By SEAN CUNNINGHAM

LOCAL theatrical group Riverina Stage Play is planning to stage its production of the popular musical movie, Calamity Jane, which starred Doris Day as Calamity and Howard Keel as Wild Bill Hickock.

The stage production will take place at Narrandera CRC Church on August 31.

Given the musical has a western theme, the Riverina Stage Play members are encouraging those who attend, to arrive dressed in their favourite western costume.

Group members are inviting people to join them for a karaoke after-party, hosted by team member Jemma at 7.30pm.

The musical movie, originally screened in 1953, won an Oscar for Best Song – Secret Love, sung by Doris Day.

The musical also featured other famous songs from the era, including Black Hills Of Dakota, The Deadwood Stage and I Just Flew In From The Windy City, to name but a few.

The stage adaptation premiered at the Municipal Theatre in St Louis in 1961.

The musical’s plot is set in Dakota when Calamity rescues cavalryman Danny Gilmartin from the native American Indians on the warpath.

Regarded in modern-day terms as a tomboy, Calamity, the Wild West heroine who dressed like a man, then travels to Chicago to bring back a famous singer of the time, Adelaid Adams, to the male-dominated town, but mistakenly brings the singer’s maid Katie instead.

And the rest of the story will be revealed on the local stage!

For the history buffs, Calamity Jane’s real name was Martha Jane Canary.

She was described as a frontierswoman and handy with a gun and later appeared in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, alongside legendary Indian chief, Sitting Bull.

To book a seat for the local production send a message to 0427 630050.