"Annie Get Your Gun" At Beef & Boards

Located on the northwest side of Indianapolis in College Park, the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre opened in 1973. It has earned the reputation of providing a delicious buffet followed by a premier live stage show. The springtime offering in the 38^th season is the classic "Annie Get Your Gun" with music and lyrics by the legendary Irving Berlin. A rousing musical based loosely on the life and times of Annie Oakley, it originally opened in 1946 with Ethel Merman in the starring role.

The Beef & Boards production of Annie Get Your Gun stars Tiana Checcia as Annie and Curt Dale Clark as her love interest and shooting rival, Frank Butler. Jeff Stockberger provides a towering Buffalo Bill, J.R. Stuart is the bumbling and forlorn show manager, and Katherine Proctor aggravates everyone as Butler's assistant. Of special note is Jack Milo's portrayal of the deadpan, sarcastic and wise Sitting Bull.

Prepare to be delighted with the numerous Berlin musical classics in this production. "You Can't Get A Man With A Gun", "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better", and "There's No Business Like Show Business" will jog your memory into recognition of tunes you may not have heard in a while. You will enjoy them again. Checcia as Annie shines during her duets opposite Clark as Frank Butler.

This version of Annie Get Your Gun is a visual treat as well. Striking sets and a circular main stage enable the presentation of lavish numbers with the entire cast involved. Somehow the effect is one of a small stage that feels larger than it actually is. 19^th century style backdrops add to the ambience of the production.

Annie Get Your Gun is a musical love story that traces the transformation of an illiterate gun savvy girl into a "modern" woman wise to the ways of love and the hectic world of show business. Go to the show. Sit back, relax, and enjoy classic songs, action packed scenes, a heartwarming and rousing finale, and a lot of belly laughs. You will be reminded that there is no business like show business.

There are 43 performances of Annie Get Your Gun. Tickets range from $36 to $59 for all performances and include Chef Odell Ward's specially prepared dinner buffet, fruit and salad bar, coffee and tea. Full service bar and gourmet desserts are also available. For reservations, call the Beef & Boards Box Office at (317) 872-9664. Box office hours are 10 am to 7 pm Tuesday through Sunday, and 10 am to 6 pm Mondays.

Sources:
Personally enjoyed the evening performance on 04/02/2011
Beef & Boards