Annie Get Your Gun!

("There's no business like Show Business!")

Well readers, I have to say as far as "classic" musical theatre goes "Annie Get Your Gun" is a steadfast Hallmark. Sporting a wonderful score penned by Irving Berlin, and the mostly real life tale of Annie Oakley and Frank Butler its no wonder that its a crowd pleaser (and one of my all-time personal favorites). Boasting the anthem of Broadway "There's no business like Show Business" it has one of the most iconic Irving Berlin scores ever written. Another special bonus to this production is that friends and long time Casablanca members Lara and Spencer starred in the show! Lara as Annie Oakley and Spencer as Buffalo Bill!

For this production my projects included-

A Larger than life 1800's circus tent setting

along with props & set dressing.

The Tent- 

To create the big top, we went with a mantra of "less is more" for the atmosphere the surrounding stage walls were painted in three foot wide alternating stripes of burgundy and mustard. The yellow panels then received a distressing by using a medium brown paint and a sponge to give the effect of tent canvas.

What Circus tent would be complete with out a central pole? We used a 20ft pieces of 6" PVC pipe for support pole. It was painted a light grey, and then accented with the same brown that went on the walls.

To create the tent canopy, Christmas lights were strung from the top of the pole down to the tops of the "side walls" of the tent. With white paper lanterns hung all around to complete the turn of the century feel.

(View of the set from the lower balcony.)

(Annie's dressing table, with period oil lamp.)

All of this looks pretty simple, but so much work from an amazing team! Chris did most of the period signage, and Kyle made sure the project was finished in time for the big show. Not to mention the help from countless cast members and volunteers, there really is No business like show business- And readers, it is mostly a labor of love.

-Mick-