Young performers will take to the stage this week to put on a kids-only version of the Broadway classic “Annie.”
A cast of more than 30 children in elementary through high school have been rehearsing since October for “Annie Jr,” a production of Vashon Allied Arts’ Youth Musical Theater program. They’ll put on three shows this Thursday through Saturday at the Methodist church.
“It’s just been so much fun working with these kids,” said Marita Erickson, who directs the play with Sue Wiley.
“Annie, Jr.” is similar to the Broadway version of “Annie,” but the script is shortened to just an hour and 15 minutes, Erickson said, and the songs have been rekeyed for young voices.
Eleven-year-old Phoebe Wilke plays Annie, a spunky redheaded orphan adopted from her grimy girls’ home, run by the evil Miss Hannigan. Annie finds herself in the care of the endearing tycoon Daddy Warbucks and his mansion staff in 1930s New York City.
The crew of depression-era orphans, New Yorkers and dancing servants will perform well-known “Annie” classics such as “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” and, of course, “Tomorrow.”
Erickson said she’s been impressed by the young performers, who range from third through 12th grade and have been taking time to learn and rehearse the play outside of school.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Erickson said. “There’s great acting and singing, and all those familiar tunes.”
Wiley, who co-directs the play, added that while several of the kids are new to performing, and learning lines has been a challenge for some of the little ones, everyone has enthusiastically taken on their roles, and backstage work is even run by the kids.
“They’re running everything,” she said. “It’s a joy … just to see kids pulling something like this off, just the joy of experienceing kids doing their own show and being good at it.”
Wiley noted that Wilke, starring as Annie, had a dance background but no theater experience when she joined the cast. She’s done a beautiful job, Wiley said, and hasn’t needed much direction.
“She’s just kind of a natural,” she said. “It’s been really fun to work with her.”
Along with learning about musical theater, Wiley said the kids have been embracing lessons the play brings about the United States during the Great Depression, as the musical includes homeless characters and even a song about Herbert Hoover. On the set, they’ve compared Hooverville to the Nicklesville homeless camp in Seattle.
“What it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes, being homeless, living in cardboard boxes, that kind of thing I think has been interesting for them,” Wiley said.
The Vashon show comes on the heels of the release of Sony Pictures’ modern-day “Annie,” which hit theaters over Christmas. Erickson said the timing is coincidental — VAA was already planning for “Annie Jr.” when they learned of the new movie. The Vashon production, however, is a true community effort. A group of islanders has made an impressive set, Betsey Frazee did costumes and the Methodist church allowed the group to leave its set up during its weekend service.
Unlike past Vashon Youth Musical Theatre productions, “Annie, Jr.” will have a third show, on Thursday afternoon, in addition to Friday and Saturday performances.
“It’s just a delightful way to spend the afternoon or evening,” Erickson said.
Performances of “Annie Jr.” will be at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Methodist church. Tickets are $6 for youth, $10 for VAA members and seniors and $14 for general audience and are available at VAA, Heron’s Nest and vashonalliedarts.org.
