There’s No Business Like Show Business!
Musicals at Richter’s 31st Season under the Stars Continues with
“Annie Get Your Gun” July 24 – August 8
Local residents involved with the production include Deanna Lee Torrisi of Patterson and Jack Canevari and Maryrose Canevara of Pawling
Danbury, Conn. – Musicals at Richter (MAR), now in its 31st season as the longest-running outdoor theater in Connecticut, continues its summer main stage offerings Friday, July 24 with the rousing Broadway musical classic “Annie Get Your Gun,” playing through August 8. Staged on the grounds of the Richter Arts Center in Danbury, performances take place outdoors under the stars at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, with added discounted performances on Thursday July 30 and August 6.
With a sure-fire score by Irving Berlin and book by Herbert Fields and Dorothy Fields, the show follows the fabulous career of real-life sharpshooter Annie Oakley and her love for Frank Butler, whom she ousts as the star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Annie Oakley is the best shot around, and she manages to support her little brother and sisters by selling the game she hunts. When Colonel Buffalo Bill discovers Annie, he persuades the 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. When Annie starts to overshadow Frank as the show’s main attraction, it becomes clear that what may be good for business may be bad for romance!
“Annie Get Your Gun” first premiered on Broadway in 1946 with Ethel Merman in the title role, where it ran for over 1,000 performances. The blockbuster hit has enjoyed numerous critically acclaimed revivals, most recently in 1999 in a Tony Award-winning production starring Bernadette Peters (later replaced by country star Reba McEntire) and Tom Wopat. The score brims with thrilling, tuneful Broadway standards, such as “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly,” “You Can’t Get a Man with A Gun,” “They Say It’s Wonderful,” and “Anything You Can Do.”
Directed and choreographed by MAR Artistic Director Lauren Nicole Sherwood (Stamford), “Annie Get Your Gun” features a cast of local performers, with a number of newcomers and MAR veterans. Accomplished performer L. Nagle (Torrington) takes aim as the irrepressible Annie Oakley, with Robert Bria (Redding) as her shooting rival and love interest Frank Butler.
Katherine Yeargin (Brookfield), Jane Shearin (Newtown) and Jack Canevari (Pawling, NY) portray Annie’s younger siblings Jessie, Nellie and Little Jake respectively. Beth Saultz (Brewster, NY) takes on the role of Frank’s jealous assistant Dolly Tate; Rachel Salvador (Bethel) is Dolly’s younger sister Winnie and Karl Hinger (New Milford) plays Tommy Keeler, Winnie’s love interest.
Mike Armstrong (Danbury) portrays iconic Wild West Show owner Buffalo Bill Cody, along with Steve Stott (Brookfield) as Sioux Chief Sitting Bull and Steve Taliaferro (Bethel) as show manager Charlie Davenport. John Armstrong (Newtown) portrays rival show owner Pawnee Bill and Richard Frey (New Fairfield) plays and Foster Wilson, the hotel owner who discovers Annie.
Rounding out the ensemble in a variety of roles are: Beth Bria and Brian Salvador (Bethel); Owen Benfield, Julia Field, and Carolyn and Kevin McCarthy (Brewster, NY); Amy Lybe (Brookfield); Denise Milmerstadt (Carmel, NY); Dolly Connor, Barbara Kessler, Tori Kuffler and Alysia Ross (Danbury); Emily Malavenda (Lincolnville, NY); Jessica Cerasoli (Mahopac, NY); Thomas Keough and Sarah Keough (New Fairfield); and Deanna Lee Torrisi (Patterson, NY).
Featured in the youth ensemble are Jacquelynn Matchen (Bethel); Jeannie and Michaela Milmerstadt (Carmel, NY); Kimberly Armstrong, Olivia Cotter, Cassidy Holmes and Hanna Margiloff (Danbury); Mikayla Haran (Lincolnville, NY); Emma Lubbers (Mahopac, NY); Maryrose Canevari (Patterson, NY) and Liberty and Xavier Nocito (Redding).
The creative team also features Jerold Goldstein (Trumbull) as musical director, and Amber Levine and Vikki Meskill (both of New Milford) as production stage managers.
Musicals at Richter’s 2015 season concludes with the Summer Youth Musical Workshop production of “Peter Pan, Jr.,” which plays for three performances August 13-15 at 8 p.m.
Main stage performances are primarily Friday through Sunday evenings at the Richter Arts Center (next to the Richter Park Golf Course, I-84, Exit 2), 100 Aunt Hack Road, in Danbury. Tickets for “Annie Get Your Gun” are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students (with ID), and $10 for children 10 and under. On Thursday July 30 and August 6, tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and $5 for children 10 and under. Ticket may be made reserved through the Musicals at Richter website (www.musicalsatrichter.org) or purchased at the door. Grounds open at 7:15 p.m. for picnicking, with curtain at 8:30 p.m. Group rates are available with advance reservation; chair rentals and soft drink/snack concessions are available on-site.
Now in its 31st season, Musicals at Richter is Connecticut’s longest-running outdoor theater. Performances are given on weekends at the Richter Arts Center (next to the Richter Park Golf Course),
100 Aunt Hack Road, in Danbury. Nestled in the hills of Western Connecticut, the Arts Center stage has served as the scenic backdrop for over 75 musicals produced by Musicals at Richter, as well as a
professional springboard for hundreds of up-and-coming performers. Musicals at Richter is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. For further information, visit the website at www.musicalsatrichter.org, leave a message at 203-748-6873 or e-mail info@musicalsatrichter.org.
