Daisy Goldstein Cross, Corinne Mosher and Bailey Halligan in “Annie, Jr. at Livonia High School Jan. 22–23. Photo by Mark Gillespie

Submitted by Maxine Long

This coming weekend, Livonia Junior High seventh and eighth graders will sing and dance their way across the stage in Disney’s “Annie Jr.”

Performances will be on Jan. 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Livonia Junior-Senior High School Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for general admission and $2 for students and senior citizens. They are available at all of the building offices in the district and at the door.

Area Pre-K and primary school students will be invited to a special Thursday morning performance, Jan. 21 and middle school students will see the show on Friday afternoon, the 22.

“I chose this musical,” says director, Jesse Van Epps, “since it was a show that I didn’t know very well, yet it was well known to the cast. For different reasons, I thought we would all be excited about the production together. And we have been!”

Corinne Mosher heads the cast as Annie, the spunky orphan, who escapes from the orphanage, run by the cruel Miss Hannigan (Paige Waldron) and sets out to find her parents.

Her search is threatened at times by the devious Rooster Hannigan (Max Herzog) and Lily St. Regis (Samantha Childs) but thanks to the kindness and generosity of Oliver Warbucks (Gil Donohue) and his assistant, Grace Farrell, (Olivia Cronmiller) she finally finds a home and family.

Other members of the cast include Annie’s fellow orphans Drake, (Connor Pierce) Duffy, (Helen Paine) July, (Audrey Redman) Kate, (Kyra Nagele) Molly, (Daisy Goldstein-Cross) Pepper, (Lauren Czudak) Tessie, (Bailey Halligan), Allison Buskey and Gabrielle Sheeley. Appearing in cameo roles are a Star-to-Be, (Julia McDevitt), Annette (Hannah Hawkins), Apple Seller (Jillian Foley), Bert Healy (Ryan O’Dea), Bundles McCloskey (Andy Vaughn), Cecille (Emily Carll), Dog Catcher (Alina Herzog), Louis Howe (Devin Horan), Lt. Ward (Lily Cisco), Mrs. Greer (Allie Casaceli), Mrs. Pugh (Michelle Maginn), Policeman (Sarah Brown), Franklin Roosevelt and the Radio Announcer (Sam Cicero), Sandy (Peyton Richmond) and the Usherette (Sara Dutra).

The show also includes two large choruses. Those in the servants’ chorus are Jillian Foley, Ryan O’Dea, Lily Cisco, Allison Minnehan, Taylor Mallaber, Sam Cicero, Brooklyn Braun, Taylor VanThoff, Emily LaRocca and Julia McDevitt.

Members of the New York City chorus include Connor Pierce, Michelle Maginn, Alina Herzog, Sarah Brown, Maranda Aman, Emily Carll, Sara Dutra, Kylee Wilson, Sara Lazarony, Lily Cisco, Jillian Foley, Hannah Hawkins, Sam Cicero, Andy Vaughn and Allie Casaceli.

The production crew is led by Crystal Rightmyer, and includes Liz Bowe, Caitlin Brown, Alyssa Jewell, Mike Jewell, Ben Petrowski, Alex Williams, Allison Paine, Jennifer Rightmyer, Tyler Davis, Scott Long, Derrick Loi, Nick Moroney, Josh Rodman, Andre Romanowski, Sean Schoonover, and Allen Shipman.

Livonia Community Players is also assisting behind the scenes.

“Whether audiences are familiar with the Broadway production or not, they will hear many familiar songs,” notes musical director Sandi Szymanski. While “Tomorrow” is the most familiar, other recognizable tunes are “It’s a Hard Knock Life” and “Easy Street.”

Superintendent Scott Bischoping speaks very positively of, again, offering a junior high musical.

“It not only allows an artistic outlet for those on stage and back stage, but provides students in the audience the opportunity to see a live musical. Furthermore, everyone in the family, from pre-schoolers to grandparents can enjoy the show.”

Beyond that, he commented, “the fact that the school is able to use the resources and collaborate with Livonia Community Players is another example of the partnership that exists in Livonia between the school and the community.”

Tagged as: theater