The Evans Drama Department will present Annie, JR. on Saturday, November 20 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, November 21 at 3 p.m. in the Evans Auditorium. The cast, comprised of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students, has been rehearsing since September 21 to prepare for opening night. The backstage crew has also been working Saturday mornings to create props, sets, and costumes. The final two weeks of rehearsals will find all students working together to fine tune lights, sound, and transitions. Tickets are $5 and available at the door. Children under 5 are admitted free.
Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip, Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and book by Thomas Meehan. It's the story of Annie, a lovable and spunky orphan, who wants to find her birth parents - even when the billionaire Oliver Warbucks wants to adopt her! Shady characters Rooster and Lily try to run a scam as Annie's parents with the help of Miss Hannigan to score the $50,000 reward Mr. Warbucks has offered. But thanks to the help of President Roosevelt and the FBI, the truth prevails!
The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years. It spawned numerous productions in many countries, as well as national tours, and won seven Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical. The musical's songs Tomorrow and It's the Hard Knock Life are among its most popular musical numbers.
Cast members include: Jocelyn Davis, Olivia Bright, Ivy Brumbaugh, Lyn Bauer, Lorelei Sampson, Serenity Franzt, Leah Ziegler, Shaddaiah Frantz, Morgan Smith, Aisha Doudou, Adina Willmont, Taya Utterback, Jordan Lee, Houston Aguilar, Anabelle Baker, Jack Bauer, Jillian Skinner, Molly Feikert, Rylee Ray, Madeline Sertterh, Addyson Keesling, Hannah Williams, Kendall Howard, Joey Nauman, Annika Panjikar, Emma McIntire, Makenzie Carrow, Alexzandria MacIntosh, Emmilee Hopkins, Jayden Nunez, and Addyson Ellis.
Backstage crew members include: Avery Demuth, Ethan Reynolds, Lori Reynolds, Kaelyn Brandt, Jordan Hale, Allison Swallow, Kelsie Swallow, Oceanna Johnston, Zander Brown, Belle Wailes, Oliver Hernnandez, Shannon Saylor, Lydia Krueger, Chayane Tillman, Daleyna Daub, Alazai Carlberg, and Pedro Ugalde.
