Hale Centre Theatre
Presents
Annie Get Your Gun
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (March 2008) — Hale Centre Theatre (HCT), Utah’s premier family theatre, will present the Broadway revival of “Annie Get Your Gun,” April 14 through May 31.
The production, which loosely chronicles the life of Annie Oakley, features the legendary Wild West heroine shooting at targets throughout the theatre while riding atop a life-sized horse that rotates with HCT’s million-dollar stage. Additionally, “Annie Get Your Gun” will include elements of Buffalo Bill’s stage show such as bullwhip cracking, trick horse riding, tomahawk throwing, knife throwing and rope tricks.
HCT has created ornate sets and props, which were inspired by original posters of Buffalo Bill’s stage show. Replicas of the posters are also incorporated into the stylized set along with miniature versions of trains, hotels and European landmarks.
“Visually it’s not your typical western where everything is brown and leather,” said HCT prop master, Kacey Udy. “It’s a new way of thinking about Annie while staying true to the popular story.”
“Annie Get Your Gun” was written by brother-and-sister duo Herbert and Dorothy Fields with music by Irving Berlin. Produced by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II, the show originally premiered at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre in 1946 and ran for 1,147 performances. Ethel Merman starred in the original production and reprised her role in the 1966 revival. In the 1999 revival, Bernadette Peters, Susan Lucci and Reba McEntire all took turns portraying Annie.
The most recent revival of “Annie Get Your Gun” won several awards including a 1999 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Peters), a 1999 Tony Award Best Actress in a Musical (Peters), and a 1999 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. Additionally, Reba McEntire was presented with both a Theatre World Award and a Drama Desk Award Special Award in 2001.
HCT’s “Annie Get Your Gun” is directed by Tamara Adams, and stars Debra Stewart and Megan Heaps as Annie Oakley; Paul Cartwright and Josh Richardson as Frank Butler; and Cliff Cole and Jim Dale as Buffalo Bill. The music director is Kelly DeHaan, choreographer is Marilyn May Montgomery, costume designer is Suzanne Carling assisted by Jolene Ashcraft; technical director is Andrew Barrus; set designer is Darrin Brooks; prop master is Udy, lighting designer is Spencer Brown, sound designer is Mike Williams, and the production assistant is Linda Jean Stephenson.
Performances are Monday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with matinees each Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and occasional weekdays at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are Monday–Thursday evenings and matinees, adult $21, child (5-11 years) $15; Friday and Saturday evening shows, adult $25, child (5-11 years) $16. Tickets may be purchased online at www.halecentretheatre.org, via telephone at (801) 984-9000 or at the Hale Centre Theatre box office, 3333 South Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, Utah.
