|
WILD WEST RETURNS IN "ANNIE GET YOUR GUN" AT THEATRE OF THE BIG BEND
Buffalo Bill's Wild West will come a-hoopin’ and a-hollerin’ into Sul Ross State University's rodeo arena on Friday, June 30, the opening night of the 41st season of Theatre of the Big Bend.
The San Antonio Livestock Exhibition (S.A.L.E.) Arena will host the Broadway favorite, "Annie Get Your Gun," by Irving Berlin. Parts of the show will be performed on horseback on the site of the annual Sul Ross NIRA college rodeo.
Dona Roman, Theatre of the Big Bend director and Sul Ross theatre faculty member, is using the arena to create an authentic arena setting for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West. Cody's famous arena western show of the late 19th and early 20th century greatly influenced the popular idea of the American West. It is also the setting for the classic musical comedy of the rivalry and romance between the Wild West sharpshooter stars, Annie Oakley and Frank Butler.
"I wanted to do the show in the S.A.L.E. arena because what better place to recreate the atmosphere of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West but in an arena." Roman said.
"Unlike almost any other production of "Annie Get Your Gun," even the professional Broadway versions, we’ll be able to use live horses. There will be space and spectacle, which is what engaged people's imagination in the Wild West to begin with. It's a great, fun family show. Even the audience has a part in the musical as the Wild West audience."
One of the more challenging and exciting summer musical productions, Roman who directed "South Pacific," "Sound of Music," and "Hello Dolly!" in past summers, has set the bar even higher this time to bring memorable entertainment to the local scene. Assisting Roman in the production with the singing performances and orchestra are Dr. Donald Freed, associate professor of voice and choral music at Sul Ross and Dr. Justin Badgerow, piano and instrumental associate professor of music. Jay Sawyer and Stuart Standly are technical advisor and stage manager. Choreography is by Janell Brady, Terlingua.
"We hope to draw in people not only from Marfa, Fort Davis, and Alpine, and the Big Bend towns, but because of the uniqueness of this production, it should be well worth the drive for folks from Midland/Odessa and El Paso to bring their families and make the trip to Alpine to see this version."
Cast members are from the community and the theatre department students at Sul Ross. Annie Oakley and Frank Butler, the lead romantic couple, are played by Terra Peters, and Omar Patillo, both of Alpine and Sul Ross students. Peters is known locally as singer/guitarist and appeared as a principal character in the popular play "With Love from Dr. Seacrest," performed in April.
Frank Butler is Patillo's first principal role but he appeared as a featured and supporting player in several 2005-2006 Sul Ross plays.
Other cast members include: Mad Dog James, as Buffalo Bill, Meredith Nelson, Steve Matteson, Pedro Garcia, Cole McClurg, Joe Denham III, David DeLaO, Kaytee Davis, Mattie Goodwin, Carrie Tuttlebee, Jennifer Holochwost, Kourtney Graves, Allison Espinoza, Alice Gray, John Curtin, Betina Stambaugh and Chrystalen Stambaugh, all of Alpine; Jason Roman, Willie Langham, and Addie Bencomo, Fort Davis; Miguel Jurado and Camille Brady,Terlingua; Angel Narvarett, Odessa, and Savahna Estrada, Mission.
"Annie Get Your Gun" was first performed on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre in 1946. Music and lyrics are by Irving Berlin and the book written by Herbert Fields and Dorothy Fields. Ethel Merman was Annie Oakley in the original production. A movie version was made in 1950 starring Betty Hutton in lieu of Judy Garland, who was unable to make the film version. In 1999 n 2001 the show was revived on Broadway with great success. Bernadette Peters received a Tony award for her performance in the title role, but during the run, actors Susan Luci, Cheryl Ladd, Crystal Bernard and country singer Reba McIntire all played Anne Oakley.
Theatre of the Big Bend performances begin June 30 and will be on four weekends, through July on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. The last show will be on Saturday, July 22, no Sunday performance. Call 1-800-561-3712 for more ticket information
|
