Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun ~ Beverly couple ‘Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly’ on Stage

Hop on up that wagon train and head on over to Stage 284 Mainstage in Hamilton for Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun running May 20 – 29. The wagons are coming home to Hamilton, where the first covered wagon set out for the Northwest Territory settling Annie Oakley’s home of Ohio, with the tale of an amazing American woman.

This wildly entertaining “show-within-a-show” hits upon current issues of the day where gender bias continues to be having a great impact on women’s lives. The play will accompany Buffalo Bill’s traveling show featuring legendary sharpshooter, Annie Oakley, and the handsome, womanizing show star, Frank Butler. In shooting match after shooting match, Oakley proves she can perform just as good, if not better, than the men.

Maggie and Tom Kelleher of Beverly perform together for the first time on Stage 284’s Mainstage.

Tom Kelleher plays the role ‘Frank’, the Wild West show's star. Kelleher has most recently performed as ‘Tony’ in Moonstruck Theater Company's of West Side Story. Previous credits include; Nobody Suspects a Butterfly (U/S for Anthony Rapp), ‘Mr. Brooks’ Little Women, ‘Jamie’ The Last 5 Years , ‘Jerry’ The Full Monty, CCP's production of I Love You ... Now Change, ‘Officer Lockstock’ in TCS's productions of Urinetown (Officer Lockstock) and ‘Bill Sweeney/ Big Bud Dean/ Coach Ripper’ in Heathers and ‘Tulsa’ in Winthrop Play Makers’ Gypsy. Kelleher received his training at Muhlenberg College with a BA in Theatre and Music.

Maggie Kelleher assumes the role of ‘Winnie’, Annie’s sister. Her stage credits include: ‘Graziella’ West Side Story, ‘Heather McNamara’ Heathers: The Musical, ‘Sylvia’ Up the Down Staircase , ‘Lucy’ Dracula, A Christmas Carol, Sweeney Todd, Fame: Forever (U.S. premier w/ David Desilva), Camelot, and Waterville Opera House’s Beauty and the Beast.

Annabelle Howard of Beverly portrays Annie’s sister ‘Jessie’ and Julia Norcross of Beverly plays the role of ‘Callie’.

Stage 284 has become known for its impressive set designs in a small chamber setting. Audiences are drawn into the theatrical experience along with the actors. With accompanying theatrical props and on stage scene changes, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show is alive once again.

“Annie Get Your Gun is a very timely story. It is the story of a woman breaking into a man’s world of presentation shooting. It’s about not judging a book by its cover.” Jay Pension, Director

The show will feature hit after hit of Irving Berlin’s: ‘No Business Like Show Business’ – Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly’ ‘Anything You Can Do’ – ‘Can’t Get A Man With A Gun’ – I’ve Got the Sun in the Mornin’’ – ‘They Say it’s Wonderful’. Despite lack of formal training, Irving Berlin became America’s most successful songwriters. He is the definition of Jerome Kern’s famous maxim: “Irving Berlin has no place in American music – he is American music.”

Berlin’s music is masterly directed by J. Kathleen Castellanos of the Boston Conservatory. This past holiday season, Castellanos music directed another American classic, Stage 284’s production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Choreography is directed by Kathleen Tringale, 2015 DASH Nominee for Best Choreography Chicago (Wakefield Repertory Theatre).

Annie Get Your Gun cast includes actors from a number of local communities, Beverly residents Annabelle Howard as ‘ Jessie’, Maggie Kelleher as ‘Winnie’, Tom Kelleher as ‘Frank and Julia Norcross as‘Callie”’; Danvers resident Susan Lunt ‘Ensemble’; Georgetown resident Jay Martel as ‘Charlie’ Hamilton residents Ella Comparato, Julia Greenway, Millie Melodia, Lucine Revette, Allie Small, and Elena Wisniewski ‘Ensemble’; Marlborough resident Taylor Chesler ‘Ensemble’; Marblehead resident Ilana DeAngelo ‘Ensemble’; Nahant resident Melissa Noonan ‘Ensemble”; North Reading resident Sophia Griffin ‘Ensemble’; Revere resident Nathaniel Punches as ‘Buffalo Bill’; Salem residents Emelia Cappelli ‘Ensemble’, Katie Clarke as ‘Dolly’ and Cai Radleigh as ‘Annie’; Wenham residents Brian Doser as ‘Texas Bill’; Natalie Caccivio, Hannah Doser, Willow Donovan and Lily Iler ‘Ensemble’ .

Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun will run for 10 shows from May 20 -29

Stage 284 Mainstage at The Community House.

Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun will be performed on Stage 284 Mainstage at The Community House 284 Bay Road, Route 1A in Hamilton, MA on Saturdays, May 20 & 27 @ 3pm & 7:30pm, Sundays, May 21 & 28 @ 2pm & 6:30pm, Thursday, May 26 @ 7:30pm and Monday, May 29 @ 3pm. Tickets are $18 in advance, $25 at the door. Tickets may be purchased through www.stage284.org or by calling 978-468-4818 x10.