‘Annie Jr.’
Presented by Ghostlight Productions
When: 7 p.m. on Aug 3, 4, 10, 11; 2 p.m. on Aug. 5 and 12
Where: Sequim High School Auditorium, 601 N. Sequim Ave.
Admission: $10, purchased at www.ghostlight-productions.com, or call 360-207-0130 or at the door 30 minutes prior to curtain.
Ghostlight Productions presents “Annie Jr.” based on the comic strip adapted from the Tony-Award winning musical by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin. “Annie Jr.” tells the familiar story of an orphan in the Depression-era hoping to find her parents.
“Annie Jr.” shows at 7 p.m. on Aug. 3, 4, 10 and 11, and 2 p.m. on Aug. 5 and 12 at the Sequim High School Auditorium, 601 N. Sequim Ave.
The show features a local cast of students from Port Angeles and Sequim directed by Anna Pederson with music direction by Mark Lorentzen.
Pederson said this is the first show she’s directed. She choreographed Ghostlight’s winter show, “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” and is excited to both choreograph and direct “Annie Jr.”
“I’m treating the show as a dance,” Pederson said. “I’ve always wanted to flow from dance to scene.”
She said this show is adapted for children and teenagers through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), a New York based theatrical licensing agency giving theaters the right to perform a selection of musicals from renowned entities such as Broadway.
Pederson said through this adaptation the show is able to showcase the talent of local children and teenagers.
“The kids are incredible,” she said.
As the story goes, Annie Jr. follows the life of an orphan named Annie (played by Danika Chen) living a tough life at The New York Municipal Orphanage run by the harsh Miss Hannigan (Avery Saul). Annie goes off on many adventures to find her parents while foiling Miss Hannigan’s plans, befriending President Franklin Roosevelt (Ashton Drew) and finds family with Oliver Warbucks (Caleb DeMott), a billionaire, his secretary Grace Ferrell (Emily Spink) and a dog named Sandy (Lillie Commeree).
Drew Cohen of MTI acknowledged Ghostlight’s upcoming “Annie Jr” production in a press release.
“Annie is a heartwarming show with an important message about the true nature of family,” Cohen said.
“MTI would like to applaud the students from Ghostlight Productions for all their hard work on their production.”
With the upcoming “Annie Jr.” production, Ghostlight Productions’ president and artistic director Mark Lorentzen announced Ghostlight’s status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in a press release.
“We look forward to some amazing things on the horizon and I couldn’t be more proud of these brilliant young thespians,” Lorentzen said.
“It seems fitting that a show about looking ahead to an amazing ‘tomorrow’ is the show that kicks off this announcement!”
For more information about Ghostlight Productions or “Annie Jr.”, visit www.ghostlight-productions.com or calling 360-207-0130.
”Annie Jr.” is an adapted version of the musical set for roles and leads to be played by children and teenagers. Danika Chen plays the role of Annie in Ghostlight’s upcoming production while Caleb DeMott is cast as Oliver Warbucks. Sequim Gazette photo by Erin Hawkins
Students Caleb DeMott cast as Oliver Warbucks and Danika Chen playing the role of Annie act out a scene from Ghostlight Productions upcoming show “Annie Jr.” Sequim Gazette photo by Erin Hawkins
