A return to Stoneham — and sisterhood

“Patty is more of the clown, and she’s the baby. She tends to get the big silly moments in the show,’’ says DeGiacomo, who plays her.

“And then there’s Mackie,’’ Robertson says, using the nickname for her character, Maxene. “Mackie just wants to be noticed. So Mackie does what she can to get that.’’

Sitting in a basement rehearsal room a week before the opening, in T-shirts and sweat pants, the actresses form a very modern kind of sisterhood. All three cop to being well suited to their roles. They first appeared in “Sisters of Swing’’ here in 2008 and made it the theater’s best-grossing musical ever, until a recent production of “42nd Street.’’ They remained friends after the run and took occasional outside gigs as the Andrews Sisters at corporate events, fund-raisers, and even a parade or two. Now they’re thrilled to be back together in a remount of the production.

Garbis compares the Andrews Sisters to the Destiny’s Child or Spice Girls of their day.

“And American as apple pie,’’ says Robertson. “They stood for so much.’’

The real-life trio was as big a singing group as America had in the 1930s and ’40s, with hits like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’’ and “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.’’ They were especially popular during World War II, often performing for the troops overseas. But the actresses say the real-life sisters were also ahead of their time in their independence. The show includes a scene in which they stand up against racism in the military.

“Don’t you think if they were here today they’d be all out for equality and equal rights?’’ asks Garbis. “Absolutely,’’ say the other two.

The production also includes Steve Gagliastro in multiple roles — Carmen Miranda, for instance — and an eight-piece band conducted by musical director Mario Cruz, who plays piano onstage.