KORDA CELEBRATES “ANNIE OF GREEN GABLES, GET YOUR GUN!” ORIGINAL HOLIDAY PANTO
Korda Artistic Productions’ traditional December family offering is an original holiday panto that gives a fresh take on a familiar tale.
This year, to also celebrate Canada in a year chalk full of patriotic pride, we are dusting off a Korda classic with Annie of Green Gables, Get Your Gun! This super-fun spin on the classic tale mashes up classic stories and the adventures and misadventures of Canada’s favourite red-headed orphan girl created by Lucy Maud Montgomery – Anne of Green Gables; the hit Broadway musical based on the 1924 Little Orphan Annie comic strip – ANNIE; and the 1946 Irving Berlin musical fictionalizing the life of sharpshooter Annie Oakley – Annie Get Your Gun.
The script is a fresh take on the classic tale of Anne (with an “e”) making her way in Green Gables, and features good friends, bad tantrums, red braids and more. Expect silliness for the kids, naughty jokes for the grown-ups, bad drag, great music, and audience participation for everyone in this original, goofy, delightful all-ages musical production to mark the holiday season and close out Korda’s 22nd Season in style!
“What can I say? I have a deep affinity for strong willed red headed women,” says writer and director Tracey B. Atin. “I’m also a sucker for cock-eyed optimists who like to sing. I’ve always loved Anne (with an E… all names should have e’s). She’s smart, funny, warm, stubborn, charming and likes to question authority. She’s very Canadian. It’s great fun to cross pollinate her with other irresistible redheads from our neighbours to the… (Weird thing about living in Windsor) North. Bob Godden and I wrote Annie of Green Gables, Get Your Gun! to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. At the time, Trump was in his first presidency. Sadly, the show feels even more relevant today. Back in 2017, the jokes about Trump wanting to take over Canada were absurd. Not anymore. So, how to deal with a bully? In a very Canadian way: laugh at him. The wave of patriotism that has hit Canadians seems even stronger now than in 2017. We realize how lucky we are to live here. We know now that the values we hold dear must not be taken for granted. I hope that this show celebrates those values. We are far from perfect. There is much to improve. Here’s to facing our challenges with humour and generosity of spirit and humility! (and elbows). ELBOWS UP FELLOW CANUCKS, ELBOWS UP!”
Performances run December 5, 6, 11, 12 & 13, 2025, at 7 p.m.; and December 7 & 14, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Korda’s traditional Pay-What-You-Can performance is Thursday, December 11, 2025. All performances are at The KordaZone Theatre, at 2520 Seminole Street. Tickets may be purchased at the door an hour before performances, or in advance online. Tickets are $20 (General Admission), $15 (Students and Seniors), and $65 for a Family 4-Pack of tickets.
A holiday panto, or pantomime, is a theatrical performance that typically takes place around the winter holidays and is based on a well-known children’s story or fairy tale. Pantos are a British tradition dating back to the 18th century and are known for being entertaining for the whole family. Korda has been presenting a holiday panto since 2005. Of Korda’s holiday tradition, the Windsor Star says,
“… the wink-winking and nudge-nudging will be family-friendly. Adults can enjoy the double entendres, but the slapstick and sight gags are fun for all ages.”
ANNIE OF GREEN GABLES, GET YOUR GUN!, previously staged at The KordaZone Theatre in 2017 (part of Canada’s 150th anniversary year), features a book and lyrics by Korda Founder Tracey B. Atin, with music by Atin’s late husband, Robert Godden. The production is lovingly directed by Atin – Korda’s very own mischievous redhead. Musical direction is provided by Cavelle Doucet-Lefebvre, with choreography by Georgie Savoie. Extension-Korda regular Hannah Gault serves as Assistant Director, with Narvin Fazlaliserkani as Stage Manager, Dylan Charette as set designer, and Allison Still overseeing costumes.
The cast features Matt Froese as the Tourist / Illegal Alien; Bo Dominguez as Anne; Riley Donald as Cashew; Shannan Ryan as Vanilla; Sarah FitzGerald as Rachel; Chris Lamb as Miss Beginagin; Hannah Gault as Miss Stacy; Spencer Doyle as Dilbert; Ema Ismajli as Dayenu; April Ritchie as Sandy, the Cow; E. as Daddy Drumpfbucks; Veronica Watts as Molly / Lyla; Kaydence Smith as Oliver / Ari; Miley Watts as July / Josie; Cristina Cabrera as Peppa / Pepper; Brooke Hayes as Salt / Haley; Ella Kessler as Lily; April Ritchie as Maddy / Sandy; and Mersana Khoshnoodifar.
