Irving Berlin's "Annie Get Your Gun" opens ACT's 68th season

Asheville Community Theatre is setting its sights on a surefire hit to open its 68^th season.  The Wild West, show-within-a-show Annie Get Your Gun opens next at the downtown theatre on Friday, September 20, 2013 and will run through Sunday, October 13, 2013 with performances on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm.  Annie Get Your Gun is classic Broadway musical theatre at its best: exciting, vibrant, and altogether a wonderful experience to be shared with the whole family.  Tickets are available online, over the phone, or in person at the Asheville Community Theatre Box Office.  

“Annie Get Your Gun is such a fun show – it’s the perfect production for a season opener,” said Susan Harper, Managing Director of Asheville Community Theatre.  “Plus, it’s wonderful to open a season with the energy that a huge cast brings to the building!”

When Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show comes into town, Annie Oakley quickly falls in love with the show’s sharpshooter, Frank Butler. When Annie, an amazing sharpshooter herself, joins the show so she can win Frank, the “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better” love story begins. Asheville Community Theatre’s production will be the celebrated 1999 Peter Stone revival version, which reshaped the 1946 book to create a more contemporary show.

Asheville Community Theatre’s production of Annie Get Your Gun is directed by Jerry Crouch who has helmed plenty of musical hits for ACT including Hairspray, Chicago, and Guys and Dolls.  Musical direction is by Lenora Thom, and choreography is by Kathleen Meyers Leiner. Jackie Canney-Collison (BARK!, Kiss Me, Kate) stars as Annie Oakley opposite Brandon Kersey (making his ACT debut) as Frank Butler.  They are joined onstage by a cast of 37, which includes many ACT veterans as well as newcomers to the ACT stage.  The grand and colorful set is designed by Jill Summers with costumes by Ida Bostian and Deborah Austin. 

“Annie Oakley was the first true international superstar,” said Jerry Crouch, director of Annie Get Your Gun. “The revival of this show celebrates her celebrity. Our incredible cast shares the joy of this script through a combination of powerhouse vocals and spectacular dance numbers.  This is a show not to be missed!”

For more information about Annie Get Your Gun or about Asheville Community Theatre, please visit www.ashevilletheatre.org.