004), McFarland, ISBN 0-7864-1731-5, pp 366-371
- ^ Calta, Louis. " Over Here! Tour is Off in Dispute", The New York Times, December 21, 1974, p. 18
- ^ Snider, Mike.Cody Linley: Goodbye ‘Hannah,’ hello Broadway" usaweekend.com, February 4, 2010
External links
Categories:- Broadway musicals
- 1974 musicals
- Sherman Brothers
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
