State Theatre to present musical ‘George M’ as nation wages war on terrorism
On April 6, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed a declaration of war against Germany that led America into World War I. That evening, Broadway legend George M. Cohan composed a stirring and vibrant song that would immediately thrill Americans and become a second anthem for the country during the war: “Over There.’ “Over there, over there,
Send the word, send the word over there,
That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming,
The drums rum-tumming everywhere.
So prepare, say a prayer,
Send the word, send the word to beware,
We’ll be over, we’re coming over,
And we won’t come back till
It’s over over there.’
That wasn’t the first time that Cohan had delighted Americans with his patriotic songs. Earlier, a Civil War soldier who had been at Gettysburg inspired Cohan to write “You’re A Grand Old Flag.’
His 1904 show “Little Johnny Jones’ produced “Yankee Doodle Dandy.’ Both songs are electrifying and unabashedly proud of America.
In fact, Congress was so thrilled with Cohan’s music that they awarded him a Congressional Medal of Honor in 1936. It was the first time that Congress had ever given this award for writing songs.
Biographer John McCabe wrote in his 1973 “George M. Cohan: The Man Who Owned Broadway,’ “In the early years of this (20th) century, George M. Cohan struck a note in the American heart which has not yet stopped sounding.’
Since the terrorist attacks on America Sept. 11, 2001, and the subsequent War on Terrorism, Cohan’s music is being appreciated with renewed enthusiasm in the United States. A new generation of children is learning the songs that have pleased America for 100 years.
And now the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown is bringing the best of Cohan to Fayette County for local audiences to enjoy with the hit musical “George M,’ set to play here on at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28.
“It’s a wonderful production,’ said Chris Wagner, executive director of the State Theatre. “There is lots of good music. And, because of the times, I think this will be a pick-me-up for a lot of people. There’s no better time to have it.’
First produced in 1968, “George M’ tells the musical story of Cohan’s life, including his birth in 1878 in Providence, R.I., to vaudevillians Jerry and Nellie Cohan, followed by the creation of a successful family act called The Four Cohans that included Cohan’s older sister, Josie.
The show tells the story of Cohan’s marriage to actress Ethel Levy and his partnership with Sam Harris and second marriage to Agnes Nolan. It details Cohan’s brilliance as a writer, composer, actor and song-and-dance man from his days in vaudeville to his critically acclaimed portrayal of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Rodgers and Hart’s “I’d Rather Be Right.’
The show is filled with Cohan’s music, including “Over There,’ “You’re A Grand Old Flag’ and “Yankee Doodle Dandy’ as well as “Mary,’ “Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway,’ “Harrigan’ and “Give My Regards to Broadway.’
“This is one of my favorite productions,’ Wagner said. “When I saw it was available, I had to have it.’
Wagner speaks highly of the dancing in this production and when it comes to the music, she commented, “Like they say, they don’t write songs like that anymore.’
Cohan’s life story was previously told in the 1942 Hollywood film “Yankee Doodle Dandy’ for which Jimmy Cagney won a Best Actor Oscar. But Wagner speaks highly of the live stage version.
Afterall, the stage was Cohan’s medium.
Mainstage, which is producing the show for the State Theatre, issued a press release that noted Cohan composed more than 500 songs and wrote more than 40 musicals and plays for the stage, presenting more than 130 productions.
He collaborated (without credit) on 15 shows, starred as a performer in more than 35 plays and musicals and owned and operated three theatres on Broadway with Harris.
Mainstage proclaimed, “George M. Cohan was indeed, a prince of the American theater.
There has never been anyone to match him. He was more or less the equivalent of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Mike Nichols, Jerome Robbins, David Merrick and the Shuberts all rolled into one. His songs are a refreshment of spirit, and a renewal of belief in the present and future of the U.S.A. It is no wonder that he is the only theatrical personality whose statute stands in Times Square facing the street he so dearly loved – Broadway.’
“George M’ is sponsored by National City.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the State Theatre Center for the Arts at 724-439-1360.