It's a "hard-knock life" for the young girls living at the New York City Municipal Orphanage during the Depression era.
Constant cleaning and dealing with its villainous director Miss Hannigan is rough, but one spunky, free-spirited 11-year-old resident is determined to escape and find her birth parents. However, what she finds is a sidekick in stray dog Sandy and a new family with billionaire Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks and his private secretary Grace Farrell.
It is the iconic story of "Annie," adapted from the popular comic strip and retold in feature films and in a Tony Award-winning musical from Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin. From March 6-9 and 14-16, Jefferson City's Stained Glass Theatre in partnership with Lighthouse Preparatory Academy will deliver "Annie Jr.," which features the beloved redhead on this fun-filled adventure.
"It is a condensed version of the classic 'Annie' and is perfect for young family audiences," said Kirsten Chaney, who is co-directing the production with her husband, JoDonn. "The time frame of about an hour and a half is great for young children to enjoy. Plus, you are still going to get the same message from this very inspiring story."
The Chaneys, who recently co-directed "Little Women" at Stained Glass Theatre, were delighted to find out the rights to "Annie Jr." recently became available. It fits perfectly into Stained Glass Theatre's 2019 "Season to Prepare" and for Lighthouse Preparatory Academy's middle and high school students' annual spring production at the High Street theatrical venue.
"Everybody loves the story of 'Annie,' and it worked out that we could do it," Kirsten added.
Casting began in December, with 30-plus students filling in dominant and secondary roles. Two students are playing Annie: eighth-grader Caitlyn Thompson from March 7-9 and ninth-grader Rachel Chaney from March 14-16.
Both ladies were familiar with the stage, with Rachel playing Amy in "Little Women" and Thompson in "A Death of The Hot Sauce Salesman" last summer in her hometown venue, The Finke Theatre. Both are excited to bring their own personalities to little orphan Annie.
"I wanted to go for Annie because she is a really fun character to play," Thompson said. "I always loved musicals, and I watched the movies when I was a little girl. I always loved her character."
"I love Annie because she is a lot like me," Rachel said, with Kirsten adding, "independent, free-spirited, funny." "I think it is cool that we are bringing it here and making it kind of our own."
Suitable for audiences with younger children, "Annie Jr." brings forth many of the same beloved characters but with a few that lack certain traits seen in the movies and full-length stage production.
"I wanted to be Miss Hannigan. I think this role would be a little bit of a challenge for me and I was excited to take it on. I would like to say I'm not similar to her, but it does come kind of naturally for me," Sophia Palmeri, a 17-year-old junior who has performed in multiple productions at Lighthouse Prep and Stained Glass Theatre, said with laughter. "For this play, she is not an alcoholic which is good but also a notorious part of (Miss Hannigan). So I had to channel just natural craziness. I need to be mean, condescending and these kids need to be scared of me; I think I've accomplished that. It is fun to yell at the girls and have such a dominant role. I'm very much an extrovert and I really enjoy it."
Palmeri has also enjoyed working with music director Laurie Janeczko and choreography director Chris Duren on the eight main musical numbers in "Annie Jr." She finds their tutelage, energy and encouragement has made her feel more at ease singing her favorite song in the show, "Little Girls," and performing one of her favorite numbers, "Easy Street."
"Going into it I was excited about it. But with the choreography, it is not about being perfect and precise, it is about making it your own," Palmeri said. "In that song, it doesn't matter if you miss a step. Miss Hannigan doesn't have it all together. It is fun to be more rugged and messy with it sometimes."
"There is a lot of movement and energy with these numbers, and a lot of their personal personalities are coming into their orphans, as well. These kids have worked so hard and I'm so proud of them," Chris Duren added. "They are a dynamic, wonderful group of kids."
Senior Brenden Janeczko,18, said one of his favorite numbers is "N.Y.C.," where Annie and his character, Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks, take in all the sights of the Big Apple. Music has been at the forefront for Janeczko, but he has enjoyed learning more about acting and stage performance now participating in his second theatrical production.
"My character is interesting. He is a business man and focused on money and doing his thing. Then he slows down a little bit and realizes there is more to life than the money, fame and working," he said. "For me, being a senior, it has mirrored things going on in my life. I have been doing a lot of school, working and thinking of the future; there is more to life than getting a job. I have to find outlets to have fun and that has helped me relate to and build this character."
Emotion, laughter and lessons learned make "Annie Jr." a musical the Lighthouse Preparatory Academy students are excited to present to the community.
"No two plays are similar, and this is a whole cast you have never seen before. It is 'Annie Jr.' so there are a few things that are different. We have our own spin on things and the choreography is clean, the singing is great and the vocals are amazing," Palmeri said. "It is a great group of kids who love theater and very clearly want to be here."
"Annie Jr." will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. March 7-9 and 14-16, with a 2 p.m. matinee March 9 and 16. Tickets are $7 opening night and $9 all other shows. For reservations or more information, call 573-634-5313, email [email protected] or visit sgtmidmo.org.