The Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts will present "Annie Get Your Gun" on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 21, 22 and 23, at Lancaster Country Day School's Gardner Theater, 725 Hamilton Road, Lancaster. Shows will begin at 7 p.m., and Saturday will include a matinee at 1:30 p.m. in addition to the evening performance.

Tickets for general admission and reserved seating are available to purchase online for a discounted price, and tickets will be sold at the door prior to each show. Children will receive a discounted rate for both general admission and reserved seating.

Director Brittany Beitzel's decision to select "Annie Get Your Gun" as this year's spring musical was influenced by multiple factors. The play is a personal favorite of Beitzel's, and she cites it as the main reason she decided to pursue theater professionally after seeing it for the first time at 13 years old. "I was just so inspired by the story, the sweeping music and the comedy," Beitzel said. "I felt like it would be the perfect show for these kids to take on, and it also is a show that speaks a lot to some deeper meanings."

"Annie Get Your Gun" was debuted on Broadway in 1946, featuring music and lyrics written by renowned composer Irving Berlin. The story is based on the life and exploits of Annie Oakley, a real-life sharpshooter who rose to fame in the late 19th century as a performer in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Annie, played by Mary Frances Eschenwald of Ronks, is a rowdy and kind-hearted markswoman who learned to shoot as a child to provide for her family in rural Ohio. After defeating famous gunman Frank Butler, played by Jack Etter, Annie embarks on a journey to become one of the most legendary performers in American history.

As a young woman with humble origins, Annie faces many challenges as she climbs to stardom. The play incorporates themes such as humility, rivalry, selfless love and treating others with compassion as Annie navigates the world of show business and defies the prejudices of her time.

"It's an incredible story that I'm really passionate about," Eschenwald said. "Annie Oakley is such a one-in-a-million character; she has a competitive, prideful side to her, but she also wears her heart on her sleeve and fights for equality and justice for others." Eschenwald and Etter will star beside Brian Boyle as Buffalo Bill and Josiah Werner in the role of Charlie Davenport.

The Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts draws students from across Lancaster County, many of whom are homeschooled. This is the first year the academy will hold a show at Gardner Theater, making "Annie Get Your Gun" one of its largest-scale productions to date.

To purchase a ticket, visit http://www.lancasteracademy.org/anniegetyourgun.