**** Highly Recommended Music Theater Works’ production of Annie was delightful. The show was even more enjoyable when I heard delighted laughter from my grand-niece Maeve, who just turned eight. Although I’ve seen many productions of this perennial holiday favorite, this is the first time I’ve been able to share the joy with a little girl. Maeve was definitely into the show, laughing at all the ‘little girl’ jokes. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - Annie is the perfect show to introduce young people to live theater. 4 Spotlights
The success of any production of Annie rests squarely on the shoulders of a youngster who is onstage virtually the entire play – a daunting prospect for many adults – but Elin Joy Seiler is up to the task!
Annie opens in the dorm of the New York Municipal Orphanage with a blockbuster combo – Annie (Elin Joy Seiler) singing Maybe followed by all the orphans singing It’s the Hard Luck Life. The orphans include Molly (Audrey Bucholz), Pepper (Brielle Horwitch), Duffy (Molly Dibble), Kate (Léa Juat), Tessie (Catharina Araujo) and July (Larrah Lambo).
When Miss Halloran (Sarah Smith) catches them having fun, she berates them, then assigns work. As soon as she leaves the room, they reprise It’s the Hard Luck Life.
When Annie was left on the steps of the orphanage, her parents left half a locket and a piece of paper with her name. She’s bound and determined to find a way to escape and find them. As the orphans are stripping beds, Annie hides in a laundry bag and escapes. Miss Hannigan, who drinks too much and hates Little Girls! Just as she’s relaxing with her favorite radio program, she finds out Annie is gone.
Soon after Annie ran away, she found a dog which she named Sandy (Nosy or Teddy). A cute note: as Annie sings Tomorrow, Sandy tugs on the leash – trying to go offstage! She walks on and eventually ends up in Hooverville, a shanty town under the 59th Street Bridge. Just when she’s asking questions about her parents, the police raid Hooverville and return her to the orphanage.
As Miss Hannigan is thinking up a diabolical punishment for Annie, a surprise visitor, Grace Farrell (Desiree Gonzalez), personal assistant to Oliver Warbucks, the billionaire, requests an orphan for the holidays – specifying a girl with red hair.
At the Warbucks mansion, the entire staff falls in love with Annie. At Grace’s urging, Oliver Warbucks (Michael Metcalf) takes Annie everywhere with him, even to the White House where she meets President Roosevelt (Bob Sanders).
When Daddy Warbucks decides to adopt Annie, she tells him about her parents, so he launches a search for them. Meanwhile, Miss Hannigan’s brother Rooster (David Geinosky), a truly despicable man, and his girlfriend, Lily St. Regis (Emily Holland), drop in for a visit. When the three hear about the reward Warbucks is offering, they cook up a scheme. They’ll claim to be Annie’s parents in order to get the $50,000 reward, which they’ll split three ways – and end up on Easy Street.
After Miss Hannigan brings the orphans to the Warbucks mansion and Annie’s ‘parents’ show up demanding the reward, Warbucks and FDR reveal their scheme, they’re arrested by the FBI, and everyone at the Warbucks mansion celebrates.
Youth Ensemble: Quinn Frances, Rebecca Hutchinson, Kylie Kaplan, Charlotte Keefer, Jojo Nabwangu and Katie Romanski.
Ensemble: Diana Marilyn Alvarez, Eric Amundson, Kristin Brintnall, Jenny Couch, Eric Desnoyers, Riley Dominiak, Marianne Embree, Eliza Monté Gilbert, Jimmy Hogan, J’Nae Howard, Albert Johnston, Katie Kotila, Allison Rose Macknick, Asia Posey, Callan Roberts, Peter Ruger, Raymond Cam Truon and Korey White.
Orchestra: Linda Madonia (Piano, Conductor), Alison Tatum (Violin, Concert Master), Emily Fischer (Violin), Annika Porter (Viola), Lewis Rawlinson (Cello), Cara Strauss (Reed 1), Lara Regan (Reed 2), Eva Butcher (Reed 3), Greg Strauss (Trumpet 1), amy Nelson (Trumpet 2), Stephanie Lebens (Trombone 1), Luke Malewicz (Trombone 2, Tuba), Mike Locker (Guitar), Eric von Holst (Bass), Justin Kono (Drums) and Tina Laughlin (Percussion).
Annie is based on the Harold Gray’s 1924 comic strip, Little Orphan Annie, which was inspired by the 1903 poem Little Orphan Annie by James Whitcomb Riley. Annie opened on Broadway in 1977. That production, written by Thomas Meehan with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, won seven Tony Awards
The MTW production is directed by Producing Artistic Director Kyle A. Dougan, choreographed by Mollyanne Nunn and music directed by Michael McBride.
Music Theater Works’ Annie runs through January 4th in the George Van Dusen Theatre, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie. Parking is free.
Running time is roughly two hours, 30 minutes. Performances: Wednesdays at 2:00 pm, Fridays at 7:00 pm, Saturdays at 2:00 & 7:00 pm, Sundays at 2:00 pm. $19.50 to $106, with tickets for guests 25 years-old and younger available for half- price. FYI (847) 673-6300 or MusicTheaterWorks.com