You've probably heard the brassy blast of "There’s No Business Like Show Business" a thousand times. It is the ultimate anthem for anyone who’s ever stepped onto a stage. But when you look back at the Annie Get Your Gun cast history, things get a lot messier—and more interesting—than just a catchy tune.
Most people think of Ethel Merman as the be-all and end-all of Annie Oakley. She was the original, after all. But the path from the 1946 Broadway premiere to the modern revivals is littered with casting drama, studio firings, and some of the biggest names in Hollywood history almost—but not quite—making the cut.
The Merman Era: Where it All Started
In 1946, Ethel Merman didn't just play Annie Oakley; she owned her. Dorothy Fields, who came up with the idea for the show, wouldn't have it any other way. Merman had that "foghorn" voice that could reach the back of the Imperial Theatre without a microphone. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else standing toe-to-toe with Ray Middleton, who played the original Frank Butler.
Middleton was a massive man with a booming baritone. He had to be. If you weren’t physically and vocally imposing, Merman would simply steamroll you.
The rest of the original Annie Get Your Gun cast was a "who’s who" of Broadway veterans. You had Marty May as Charlie Davenport and William O’Neal as the legendary Buffalo Bill. Harry Bellaver played Chief Sitting Bull, a role he actually reprised decades later in the 1966 revival. That kind of longevity is basically unheard of in theater.
The Judy Garland Heartbreak and the Movie Shuffle
Now, here is where it gets spicy. When MGM decided to turn the musical into a movie in 1950, they didn't want Merman. They wanted Judy Garland.
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Judy was the biggest star on the planet. She recorded the entire soundtrack. She spent two months filming. But the production was a disaster from day one. Busby Berkeley, the director, was notorious for being a tyrant. He pushed Judy to the point of collapse. Eventually, MGM fired her—a move that devastated her and remains one of the "what ifs" of cinema history.
So, who did they get? Betty Hutton.
Hutton was "The Blonde Bombshell," known for her manic energy. She stepped in and did a fine job, but she always felt the shadow of Garland hanging over her. Howard Keel played Frank Butler in the film, marking his big American debut. Keel was perfect—tall, handsome, and possessed a voice like rich mahogany.
Key Players in the 1950 Film:
- Annie Oakley: Betty Hutton (after Judy Garland was fired)
- Frank Butler: Howard Keel
- Buffalo Bill: Louis Calhern (replacing Frank Morgan, who died during filming)
- Charlie Davenport: Keenan Wynn
- Chief Sitting Bull: J. Carrol Naish
The 1999 Revival: A New Way to Aim
Fast forward to the late 90s. The show needed a facelift. The "I'm an Indian Too" number and some of the dated portrayals of Native Americans weren't going to fly anymore. Enter Bernadette Peters.
Peters brought a completely different vibe to the Annie Get Your Gun cast. Where Merman was a bulldozer, Peters was a flirtatious, slightly eccentric, and deeply vulnerable Annie. She didn't just belt; she acted the hell out of the songs.
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She was paired with Tom Wopat—yes, Luke Duke from The Dukes of Hazzard. People were skeptical. Could a TV action star handle Irving Berlin? Turns out, Wopat had a legit Broadway voice. He was nominated for a Tony, and Peters won hers.
The 1999 revival became a revolving door of superstars. When Peters left, Cheryl Ladd took over. Then came the big one: Reba McEntire.
Reba didn't just play a cowgirl; she was a cowgirl. Critics who usually turned their noses up at country stars were floored. The New York Times basically fell in love with her. Even Susan Lucci, the queen of daytime soaps, had a stint as Annie. It was a wild time for the Marquis Theatre.
Why the Casting Matters Today
When we talk about the Annie Get Your Gun cast, we’re really talking about the evolution of the American musical. In 1946, it was about the spectacle and the belt. By 1966, when Merman returned for a Lincoln Center revival alongside Jerry Orbach (long before his Law & Order days), it was about nostalgia.
In the most recent major iterations, like the 2023 concert at the London Palladium, we see a shift toward powerhouse vocalists like Rachel Tucker and Julian Ovenden. They focus on the technical brilliance of the score while trying to navigate the show's complicated historical baggage.
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You see, Annie Oakley was a real person. Frank Butler was a real person. But the musical is a tall tale. The cast has to balance being a cartoonish "Wild West" character while keeping the audience invested in a romance that is, frankly, pretty toxic by modern standards. He wants a girl who is "soft and as pink as a nursery," and she’s a woman who can outshoot him any day of the week.
Surprising Facts About the Casts
- Jerry Orbach’s Range: Before he was Detective Lennie Briscoe, Jerry Orbach was a song-and-dance man. He played Charlie Davenport in the 1966 revival and absolutely crushed it.
- The Jonas Connection: Did you know Nick Jonas played Little Jake in the 1999 revival? He was just a kid, long before the JoBros or his solo career.
- The Mary Martin Version: Mary Martin, the original Peter Pan, led the first national tour and even did a TV version in 1957. She played it much sweeter than Merman.
- The Chief Sitting Bull Link: Harry Bellaver played the role in 1946 and 1966. That is twenty years of playing the same character on Broadway. Talk about job security.
What You Should Look for Next
If you’re a fan of musical theater or just curious about how these productions come together, don't just stick to the movie. The movie is fine, but it lacks the grit of the stage versions.
The best way to understand the Annie Get Your Gun cast is to listen to the 1999 revival recording with Bernadette Peters and then immediately jump to the 1946 original Broadway cast recording. The difference in tempo and delivery is staggering. It shows you exactly how much "show business" changed in 50 years.
You can also hunt down the footage of Reba McEntire’s run. It’s some of the most naturalistic acting you’ll ever see in a Golden Age musical.
Check out the 2023 London Palladium concert clips if they’re still floating around online. Rachel Tucker’s "Anything You Can Do" is a masterclass in breath control and comedic timing.
For your next steps, I recommend listening to the Judy Garland studio recordings of the soundtrack. It gives you a haunting glimpse into what the 1950 film could have been if she hadn't been struggling so much at the time. It’s a bit of a tragic "lost" performance that every musical theater nerd needs to hear at least once.