SUN CITY – The sights and sounds of the Wild West come to Huntley when the Sun City Theater troupe performs Annie Get Your Gun, the light-hearted musical with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin.
The story is a fictionalized account of the life of Annie Oakley, a sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, and her on-again off-again romance with sharpshooter Frank Butler.
Judy Stage, one of the co-producers and ensemble member of the show, says audience members will be delighted by choreographed dances and familiar tunes like “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and “You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun.”
Annie Get Your Gun brings out cast of all ages to bring to life this iconic play. Background (L to R): Dave Strang, Jim Rice. Front (L to R): Carter Graf, Makayla Graf, Luciana Herrera. (Photo by Tony Pratt/Sun Day)
The show is a revised version of the original 1946 script, with updated language.
“In the original [version], the show took place backstage of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Shows. Now, it’s more like a show within a show. Annie Oakley and Frank Butler are competing and they’re both excellent shots,” Stage said. “She always beats him or matches him.”
Tickets will be on sale Mondays, April 16 and 23, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the Fountain View Atrium. Adult tickets cost $17 and children tickets cost $12. Cash or check only. For additional ticket information for Thursday and Friday tickets, call 847-515-8545 or for Saturday and Sunday tickets, call 847-515-1583.
The cast is headed up by Janet Graf in the role of Annie Oakley. Graf is no stranger to the stage: as early as age five, Graf was singing in a group with her sisters.
“My grandma taught my sisters and I how to sing and harmonize with each other,” she remembers. Graf has participated in a wide variety of singing groups her whole life, ranging from church choir to the Sweet Adelines, a women’s chorus well known for their barbershop harmonies. “In fact,” she laughs, “for Christmas, my son and daughter-in-law got me a shirt that says, ‘My brain is 90% song lyrics!’”
Graf and her husband typically spend winters in Arizona, but the couple sacrificed their snowbird status this year so she could attend rehearsals. For Graf, playing Oakley means channeling her inner tomboy.
“She’s a tough gal who stands up for herself,” said Graf of her character. “It’s pretty easy for me to tote a gun and for some reason I have no problem slipping into a southern accent!”
Included in the cast are two of Graf’s grandchildren: Carter Graf, 12, and Makayla Graf, 10; they are joined by 10 year-old Luciana Herrera and play Annie Oakley’s three younger siblings.
“Those kids are little professionals,” remarks Stage. “And cute as a button.”
Janet Graf and Bob Hernandez perform their characters Annie and Frank at a recent rehearsal on the Drendel stage. (Photo by Tony Pratt/Sun Day)
Co-producer Dick Storer plays knife-thrower Tommy Keeler in Annie Get Your Gun. For just over 10 years, Storer has been cast in a Sun City Theater production.
“I have a tough time saying no,” Storer laughs, “and besides, all theaters need men.”
Even though Storer never did theater before he came to Sun City, he says he remembers getting bit by the acting bug during his first time on stage when the audience reacted in laughter to one of his lines.
“I thought, ‘Oh!’” says Storer. “That struck a bell.”
“This is a fun show to be in,” says Storer. “It’s cute and funny in places. It’s just good to be part of the group – to share the energy and share the joy.”
