"Annie Get Your Gun" will be presented by Zion Opera Workshop in Lehighton on March 5, 6 and 7.

The production will be staged in Smith Auditorium of Zion United Church of Christ, 225 Iron St., Lehighton."Annie Get Your Gun" is a musical with lyrics and music by Irving Berlin and a book by Dorothy Fields and her brother Herbert Fields.The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley (portrayed by ZOW newcomer Mallory deForest), a sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill's (played by Mallory's father Pastor Christopher deForest in his first ZOW production) Wild West show, and her romance with sharpshooter Frank Butler who is played by ZOW veteran Bryan Buffington.Annie is supported by her three younger sisters, Nellie, Minnie and Jessie played by Mylee Houser, Ashley Beers and Kylie Kresge, and her little brother, Jake, played by Mitchell Hourt, who last appeared with Zion Opera Workshop as Winthrop in "The Music Man" in 2011.The 1946 Broadway production was a hit, and the musical had long runs in both New York (1,147 performances) and London, spawning revivals, a 1950 film version and television versions.Songs that became hits include "There's No Business Like Show Business," "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly," "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun," "They Say It's Wonderful," and "Anything You Can Do."This is the third time this show has appeared on ZOW's stage but it has been 27 years since its last appearance.Rounding out the cast is Charlie Davenport, played by David Krum, and his sister, Dolly Tate, played by Tara Crowe, who is appearing in her first featured role. Chief Sitting Bull is played by Zion Opera Workshop's David Zimmerman, and boarding house owner, Foster Wilson, is being played member Brandon Cressley.Pawnee Bill is played by Noah Smith and Mrs. Sylvia Potter Porter will be portrayed by Becky Herd. Longtime Zion Opera Workshop member Martha Cox is Mrs. Blacktooth.Others who have been featured in past ZOW shows with named roles include Josiah Behrens as Mac, Parker Fairchild as the messenger, Laura Cressley as Mrs. Schuyler Adams, Thomas Phelan as Mr. Adams and James Blakeslee as the conductor.Other former ZOW members in this year's cast include Jessica Schafer, Casi Reichard, Evy Heckman, Mikayla Blakeslee, Tina Becker, Brian Kesek, Nate Kroboth, Miguel Gonzalez, Kane Zerbe, Ben Glueck, Adam Reichard, Ashley Harrington, Bob Fatzinger, Bethany Evans, Autumn Williams, Kristen Campbell, Laurel Zimmerman and Jessie Salinas.Newcomers to Zion's stage include featured Indian children dancers Baylee Strausberger, Abbigail Buffington, Olivia Frycklund and Elizabeth Buffington as well as "town children" Olivia Erickson and Zane Zimmerman.Other new members include Kennedy Malsch, Sydney Geist, Madison Deluca, Megan Pompasello, Eliza Asman, Gabbi Roedinger, Alyssa Bauder and Cassidy Clark.The show is under the direction of Bradly R. Cressley, director of music at Zion UCC, with stage direction by Jessica Schafer.The choreographer for the shows is Deb Strausberger from TNT Dance studio. Technical directors are the husband and wife team of Pati and Duane Reichard. The assistant musical director is Paul R. Smith, who founded the group back in 1970.Show dates and times are 7:30 p.m. March 5, 6 and 7; and a matinee at 2 p.m. March 7.Advanced tickets are recommended for all performances as it is anticipated they will sell out.Tickets can be obtained from any cast member; at Carbon County Music and More, 115 S. Second St., Lehighton; or by calling box office manager, Sue Yeastedt at 484-629-3116.