Over Here! on Broadway?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 12:26am

Has anyone heard about this Broadway-bound show, with this dude from Hannah Montana?

Hannah Montana star Cody Linley is reportedly preparing to make his Broadway debut.

According to Radar Online, the 20-year-old has signed on for wartime musical Over Here!, which is scheduled to open next year.

A representative for the actor said: "Cody is very excited about going to Broadway."

Linley, who played Jake Ryan in the Disney franchise, was reportedly forced to drop out of the network's upcoming movie Starstruck because of a scheduling conflict with Over Here!.

'Hannah Montana' star 'signs for Broadway'

Updated On: 11/25/09 at 12:26 AM

[Marquise]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 6:50am

From Wikipedia:

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.

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.

I had no idea this was being revived.


Updated On: 11/25/09 at 06:50 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 8:31am

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this musical dearly. I saw this twice at the Shubert when I was 9 years old (1974). Anyone who saw this will NEVER forget Ann Reinking and John Mineo's insane jitterbug during "At Charlie's Place". The show's large draw was the 2 surviving Andrew Sisters and what a draw they were -- sensational duo. I think this was one of the first shows to have a mini post-concert at the curtain call. Also, the multi-level stage floor set was a sight -- with the rising and lowering band and the treadmill on the upper stage, etc. Out of the this came: little Johnny Travolta, Marilu Henner, Treat Williams and the aforementioned Ann Reinking. Patricia Birch's choreographic skills were never showcased more than in this show (definitely NOT in GREASE).

This is the first everyone's heard of a slated Broadway revival aside from the earlier mentioned West End production with Donna McKechnie, et al. Here's hoping its true and that it is a full recreation of the original 1974 Broadway production and its staging.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 11:38am

I saw the original and loved it. Janie Sell was terrfic in the Marlene part and there were so many then-unknowns that went on to fame and fortune. But the drawing card was the Andrews Sisters (the two remaining ones) and did they ever deliver the goods!!!!! I'm not so sure this would work in revival because the show is so rooted in the 1940s and they're not too many from that era still alive, let alone in condition to do a show. But it remains one of the happiest, "feel good" shows of my theatre-going experience.

[D2]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 11:45am

I'll echo everything that Brody and Ed said - the original production was a total delight from beginning to end, especially that fabulous Big Band rising from underneath the stage during the last moments of the overture. Thrilling!

[amoni2]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 1:11pm

"Over Here!" would be a lovely reason for Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley to become sisters again.

[Timmer]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 1:21pm

This is a terrific musical that nobody knows about.

All the songs are written to sound like Big Band tunes.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 2:11pm

I saw OVER HERE! and loved Patti and Maxene Andrews and was especially impressed with the dancing of Ann Reinking. Having two of the actual Andrews Sisters in the show gave it an authenticity that no revival will be able to match, I'm afraid.

If you want a look at the three Andrews Sisters in action, rent or buy the 1941 Abbott & Costello film WHO DONE IT. The three sisters perform in a nightclub scene at the beginning of the movie. This film is one of the best made by Abbott & Costello, if you are at all interested in the famous comedy team. Incidentally, in the late 1930's Bud Abbott and Lou Costello appeared live at the unrestored theatre whose stage entrance is on W. 41st Street, right next to the 42nd Street Hilton Hotel.

Sorry. The name of the Abbott & Costello movie with the Andrews Sisters is the 1941 film HOLD THAT GHOST, not WHO DONE IT.

Updated On: 11/25/09 at 02:11 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 5:28pm

Great idea re casting of Ripley & Skinner.

[RainbowJude]

Posted: 11/26/09 at 8:19am

I was wondering where I had heard something about this, then realised it was on these very boards:
Over Here! Revivial with Dick Van Dyke

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/26/09 at 1:23pm

I think Tony Stevens has been trying to get this done for a while...and I hope he does as he's a great talented guy. There may be some Brit producer attached, and it may play there first, if indeed the projects are the same. I had not heard of it headed to B'way yet, but I did hear there were some Los Angeles auditions that are now in callbacks. I too love the score (I think Sherman Brothers are really great overall, and underrated, need to see that docu on them soon). I think given the current war climate, the show's book if handled well could have some interesting echoes...and it's patriotic without being jingo-istic. The original creative team I think came somewhat from the original GREASE and used some of the same performers. As for casting, as good as the SIDE SHOW reunion is, I'd love to see Liz and Ann Hampton Calloway (sp?) as they love singing that Forties sound anyway...and I think they are both funny, good actresses, and sing amazingly...though they may be a bit old (though the Andrews Sisters were no spring chickens at the time).

[LarryC]

Posted: 12/4/09 at 1:57pm

I'm very intruiged about this, I read on someone's blog that maybe evan kasprazak is linked to it as well? Does anyone know any other info yet?
Updated On: 12/4/09 at 01:57 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/4/09 at 2:48pm

I love the score, with the exception of Good Time Girl, which grosses me out. But I have always wanted to see a full-out production of this forgotten show.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/4/09 at 2:59pm

I love, love, love this show!

Donna McKechnie does the Charlie's Place number with Wayne Cilento and the American Dance Machine on the That's Singing: Best of Broadway video.

Take a look at how much fun this show was:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsiEx0DslGI

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/4/09 at 3:59pm

Haven't seen that Donna McKechnie clip in some time but my assessment of that 'recreation' of "At Charlie's Place" is a travesty. I loves me some Donna McKechnie (and boy, how -- HULLABALOO anyone?) but she can not even come close to recreating Ann Reinking's interpretation of that dance. Its obvious Patricia Birch created that routine around Reinking's strengths, hence why it stands alone as hers.

I'll be posting later tonight (on YouTube) Ann Reinking (and John Mineo) performing "At Charlie's Place" along with the original Broadway cast: Marilu Henner, Treat Williams, Johnny Travolta, et al from the 1974 Tony Awards.

Ann Reinking and John Mineo's jitterbug is something that has to be seen. Also, Ann Reinking's now-well-known back problems stems from this show. John Mineo dropped her once during a performance and this caused the back issue she still deals with today.


Updated On: 12/4/09 at 03:59 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/4/09 at 8:25pm

As promised... here is the entire original Broadway cast (Ann Reinking, Marilu Henner, Johnny Travolta, Treat Williams, Sammy Williams, John Mineo, etc.) of "OVER HERE!" performing "At Charlie's Place" at the 1974 Tony Awards:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af_Ick8GYNU

Ann Reinking + John Mineo + Patricia Birch = Deliciousness!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/4/09 at 8:35pm

I would love to see the numbers on the Tony's released to DVD.The same holds true for the Ed ullivan clips.

[D2]

Posted: 12/4/09 at 8:40pm

Thanks, Brody - that brings back so many wonderful memories!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/4/09 at 10:14pm

Oh, wow! I hadn't seen that since...1974!

Ann and John aren't just doing a jitterbug, they're also doing an Apache dance! (I love when she kicks him down.)

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/5/09 at 2:53pm

That show was one of my "forties-era" favs (and that includes "Sophisticated Ladies" and "The 1940s Radio Hour").

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 12/5/09 at 4:33pm

This is an idiotic idea for a revival.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/5/09 at 5:23pm

I beg to differ although I doubt any revival will top the original.

The Overture was one to blast you out of your seats. If they do it, hopefully they will have more than one horn in the orchestra

[BroadwayNick]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 12:51am

Over Here! IS being revived regionally in L.A.

Dick Van Dyke, Donna McKecknie, and So You Think You Can Dance's Evan Kasprzak are attached to the project.

[sipos]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 1:55am

Wow. What's so "idiotic" about reviving Over Here!?

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 1:59am

It's foolish. It's a limp show at best. To me it'd be like reviving New Faces or the Follies.