By Amanda Benavides/reporter
People are always saying how hard it is to mix business with pleasure.
Annie Get Your Gun, a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin, is a prime example of that statement.
The musical comedy opens Wednesday, April 30, in the NE Playhouse on NE Campus.
Based on a true story from the 1800s, Annie Get Your Gun is a love story between show business rivals Annie Oakley and Frank Butler.
Butler and Annie Oakley meet when Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show arrives in town with a shooting challenge. Oakley, a young local girl, is pitted against Butler, the show’s star sharpshooter. She falls in love at first sight, even before knowing he is her opponent. When she is invited to join the show after winning the match, she jumps at the chance to be near the man she loves.
Those up on Western history know the pair eventually marry, but the route to the altar is rocky and makes for good entertainment … especially with the other colorful cast members including Chief Sitting Bull, played on NE by Daniel Robinson, and Buffalo Bill Cody, played by Trenton Meyer.
The show, however, belongs to Butler, portrayed by William Kauber, and Oakley, portrayed by Grace Neeley. Kauber’s Butler is a very macho character who seems like a jerk at times.
“There is something for everyone,” he said.
Dolly Tate, played by Monica Price, is part of Buffalo Bill’s show as Butler’s assistant and not very fond of Annie Oakley.
Price said working with the cast and crew has been a positive experience because they have become “a very tight-knit, mixed family.”
Kauber and Price both have experience performing in musicals as do most of the cast, and all agree that they prefer musicals over the more traditional plays.
“It’s like chocolate and vanilla,” Kauber said.
This musical is directed and choreographed by Susan Mills-Polster, adjunct instructor of drama.
This performance was chosen from the 1999 revised version of the musical by Irving Berlin to show a more modern twist on the classic. The version includes familiar songs such as “Anything You Can Do” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business” from the original.
The cast and crew have been rehearsing since the beginning of the semester for this upcoming performance. One of the most difficult challenges they have encountered was the original male lead’s dropping out.
However, like they say in show business, “the show must go on” and it will with Kauber in the lead role.
The elaborate costumes, designed by Emily Clarkson, for this musical have also been in progress since the beginning of the semester.
Laura Sunkel Mahon, instructional associate, did set and light design.
Annie Get Your Gun is, for the most part, family friendly and light hearted. It does include adult language, guns, sexual humor and Wild West stunts such as knife throwing, rope tricks and more.
Be prepared for this fast-paced musical comedy with knee slides and and some adult content.
The performances will be Wednesday-Saturday, April 30-May 3, at 8 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. in the NE Playhouse.
The play is free to all TCC students, faculty and staff, $3 for non-TCC students and senior citizens 65 or over and $6 for the general public.
All shows are reserved seating.
Tickets can be reserved by calling the Box Office at 817-515-6687 or by e-mail to neplayhouse@tccd.edu.
Annie Get Your Gun
Warning: Adult Content
Northeast Campus
Showtimes: Wednesday-Saturday 8 p.m., Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.
Box Office: 817-515-6687
General Admission: $6
Non-TCC Students/Seniors: $3
TCC Students, Faculty, Staff: Free
