MT4Uth's Level 2 Production of 'Annie Get Your Gun'
Monday 25th - Thursday 28th October
The Marketplace Theatre, Armagh
MT4Uth ran its Level 2 project in Armagh at the end of October where our 45 participants created a workshop production of hit musical Annie Get Your Gun. Annie get your Gun is the Wild West musical staring Anne Oakley as the best shot around. When she is discovered by Col. Buffalo Bill, he persuades her to join his Wild West Show. It only takes one glance for her to fall head over heels for dashing shooting ace Frank Butler. She soon eclipses Butler as the main attraction but allows Frank to win in the sharp shooting contest and the two sharpshooters marry and live happily ever after!
After a residential boot camp skills building programme at Easter, this Autumn MT4Uth ‘s Level 2 young people showcased Annie Get Your Gun in The Market Place Theatre, Armagh, at the end of a 3 day intensive rehearsal programme with a top level artistic team including Syd Ralph as Artistic Director assisted by Kate Tingley. Ryan Jenkins led choreography assisted by Wayne Fitzsimmons and Paul Smith was Musical Director assisted by Shane McVicker. We were also very grateful to our placement students on this project. Level 3 students Chris McDonald and Shane McKeever were on Stage Management and Choreography placements respectively. Katherine Cooke came in as PR placement, spreading the word about MT4Uth around the local vicinity!
After an intensive 3 days rehearsal our Level 2s performed to a sell-out audience at The Marketplace receiving a standing ovation for their enthusiastic and entertaining show. This outstanding performance would not have been such a success if it was not for the dedication and support of our sponsors. The Level 2 production of Annie Get Your Gun is extremely thankful for the sponsorship of Ove Arup & Partner’s, Belfast, Kerry Greeves and her team for their support. Arup commented: “We are delighted to be involved with MT4Uth as a sponsor of its production of Annie Get Your Gun. We decided as part of our celebrating 10 years in Northern Ireland that we would like to do something different and get involved with a local charity…It has been our pleasure to work with such a talented bunch of individuals. We all look forward to hearing how the group gets on in the future and wish them all the very best for Annie Get Your Gun in October.” It was a ‘dream come true’ for us when Arup saw the potential of what MT4Uth had to deliver, and how our programme of work relates to their vision of corporate social responsibility.
MT4Uth were also honoured to have had Mayor Spears, Armagh District Council, introduce our company and the production to our audience in The Marketplace Theatre. The Mayor was thoroughly impressed with our young performers and the work that MT4Uth do throughout Ireland ‘I was really impressed by the standard of the performance and the ability of the young actors and I believe it is very important to encourage young people with such a talent to utilize it to the best of their ability. I would encourage the Music Theatre for Youth to continue their good work in developing and encouraging young people with such a gift’
Syd Ralph (Director) and Mayor Spears, Armagh District Council
Feedback
“I am writing to tell you how much we enjoyed the show and how impressed we were.
It was just wonderful, the quality of those little ones was amazing and how they did all that in such a short time.
Anyway, well done for another brilliant show and for all the hard work you and the rest of the team put in. We are delighted to be involved in such a great organisation!!”
(Bobi Monson, Level 2 Mother)
“A quick email to congratulate everyone at MT4Uth for such a wonderful evening on Thursday. I was completely bowled over by the show and thoroughly enjoyed my entire visit to Northern Ireland - just wish it could have been longer. You all must be absolutely thrilled that it was such a great success.”
(Sarah Palmer)
“MT4uth, congratulations to everyone on such a fantastic show on Thursday night, thoroughly enjoyable, we can't wait for the next one! A big thank you to all for providing such a rewarding and enjoyable experience for Naomi, she has made so many new friends and learned so much during her time with MT4uth, hopefully she can do it all again next year!”
(Rosemary, Colum and Naomi Smyth)