The Andrews Brothers is a new '40s musical by Roger Bean, creator of The Marvelous Wonderettes. The show, which uses pop songs from the '40s as a vehicle to tell its story, pays homage to the USO Entertainers of World War II. In a sudden and hilarious turn of events, the Andrews Sisters are too ill to perform, their three male stage hands are called upon to perform in their place. The men dress in full Andrews Sisters drag and sing the songs that the sisters were meant to perform.
The songs they sing during the course of the musical include: "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive"; “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”; “Rosie The Riveter”; and “Any Bonds Today”.
The world premiere cast included Adam J. Estes as Lawrence Andrews, Michael Jenkinson as Max Andrews, Ben Cherry as Patrick Andrews, and Melinda Pfundstein. The musical premiered at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Vocal arrangements by Roger Bean; Musical Arrangements by Jon Newton; Choreography by Darci Brown Witz; Scenic Design by Vicki R. Davis; Costume Design by Alex Tecoma; and Lighting Design by Jason Fassl.
Contents |
When the show begins, the audience meets Max, Lawrence and Patrick Andrews are rehearsing with pin-up girl Peggy Jones for the big USO show in the South Pacific to take place that evening. Peggy is unaware that the brothers she is rehearsing with are really just the stagehands for the show. Earlier that morning, the Major in charge recruited the boys to fill in for Peggy's back-up singers who hadn't arrived in time. During the course of the first act, Peggy discovers the true identity of the brothers along with the 4F ailments that kept them out of the Army, which come to the surface as they rehearse. Despite the boys worries about performing, Peggy is able to convince them that they'll do a fine job in the show. As they rehearse, Peggy begins to develop romantic feelings for sweet and stammering Patrick. After an afternoon of rehearsals, everyone is confident that everything will work out well, but then a radiogram arrives with the news that the headliners for the show, The Andrews Sisters, are stuck in Hawaii in quarantine. Peggy, Mac, Lawrence, and Patrick know that the show must be cancelled unless, of course, there is a way for the Andrews Sisters to appear...
Act two begins with the end of Peggy's set at that evening's show. She introduces The Andrews – and onto the stage step our three brothers, who are now handed the task of pulling off the performance of a lifetime, dressed entirely in drag as they become Maxene, Patty & LaVerne Andrews. Peggy joins them throughout their set as the brothers perform the greatest hits of one of the finest singing groups of all time. Mistaken identities and madcap adventures along with the music of the 1940s continue through the rest of the show
| ACT I | ACT II |
|---|---|
| The Hut-Sut Song | Billy-A-Dick |
| Rosie the Riveter | Hold Tight, Hold Tight (Want Some Seafood Mama) |
| Peggy the Pin-Up Girl | Beer Barrel Polka |
| Breathless | Shoo-Shoo Baby |
| Mairzy Doats | Three Little Sisters |
| A Slow Boat to China | Six Jerks in a Jeep |
| Hawaiian War Chant | Plain Jane Doe |
| Hula Ba Luau | Corns For My Country |
| Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar | Any Bonds Today? |
| Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive | Off To See the World |
| Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy | |
| Stuff Like That There | |
| Bei Mir Bist Du Schön | |
| Rum and Coca Cola | |
| Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree |