The Music Ministry at First United Methodist Church of Allen presents one of its “wildest” summer musical productions yet: Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun, July 16-18, 2015, on stage in the church’s sanctuary.
This Tony Award-winning musical shares a fictional account of one of American’s greatest love stories between the backwoods Annie Oakley and the dashing Frank Butler, two sharpshooters featured in Buffalo Bill’s traveling Wild West Show. Annie, played by Stephanie Oustalet, falls for the handsome Mr. Butler, portrayed by Alec Bond, who is a little put off by Annie’s shooting skills and superstar status.Ultimately, the two fall in love while singing some of musical theater’s best known show stoppers including Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better and There’s No Business Like Show Business. Other favorites include The Girl That I Marry, They Say It’s Wonderful, Moonshine Lullaby, Doin' What Comes Natur'lly and I Got the Sun in the Morning.
With music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, Annie Get Your Gun is considered one of Berlin's greatest theatrical achievements. The 1946 musical, which starred Ethel Mermen as Annie Oakley, is appropriate for all ages; a 1950 movie starred Betty Hutton and Howard Keel won the Academy Award for best score and received three other nominations. The original script by Herbert and Dorothy Fields was updated for a 1999 Broadway revival, which starred Bernadette Peters and Tom Wopat.
FUMC Allen’s production, directed by Emily Whitman and musical director Rusty King, is part of FUMC Allen’s Summer Musical series, which has brought to the stage Oklahoma in 2012 and Fiddler on the Roof in 2014. With more than 30 actors and a full orchestra of more than 30 musicians, theater goers will be delighted by a wonderful evening of music, drama, and comedy.
Annie Get Your Gun plays for three performances, Thursday, July 16, Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18 in the sanctuary at First United Methodist Church, 601 S Greenville Ave in Allen TX. Tickets are now available online at http://fumcallen.org/annie-get-your-gun/ or in the church office during regular business hours. For more information, call 972.727.8261.
FUMC Allen welcomes the press to follow the opening and run of Annie Get Your Gun. Please contact Alison Thomas 972.727.8261 or alisont@fumcallen.org.