Celebrating Excellence in Theatre

Annie Get Your Gun

Lyric Light Opera's Inaugural Production, 2006

Submitted to the Skagit Valley Herald
To the Editor:

Who still thinks you have to drive to Seattle to find
a top quality theatre performance by a first class
company? Not I! Last week my family had the wonderful
opportunity to enjoy "Annie Get Your Gun" as presented
by Lyric Light Opera of the Northwest at McIntyre Hall
in Mt Vernon. What an amazing performance! Having
always been drawn to the story of Annie Oakley, I
expected to enjoy myself. What I didn't expect was to
be absolutely thrilled at the quality of the sets,
singing, acting and dancing; not that I had expected
anything less than great, but it was so much more. The
entire cast, from production to performers, have well
succeeded in capturing the essence of this musical and
I found it to be just as wonderful as the classic
movie version starring Howard Keel and Betty Hutton.
It is a comedy, a love story, a success story, a
friendship story.a HAPPY story. There isn't a lot of
good news in the world these days and we can all use
some happy feelings. I didn't see one person leaving
the theatre that didn't have a smile a mile wide on
their face! If anyone is looking for some first-rate,
family-friendly entertainment at a decent price and in
a beautiful venue, then I would encourage them to take
advantage of the opportunity we have so close to home
and go to see "Annie Get Your Gun" before it's gone.

Sincerely,
Teresa Asgharian
Camano Island

 

"I was blown away with the high quality, professionalism, and sheer fun I had
with "Annie Get Your Gun"!  Really, an excellent production.   It would hold its own against performances in much larger venues (with a larger price).  The kids added to the enjoyment.  Those seated around me were laughing (at the right times) and all joined in the enthusiastic applause."

"Congratulations on one of the most entertaining and wonderful musicals we
have ever seen.  We were there on opening night and it was spectacular.  We
can't begin to tell you how much we enjoyed it.  Annie's voice was like an angel
and her smile lit up the stage - she has tons and tons of perfect stage persona, exactly what it takes to capture the hearts of the audience. Thank you for blessing all of us and also the entire community."

"TOP Notch performance by the entire cast!  Frank had an incredible voice.  Annie was awesome in her acting and singing.  Dolly and Charlie were hilarious. The ballerina was a beautiful dancer.  We loved the kids and couldn't believe how good the "papoose" was and sooo cute!"

"I've watched the show three times; and it was perfect each time."

"I couldn't help singing on the way out of the theater.  And, I'm still singing...."

"This is the best show orchestra I've heard in years!"

"We were totally blown away by the Indian dance - that whole scene was spectacular and moving at the same time."

"We enjoyed it SOOOOOOOO much!!!!!! We've been singing the songs and replaying our favorite parts."

"Great show!  My grandkids and daughter really loved it.  The little papoose was a big hit.  I am going to purchase more tickets."

Standing Ovations at Every Performance in Mount Vernon!
McIntyre Hall
2501 East College Way
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
 

July 14-16, 2006
July 21-23, 2006
July 28-30, 2006

Standing Ovations at Every Performance in Kirkland!
Kirkland Performance Center
350 Kirkland Avenue
Kirkland, WA 98033

August 4-6, 2006
August 11-13, 2006
 

Skagit Valley Herald, July 13, 2006

Shooting for the perfect show   Kevin Pitman (left), who plays the suave sharpshooter Frank Butler, shows Annie Oakley, played by Lyrica Mueller, his rifle in this scene from Lyric Light Opera of the Northwest’s upcoming production of the Irving Berlin classic musical “Annie Get Your Gun. It opens Friday at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon. Story by BEVERLY CRICHFIELD / Photos by FRANK VARGA New theatre company makes big debut with classic musical MOUNT VERNON — Who was the real Annie Oakley? Lyrica Mueller is having a tough time combining aspects of the real Quaker sharpshooter from the late 1800s with the wide-eyed, perky stage persona conveyed in Irving Berlin’s colorful musical “Annie Get Your Gun.” “She was kind of shy and quiet, but she was a strong, independent woman,” Mueller said, while gluing a piece of ribbon to a blouse she plans to wear during Lyric Light Opera’s production of “Annie Get Your Gun,” set to open Friday night at McIntyre Hall. Mueller, a veteran of the stage and a musician, has been reading Oakley’s memoirs and any other information about the orphaned girl named Pheobe Ann Moses, who made her way from a life of abuse and poverty to working with the famous Buffalo Bill Wild West Show as a sharpshooting entertainer. While Oakley, nicknamed “Little Sure Shot,” was considered a woman light years ahead of her time, she also was a surprisingly modest woman who marched to promote Victorian-era morals. The paradox is intriguing to Mueller. “I want to respect the woman as she was,” Mueller said, thoughtfully. “She was a great combination of a modern-day feminist, but she was a very Victorian woman.” Mueller and the rest of the 30-member cast spent Monday evening getting familiar with the elaborate set of the show that runs July 14-30 at McIntyre Hall. “Annie Get Your Gun” is the first production of the newly formed Lyric Light Opera of the Northwest. Former Northwest Civic Light Opera partner Barbara Mueller founded the new theatre company after Northwest Civic Light Opera dissolved in February. It had been operating just two years before it folded. Brenda Mueller, director of the show, said she wanted to create a theatre company that would not only produce high-quality, family oriented entertainment, but also provide budding actors a place to learn the ins and outs of theatre — from the sound, lights and sets to music, dancing and portraying characters of all kinds. “I believe that theater affects the people on the stage so very much,” Mueller said. “We can make such a difference in a person’s life by taking them through the process of a show.” Kevin Pitman (left), who plays sharpshooter Frank Butler, rehearses a scene Tuesday with cast members of “Annie Get Your Gun.” Mueller didn’t spare expense or energy for “Annie.” The production, which includes colorful Western-style sets from the Utah Festival Opera Company, a large cast of all ages, elaborate costumes, marketing, a 15-piece orchestra and booking of McIntyre Hall, is expected to cost about $75,000. Mueller said the biggest challenge so far has been coming up with money for the show and other expenses, and bringing in experienced volunteers to produce and act in the shows. But many actors from the Northwest Civic Light Opera followed Mueller to work with her new theatre company. Rick Shallow of Camano Island had portrayed Von Schreiber in the Northwest Civic Light Opera’s 2005 production of “The Sound of Music.” In “Annie,’ he’s playing the worldly wise icon of American entertainment, Buffalo Bill Cody, who operated the famous “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show” in the later half of the 1800s. “Buffalo Bill was America’s first superstar,” Shallow said, after rehearsing possibly one of the best known tunes from a musical, “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” But Buffalo Bill also was the glue that held the entertainers together, Shallow added. They looked up to him and admired him. He treated them well, and reportedly even paid the women and men performers equally for their work. While reading up on Buffalo Bill in history books and on the Internet, Shallow discovered that Bill had been in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment — the same regiment that his son is now serving in, although it’s now called the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Shallow’s son helped outfit him with an authentic old-style cavalry hat, sword and spurs. While Shallow said portraying Bill isn’t a challenge, Sarah Simmons of Burlington had to look for just the right inspiration for her jealous and insecure character, Dolly Tate. Dolly was set to be the big female sharpshooter of the Wild West show until Annie came along, said Simmons, whose resume includes many performances with the local Theatre Arts Guild. So Dolly tries to undermine Annie whenever she can, Simmons said. “I’ve been thinking about how to make her likable,” Simmons said, laughing. “I think of Karen Walker on ‘Will and Grace.’ Yeah, she’s scheming and mean and a lush, but she’s fun.” And fun is what the show is about, said producer Leslie Asplund. “It’s a very joyous, sweet, simple show,” Asplund said. “For our first show, we wanted to do something that celebrates love and humility, and this was it.” Beverly Crichfield can be reached at 360-416-2135 or bcrichfield@skagitvalleyherald.com At A Glance WHAT Lyric Light Opera of the Northwest’s production of the Irving Berlin classic musical “Annie Get Your Gun.” WHEN 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, July 14-15, 21-22, 28-29; 2 p.m. Sundays, July 16 and 23. WHERE McIntyre Hall, 2501 E. College Way, Mount Vernon COST $20-$30

Last modified on Jul 13, 2006 - 12:32:06 PDT