It has been nearly half a century since Paul Smith, former musical director at Zion United Church of Chirst in Lehighton, created the Zion Opera Workshop for amateur performers.

It's a community theater that has continued with annual musicals for 46 straight years.This year, the Workshop presents "Annie Get Your Gun" on March 5, 6 and 7.The performances, held in Smith Auditorium of Zion United Church of Christ, usually sell out so advance tickets are recommended.Smith no longer directs the events. They are under the direction now of Bradley R. Cressley, who is now the director of music of Zion

U.C.C., with stage direction by longtime Zion Opera Workshop member Jessica Schafer.This is the third time this show has appeared on ZOW's stage, but it has been 27 years since its last appearance."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 (played by Pastor Christopher deForest), 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 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."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 David Zimmerman and boarding house owner Foster Wilson is being played by 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 Joisah Behrens as Mac, Parker Fairchild as the Messenger, Laura Cressley as Mrs. Schuyler Adams, Thomas Phelan as Mr. Adams, 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 are Kennedy Malsch, Sydney Geist, Madison Deluca, Megan Pompasello, Eliza Asman, Gabbi Roedinger, Alyssa Bauder and Cassidy Clark.The choreographer is Deb Strausberger from TNT Dance studio. Technical directors for the show are the husband and wife team of Pati and Duane Reichard.The assistant musical director is Paul R. Smith.Show dates are March 5, 6, and 7 at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a matinee performance on Saturday, March 7, at 2 p.m.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.