Author Archives: robbucher

The Footlighters, Inc. announces auditions for ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

Book by Herbert Fields and Dorothy Fields
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin

Directed by Gina Kleesattel
Music Direction by Alan Masters
Produced by Alan Masters and Bill Geraghty

Auditions:

• Sunday, November 10th 7:00pm-10:00pm
• Monday, November 11th 7:00pm-10:00pm

Callbacks:
Tuesday, November 12th 7:00pm-10:00pm

Location:
The Stained Glass Theatre, 802 York Street, Newport KY 41071

Please bring 16-32 bars of two contrasting songs that show your vocal range. Please have your music marked with the 16-32 bars that you want to sing for each song in advance. No recordings please. An accompanist will be provided. Please don’t audition with anything from ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. A dance combination will be a part of the initial audition after you have sung.

Auditionees are asked to sign up for a slot, but walk-ins will be accepted in the first available opening. A headshot and resume is appreciated but not required. SIGN UP HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0448aeae2babfc1-auditions6

For questions about auditions please contact Alan Masters at 513-328-5097 or aemasters@aol.com.

Performance dates: April 23-May 9

Synopsis:
The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley (1860–1926), a sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, and her romance with sharpshooter Frank Butler. The 1946 Broadway production was a hit, and the musical had long runs in both New York (1,147 performances) and London, spawning revivals, a 1950 film version, and television versions. Songs that became hits include “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.” This production will be using the revised libretto by Tony, Oscar and Emmy winner Peter Stone. As Newsday reported, Stone’s revisions ‘are sweetly ingenious, and the show is a dream.’ Stone reshaped the 1946 book to create a Wild West show-within-a-show that frames the ageless ‘Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better’ love story of sharpshooters Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. Stone has added a secondary romance between the younger sister of Frank’s bothersome assistant Dolly, and a boy who is (to Dolly’s horror) part Native American.

Roles:

• Frank Butler (Lead): Male, 30-60
  A suave sharpshooter in Buffalo Bill’s show–he enjoys his status as a heartbreaker and star of the show, and would like to keep it that way; low A-high F.
• Annie Oakley (Lead): Female, 18-40
  Backwoods woman, an incredible talent as a markswoman, has no idea about “nuthin’ cept shootin'”; she immediately falls head over heels for Frank, who prefers a more dainty type of woman; a happy, endearing country girl who is an amazing markswoman; illiterate, not very “lady-like”; strong singer-comedian who carries the show; mezzo-belt, low G-high F.
• Dolly Tate (Lead): Female, 18-40
  Frank Butler’s “lovely” assistant, an over-the-top, bigoted, ambitious, and mean-spirited woman whose principal role is to make everyone else miserable; she does this in a very funny way.
• Buffalo Bill Cody (Lead): Male, 35-75
  Middle-aged soldier/Indian scout turned showman; runs the “Wild West Show” that features sharpshooters Annie Oakley and Frank Butler, and plenty of musicians, cowboys, cowgirls, Indians and assorted family members; low B–high F.
• Charlie Davenport (Lead): Male, 30-70
  Middle-aged manager of the Wild West Show, always setting the scene for this show-within-a-show.
• Chief Sitting Bull (Supporting): Male, 35-80
  Leader of the Sioux Nation, adopts Annie as his daughter and puts his money into show business with the Wild West Show in order to be near her; has keen insight into human nature, which he shares through many one-liners.
• Pawnee Bill (Supporting): Male, 35-80
  Owner of the Far East Show; Buffalo Bill’s former partner and current rival.
• Little Jake, Annie’s Little Brother (Supporting): Male, 12+
  Annie’s 8- to-10-year-old brother, her “bird dog” who flushes out game for her to shoot; extra points if he can make “armpit noises”; boy soprano or alto; low B flat-high D.
• Jessie, Annie’s Little Sister (Supporting): Female, 12+
  Annie’s 10- to-14-year-old sister, also part of the family hunting business; sopranos/altos; low B flat-high D.
• Nellie, Annie’s Other Little Sister (Supporting): Female, 12+
  Annie’s 10- to-14-year-old sister, also part of the family hunting business; sopranos/altos; low B flat-high D.
• Adult Ensemble (Chorus / Ensemble): Males & Females, 15+
  Cowboys, Indians, Roustabouts, Cowgirls, Royals of Europe, New York Socialites; special talents for members of the ensemble include rope twirlers, guitar pickers, gymnasts and tumblers, mandolin or fiddle players, tap dancers, Indian hoop dancers, and whistlers; all voice types needed.
• Tommy Keeler (Lead): Male, 17-26
  A dashing young knife-thrower with the Wild West Show, part Native American, and very much in love with Winnie. Tenor or High Baritone Low B flat – High F. Two duets with Winnie.
• Winnie Tate (Lead): Female, 15-26
  Dolly’s 17-year-old sister. Tommy throws knives at her and hopes to marry her as soon as she turns 18. Mezzo Soprano or Soprano. Low B flat – High F. Two duets with Tommy.