(Photo : Wikimedia)
Buck Owens, Lisa Todd, Roy Clark - Hee Haw 1970
Hosted by Buck Owens and Roy Clark, Hee Haw was an American staple on TV from 1969 to 1997. Comedy skits like KORN Radio, Pickin' and Grinnin' and The Cornfield Jokes kept viewers in stitches while country superstars, up-and-coming acts, bluegrass and country gospel singers entertained with some of the best music of the time. Regulars like Grandpa Jones, Lulu Roman, Junior Samples and Minnie Pearl were joined by stars like Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Charley Pride, Barbara Mandrell, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Conway Twitty and 355 other guests for the weekly show that truly helped shape American entertainment.
Seventeen years after going off of the air, Hee Haw is going to be reemerging - but this time on Broadway. Hee Haw the Musical will be a re-imagined version of the iconic show with new characters honoring the franchise.
Robert Horn, who also wrote the musicals "Lone Star Love" and "13," wrote the script for "Hee Haw the Musical" and popular Nashville songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally composed the music and lyrics for the show.
In a press release, Steve Buchanan, president of the Opry Entertainment Group and executive producer for the ABC series "Nashville," talked about the show, saying, "We are very excited about bringing this new incarnation of 'Hee Haw' to the stage. Our writing team is extraordinary and perfect for this original work."
Taking a show to Broadway is a long and arduous process, not something achieved overnight. There are several steps between the idea and the opening. Amy Jacobs, who is the general manager at Bespoke Productions in New York, the musical's general manager and partner, said that so far the play had done three readings — one for the authors and producers and two for potential partners and investors — and that the "Hee Haw the Musical" team was "blown away by the response."
They laughed hysterically and stood up and applauded and many of them followed up with us afterward and expressed their interest in being involved as we move forward," she said. "Sometimes they clap in the room and then you don't hear from them again. We received many calls afterward."
Jacobs explained that the actors used in the readings were hired only for the reading. They aren't necessarily the people who will go all the way to Broadway. Casting for the show will come into the process down the road.
