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 Costumed characters of all ages bustle about the fellowship hall of Royersford Baptist Church. Gradually the hubbub quiets down as last-minute questions are answered, and the RBC Players are ready to begin the final dress rehearsal for this summer’s musical.
Irving Berlin’s “Annie Get Your Gun” opens on the RBC stage Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and continues nightly through Saturday, Aug. 19. The show, directed and produced by Karen Hite and Dianne Umstead, is the 14th summer production at the church.
According to Umstead, who has been involved in all 14 shows, the musicals began as a way of keeping the congregation in touch through the summer months. It’s also an intergenerational activity, she said, as “people of different ages work together and get to know each other better.”
This year’s cast ranges in age from 8 to 67. In addition to the 35 cast members, about 10 people work on the stage crew, besides those in costumes and makeup.
“Some have done all 14 shows, and some, this is their first,” Hite said. The first RBC summer musical was “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Others have included “Footloose,” “The Sound of Music,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Hello, Dolly!,” “The Music Man,” “Oliver,” “Annie,” “Once Upon a Mattress” and “State Fair.”
Work began on the musical in late June. Rehearsals are twice a week for a month and a half, Hite said. “Then it’s every day for a week and a half.”
The majority of those involved in the production are RBC members, Umstead said, but also some people from the community join in the project. “We always welcome that,” she added.
Umstead noted she enjoys the family aspect of the productions. “It’s something to do together as a family,” she remarked. In this year’s show, for example, the leads are a husband and wife, three of their children are in the cast and one is on the stage crew.
“It’s just fun,” Umstead commented. “It’s fun working with the people that we work with every summer plus getting to know new people.” Umstead has served as choreographer for 13 of the 14 shows and assistant director for 10, taking on the role of lead director this summer.
Hite reflected, “It’s hard work, but it’s fun. You learn a lot. You really do develop relationships in a different way in the shared project.”
Hite admitted she was skeptical about the idea of the summer musicals, even though her husband, Mark, had the lead in the first one. About halfway through that summer she realized it would work and got involved with the sound effects.
Hite previously served as musical director for nine of RBC’s productions. This year is her first as co-director.
“It was a challenge,” she said. “It was something that was interesting.” Besides the shows serving as a means of teaching music, Hite sees the productions as a way to share her love of theater.
“One of the things I love about theater is it’s just such a wonderful way to tell stories,” Hite commented. “The musicals endure because they tell stories well.”
“Annie Get Your Gun,” which gave the world the song “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” was first produced in 1930 with Ethel Merman in the title role. She also starred in a 1966 revival. RBC’s show is the 1999 revision which featured Bernadette Peters.
The show is based on the real-life story of Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. Annie, a girl from the woods, and Frank, a sophisticated, experienced performer, met, married and joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in the 1880s. “It’s basically a love story,” Hite explained.
Playing Annie and Frank are Judy and Charlie Denning. Angela Sprock takes the role of Dolly; Mark Hite is Charlie, and Steve Smith is Sitting Bull.
“Annie Get Your Gun” will be presented Wednesday through Saturday, Aug. 16 to 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Royersford Baptist Church, 425 S. Lewis Road, Royersford. Tickets are $8 each, or $24 for a family and may be ordered online at www.rbcabc.org or by calling the church office, 610-948-4170.
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