TV stars doin’ what comes natur’lly

Young Chang

Tom Wopat, a.k.a. Luke Duke from “Dukes of Hazzard,” grew up with

actor Larry Storch. As a child, Wopat watched Storch portray Cpl.

Randolph Agarn on the slapstick 1960s sitcom “F-Troop.”

Both actors created television history in their time. Now they are

teaming with a third television star, Marilu Henner, in the touring

production of Irving Berlin’s “Annie Get Your Gun,” which will open

Tuesday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

The Wild West musical tells the story of sharpshooters Annie Oakley

(Henner) and Frank Butler (Wopat) -- two rivals who, in the end, fall in

love. Popular songs from the show include “There’s No Business Like Show

Business,” “They Say It’s Wonderful,” “You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun”

and “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better.”

Any skepticism people feel about television stars doing show tunes

should be put aside. Wopat, 49, was nominated for a Tony Award last year

for his role in “Annie Get Your Gun,” which won that year for best

musical revival.

Marilu Henner “has lived up to and past everyone’s expectations,”

Storch said. “We were locked in with talented people. And the dancers, I

don’t know how people can move like that.”

The show’s Southern California premiere at the Center is more

politically correct than the original, said Storch, who plays Sitting

Bull. One of his songs was cut because the lyrics were considered

demeaning.

For Storch, the Western dialogue came easily. He grew up in New York

City at a time when immigrants stepped off of boats. Irish travelers had

fresh Irish accents. Scottish folks spoke “the real thing.” The dialects

were pure.

“And here I had the best seat in the world,” the 77-year-old actor

said.

Wopat, who started singing as a child and worked on Broadway before

becoming a Duke in the late 1970s, sees a little bit of himself in his

character, Frank Butler.

“He thinks he’s kind of running things but he’s not really, and he

gets bossed around by the women, eventually,” he said, laughing.

Though known for his television counterpart, Wopat said he is more of

a singer than an actor.

“‘Dukes of Hazzard’ was exciting,” he said, “but it was all a little

disconcerting in a way. That was never really my design, to become a TV

star. My talent had really been focused on my voice.”

Wopat’s songwriting and recording career stems back to the late 1980s,

when he worked with mostly country music. His latest recording, “The

Still of the Night,” shows some of his Broadway roots with 12 classics,

including songs by Stephen Sondheim and Rodgers and Hart.

Two years ago, Wopat helped conceive the reincarnation of “Annie Get

Your Gun” on Broadway and is now enjoying its success. He said he sees

more musicals in his future.

Jerry Mandel, president and chief operating officer at the Center,

said the show balances the Center’s Broadway season.

“Every once in a while, we like to do a revival,” he said. “And it’s

an opportunity to see a classic with great songs.”

Storch, who has been touring the country with the production, said he

still can’t get over audience reactions.

“I take a look at the rehearsal halls, and it looks like Yankee Field,

and yet at night the seats are filled,” he said. “Sometimes we get a

standing ovation. We come off shaking our heads. It’s a rousing good

time.”

FYI

WHAT: “Annie Get Your Gun”

WHEN: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30

p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: The Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center

Drive, Costa Mesa

COST: $20-$55

CALL: (714) 740-7878