SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel University’s Theatre Program will present Annie Get Your Gun, Irving Berlin’s classic musical, Thursday through Saturday, April 9-11, at 7 p.m.
The musical first opened on Broadway in 1946. It tells the story of sharpshooter Annie Oakley and her life in Col. Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.
Evangel’s production will take place in the Barnett Fine Arts Theater. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $7 for students. Groups of 10 or more can also purchase their tickets for $7 each.
Tickets may be purchased online at http://web.evangel.edu/apps/public/ticketsales/. They may also be purchased at the door on the night of the show.
The production of Annie Get Your Gun is directed by senior theatre major Joshua Smith of Pueblo, Colo. It is his senior directorial project.
“I have been working on the show for the past three years,” Smith said. “I am so excited to share this show with friends and family of Evangel. I have treasured this project for many years, and it is great to finally be able to share it.”
The part of Annie Oakley is played by Lauren Drysdale, a senior nursing major from Beach Park, Ill.
The cast and crew consist of Evangel students ranging from seniors to freshmen. The students involved in the project come from a variety of academic departments, for participation in the production is open to all students.
The theatre major and program are a part of the Humanities Department at Evangel.
Synopsis of the play
Annie Oakley is the best shot around, and she manages to support her little brother and sisters by selling the game she hunts. When she is discovered by Col. Buffalo Bill, he persuades this novel sharpshooter to join his Wild West Show. It only takes one glance for her to fall head over heels for dashing shooting ace Frank Butler, who headlines the show. She soon gains more fame than Butler, which may be good for business, but bad for romance. Butler hightails it off to join a rival show with a bruised male ego, but is ultimately pitted against Annie in the final shoot-out. The rousing, sure-fire finale hits the mark every time in a testament to the power of female ingenuity.
(Quote from the Rogers & Hammerstein Organization)
For tickets and additional information, contact Judy Peebles at (417) 865-2811, ext. 8640.
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CAPTION: Senior Lauren Drysdale, a nursing major from Beach Park, Ill., plays the part of Annie Oakley in Evangel University’s production of the Irving Berlin musical, Annie Get Your Gun.
POSTER BY: Jared Statler