July 20, 2004 > Get set for a musical shooting contest at Stage 1's Annie Get Your Gun

by Joanne Engelhardt

"Anything you can do, I can do better" is an appropriate song for the war-between-the-sexes theme at the core of "Annie Get Your Gun." The rollicking Irving Berlin musical opens Friday, July 23, at 8 p.m. at Stage 1 Community Theatre in Newark.

Directed by Margot Abbott, this "Annie" is the revival that hit Broadway a few years ago starring Bernadette Peters. Stage 1's production runs for three weekends (through August 7) at Newark Memorial High School Theatre, 39375 Cedar Boulevard, Newark.

Merilee Pettersen of Castro Valley stars as the sharpshooting (and sharp-talking) Annie, who manages to support her little brother and sisters by selling the game she hunts. When she's discovered by Col. Buffalo Bill (Jess Martinez of Union City), he persuades her to join his Wild West Show. It only takes one glance for her to fall head over heels for dashing shooting ace Frank Butler (Lee Watson of Fremont), who headlines the show. Annie soon eclipses Butler as the main attraction which -- while good for business -- is bad for romance. But, as the stars sing in the show, "There's No Business Like Show Business."

Friday and Saturday night 8 p.m. performances are on July 23-24, 30-31 and Aug. 6-7, and there are two 2:30 p.m. matinees on Sunday, July 25 and Aug. 1.

Tickets are $18 general admission, $16 seniors, college students (at the door), $15 adult advance purchase by phone or at The Book End (Cedar Boulevard and Thornton Avenue, Newark), $10 children and high school students with ID. For more information, call (510) 791-0287 or go to www.stage1theatre.org