AUDITIONS OPENING FOR ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

(PARK RAPIDS, MN) – Northern Light Opera Company (NLOC) announces audition openings for its 2016 summer production of Irving Berlin's "Annie Get Your Gun".

Peter Stone's 1999 Broadway revival eliminates unneeded insensitive references to Native Americans and removes several songs. These changes, however, do not in any way alter the story of the backwoods Annie Oakley and her time with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show.

The musical includes Irving Berlin's hit songs such as "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better, You Can't Get a Man With a Gun," and the timeless show-stopper, "There's No Business Like Show Business".

There are many singing and speaking roles including diamond-in-the-rough, Annie Oakley; sharpshooter Frank Butler; Wild West Show impresario Buffalo Bill Cody; Chief Sitting Bull; and Native Americans, cowboys, and town folk. Native Americans are especially encouraged to audition.

Keeping with contemporary theater practices, however, roles will not be filled on the basis of, or limited to, specific ethnicity.

Auditions will include a short song of singers' choice and a short monologue. A variety of monologues are available online.

Reserve your audition time and learn more about the process by going to: http://www.NorthernLightOpera.org.

You can sign up on NLOC's web page to audition at the following times or locations: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at Armory Square, 203 S. Park, Park Rapids; from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 28 at Bemidji High School; or from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 29 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids on Highway 71 (near Armory Square).

Production dates are July 28 – 31 and Aug. 4 - 6. Rehearsals start June 20.

NLOC is in its 15th year of producing professional-quality music theater in Park Rapids. Lisa Dove (Juilliard drama graduate) and Greg Paul (University of Ohio) return as stage and technical directors. Fifteen professional musicians will fill the pit orchestra. NLOC is a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit corporation.

For more information, contact Paul Dove, pd5@evansville.edu.