Crystal Bernard as Annie Oakley © 2001

Reba McEntire hit a bullseye with critics and audiences when she took over the role. © 2001

NEW YORK -- The Tony-winning Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun will fire its final shot Sept. 1, after 1,046 performances and 35 previews.

The revival will fall just a few weeks short of surpassing the original 1,147-performance Broadway run.

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Bernadette Peters earned a Best Actress Tony for her performance as Annie Oakley, the female marksman wonder of "Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show," in the revival of Irving Berlin's 1946 classic musical, which opened March 4, 1999 at the Marquis Theatre. The role was originated by Ethel Merman.

By fall 2000, the revival seemed to be losing steam, but it got a second wind when producers Barry and Fran Weissler (known for their unorthodox casting) announced that country star Reba McEntire would step into the title role. She triumphed, driving the show back to sellout status in early 2001. McEntire is planning to film a version of the show for broadcast on CBS-TV in early 2002.

Receipts slipped again after McEntire left the show in June 2001. She was replaced by TV star Crystal Bernard. The closing appeared inevitable in early August, when Thoroughly Modern Millie began saying it would open at the Marquis during the 2001-02 season.

TV stars Susan Lucci and Cheryl Ladd also played Annie Oakley during the run. Leading man Frank Butler was played by Tom Wopat, Patrick Cassidy and Brent Barrett. Wopat returned during the show's final weeks.

Annie Get Your Gun is the last surviving show from the 1998-99 season. That season's Tony-winning musical, Fosse, closed Aug. 25, 2001.

For more information, try visiting.... Dateline: 8/27/2001 10:01:43 AM Updated: 9/1/2001 12:39:39 AM

Bernadette Peters won a Tony Award as Annie Oakley © 1999