Naugatuck Teen Theatre's 'Annie Get Your Gun' - My Review

The supremely talented teens in Naugatuck Teen Theatre have done it again. Last year their two productions tied for the top spot on my list of top ten productions by young actors. Their current production of Annie Get Your Gun, starring Alex Hernandez in the title role, is another hit.

St. Michael's Parish Hall has been the home of Naugatuck Teen Theatre (NTT) forever and it was quite full on opening night of Annie Get Your Gun, for which I had a complimentary ticket. Chairman of the NTT Board of Directors Katherine Ray worked the sound board and board member Ed Carter welcomed us to the show. Mr. Carter told the audience that Dan Wagoner (Liberty - Production Stage Manager) was making his debut as a director at NTT.

The Tony Award-winning musical by Irving Berlin is truly what director Daniel Wagoner calls "everything musical theater should be" and "one of the most beloved shows in the history of Broadway. It is not a show that has recently been produced by any local teen group, but it really should be. With a wonderful collection of many familiar songs, this is a show that exposes young actors to both the history of our country and a classic Broadway musical.  

The book follows the mostly true story of Annie Oakley as she falls in love, joins the traveling show of Buffalo Bill, and transforms from a backwoods hick to a lovely modern woman with the man of her dreams. The journey of our leading lady is a very rocky one as her big opinion of herself conflicts with the over-inflated ego of her love interest, Frank Butler, played by the always wonderful Zach Carter.

The two teen leads were perfectly matched as the often feuding couple. The performance of Ms. Hernandez, a NHS junior and member of the Chamber Singers, was truly Broadway quality; she never broke character as the strong-willed Annie and pulled off the transformation beautifully. Her comic timing and hillbilly accent made her character even more lovable. Best of all was the absolutely beautiful soprano voice that she possesses. She was pitch perfect in every musical number, but especially in "I Got the Sun in the Morning" and "Anything You Can Do."

Mr. Carter, a junior at WAMS and another NHS Chamber Singer, is the classic leading man in every scene. He nails the role of the guy who loves Annie but is a little put out by her sharp shooting ability. He opened the show with "There’s No Business Like Show Business" and the audience knew we were in for a treat.

The rest of the cast, most of whom have been involved in past NTT productions, were just as good. The very tall NHS junior Troy Bond pulled off Buffalo Bill Cody and Evan Merrill, a former student who is now a senior at NHS, was a strong character actor as Pawnee Bill. NHS junior Jason Begin, a marvelous dancer when in the ensemble, transformed into Chief Sitting Bull and delivered some very funny lines. Other young men, including my former student (and now in eighth grade at City Hill) Matthew Goggin, played Native Americans. NHS sophomore Mike Newman was quite adorable as Little Jake and  NHS senior Chelsea Newman bravely played Charlie Davenport and served as a kind of narrator as well.

The young ladies included some busy local actresses, like WAMS sophomore MacKenzie Huneke (In the Heights) as the bossy Dolly Tate and NHS senior Stephanie Hensley (Alice Through the Internet) as her sister Winnie. Watertown High freshman Kristen VanDerlyn (Fiddler on the Roof) and NHS junior Angie Taccariello played younger as Annie's sisters. Savannah Sprague, who played Kim in Whimsicality's Bye Bye Birdie, is a riot as the cranky hotel owner Foster Wilson.

The costumes by Aurora Montenero were impressive and plentiful; Annie had many beautiful changes. Lovely hair and makeup by Jessica Branco were just as impressive and the lighting and props by NHS freshman/ensemble member Kayla Kusy were very effective. The terrific set designed by the director featured an impressive backdrop painted by NHS senior/ensemble member Jake "Lemons" Lisakelsky. Choreographer and new board member Jennifer Clark Mazzeo worked her magic with the young dancers and they did a great job.

The smallish band, under the direction of the Musical Director Beckie Scattergood Wallace, sat in front of the stage and sounded wonderful. Ms. Wallace played piano dressed in a white cowboy shirt and cowboy boots and the rest of the musicians sported ten gallon hats. WAMS freshman Christian "CJ" Janis covered keyboard II/percussion in a black ten gallon hat and got to play the ratchet every time a shooter yelled "Pull."

Naugatuck Teen Theater's Annie Get Your Gun continues May 5, 10, 11, 12 at Saint Michael’s Church Hall at 210 Church Street Naugatuck. Make a date to go see these upcoming actors in this excellent production and support a fine organization that has served area teens for the past nineteen years.