Tomorrow, Hard Knock Life and You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile, are among the classic show tunes that will fill the air when the Grey Wellington Theatre Guild stages its version of the musical Annie. In rehearsal since August, the show is set to open Nov. 12.
Based on the long-running comic strip series Little Orphan Annie. Annie the musical was first staged in 1976 and hit Broadway a year later.
The story revolves around a Depression-era orphan girl’s adventures as she leaves behind a dreary New York orphanage in search of her parents, eventually leading to a better life with billionaire Oliver Warbucks.
Director Richard Jaunzemis said audiences will love the GWTG’s Annie.
“They will see a confident, spunky girl that appears to be having a tough go of it, but stays optimistic and, when everything turns out right in her life, it’s because of that optimism,” he said, adding, “It’s a very uplifting story.’
Annie is played by Esther Boersma, of Ayton. At 11, she is already a veteran performer, whose credits include GWTG productions of The Sound of Music and Oliver. She has also been a finalist in the Ontario Youth Talent Search and placed third at the GWTG’s Grand Talent competition last summer.
“She’s a very talented young lady,” said Jaunzemis. “She has an uncanny knack for picking up the nuances of acting.”
For her part, the grade 6 student is simply enjoying the role.
“I love it a lot. It’s a real fun role. You get to act and sing and dance,” she said, noting that she admires the Annie character’s ability to be tough, yet emotional and caring as well.
The cast of approximately 30 actors, singers and dancers drawn from Harriston, Palmerston, Mount Forest, Ayton, Holstein, Listowel, and Atwood, has really come together as a group.
“This cast and crew have been just fantastic,” said Jaunzemis.
“It’s a really good group of people who have been doing an excellent job.”
Other familiar characters in the show include Daddy Warbucks, played by Scott McInnes, of Waterloo; his assistant Grace, played by Jenny Aitken of Mount Forest, and callous orphanage operator Miss Hannigan, played by Angela Boersma, of Ayton.
The other orphans, who handle much of the dance load under the direction of choreographer Erin Cardey, are portrayed by: Kayla Fletcher, Emily Qureshi, and Jill Schalk of Listowel; Erin Raftis, Sadie Lynn Bieman, and Katrina Lenselink of Harriston, and Mona Hillis and Hannah MacLean of Mount Forest.
Live music for the show will be provided by a three-piece band, taking full advantage of the acoustics and sound system at the Harriston Town Hall Theatre.
Annie begins a 10-show run on Nov. 12 and continues with shows Nov. 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and November 14 and 21 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $20, and they are available at Harriston Home Hardware; Blooms and Things, Palmerston; Ernie King Music Wingham; Pandora’s Pantry, Listowel; Harry Stone’s Pizza Burger, Harriston; Leonard’s Place, Clifford; Millennia Books, Hanover; Shopper’s Drug Mart, Mount Forest or by calling the box office at 338-2778.
