DANVILLE - Danville Light Opera began as an operetta company, but quickly found that local audiences preferred Broadway musicals to true light opera.

DLO ends its 50th season this weekend with "Annie Get Your Gun." The cast includes veteran performers and newcomers alike under the experienced direction of Ron McDaniel and his assistant director, the indomitable Mary Lou Spain.

Spain, who celebrates her 75th birthday on Wednesday, fell in love with the show when she first saw it in high school.

"You can leave the theater singing almost every single song," she said.

Danville Light Opera presents "Annie Get Your Gun" at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Danville High School auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the DLO box office in the Village Mall from 7-9 p.m. until Wednesday or by calling 431-1660. Tickets are also available at First Savings Bank, 6 W. Williams St.

Irving Berlin's score made the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical a huge success when it debuted in 1946. His songs for the show included "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun," "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly" and "There's No Business Like Show Business." Ethel Merman originated the role of Annie Oakley, and these showstoppers became synonymous with her name.

Bernadette Peters reprised the role of Oakley on Broadway in 1999 in a Tony-winning revival of the production. DLO will present that version, which was modified from the original to reflect modern sensitivity to stereotypes about Native Americans.

Now it's up to Erin Halls to bring Oakley to life in Danville. Halls is up to the challenge, even with two actresses who previously portrayed the sharpshooter in the audience.

Ginny Summers Konieczki and Tobi Baer Peck starred in the 1961 and 1977 DLO versions of the show, respectively. They will join Halls onstage for a rendition of the Broadway and community theater anthem "There's No Business Like Show Business."

"There's a little pressure from all the hoopla around the 50th anniversary festivities," Halls said about the upcoming performances. "I definitely want to put my best foot forward."

Besides her fans who have followed her career as an actress and singer, Halls will have her own personal fan club on stage with her. Her husband, George, a musician well known for his "Crazy George" karaoke and DJ business, appears in the show. Two of the couple's children, 12 year-old Emily and 15 year-old Dalton, also have roles.

"Most of the time, I'm doing a show without George," Erin Halls said. "He's so busy with his other commitments. This is great to have him here. It's important for the kids, too."

George Halls has appeared in DLO productions, but usually it's Mom and one or more of the couple's five children in the shows.

"Mom tells me what to do onstage, but Dad is more laidback," Emily Halls said.

Dalton termed his parents' advice "constructive criticism."

Dalton auditioned on the condition that George would, too.

"I hadn't planned on doing the show," George Halls said. "It's been a big thrill to do this with Erin and the kids."

The Willard family from Rossville also has enjoyed time on stage together in "Annie Get your Gun." Daughter Allison served as the catalyst for her parents' involvement.

The junior at Rossville-Alvin High School performed in five other shows with DLO. Her parents accompanied her to auditions and rehearsals.

"It's the only way that we can hear her sing," said Susie Willard, Allison's mom. "She has a beautiful voice, but she doesn't sing at home."

During auditions for "Annie Get Your Gun," a request went out for another male to read a part.

"People coaxed me to get up and read," said Mark Willard, who farms for a living.

"I saw the director taking notes like crazy," Susie Willard said about her husband's first audition. "The next thing we knew, they were begging Mark to take the part. He was so perfect."

Mark Willard accepted the role of Chief Sitting Bull - on one condition.

"He told me, 'If I have to be in it, you'll be in it, too'," his wife said.

Both she and Allison appear in the ensemble.

"We're out of our box," she continued, "and we love it. We'd recommend this experience to anyone."

"This is a show for the whole family," director McDaniel said. "It's appropriate that we have entire families appearing together onstage."

Also appearing in "Annie Get Your Gun" are: Steve Ward as Frank Butler, Larry Finley as Buffalo Bill Cody, Stephanie Keller as Dolly Tate, Henry Hunt as Pawnee Bill, Nikki Lewis as Winnie Tate, Bruce Stelzer as Foster Wilson, Grace Newman as Nellie, Camron Owens as Little Jake, and Tom Fricke as Mac. More than 20 other cast members make up the ensemble.

Musical director Debbie Ward, choreographer Angie Mansfield and producer Gary Lickfett complete the backstage team.