Lackawanna Trail Drama Club to present ‘Annie’
FACTORYVILLE — The Lackawanna Trail Drama Club will step into NYC with its spring production of “Annie.”
Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 29.
Set in 1933 during the Great Depression, “Annie” is the classic story of a spunky little red-haired orphan girl named Annie, who is fostered by Oliver Warbucks, the billionaire (not the millionaire) with a heart of gold. Annie’s story begins with her staying at an orphanage owned by Miss Hannigan while wondering about the whereabouts of her parents.
According to Trail student Sophia Miller, who plays the title character, she is ever optimistic and resilient.
“No matter how much she is put down by Miss Hannigan while in the orphanage, her light always shines through,” said Sophia. “What I love best about being in the show is the relationships that come out of it. I have gotten very close with so many of my other cast members, and I consider them a second family. Everyone in the drama club at Lackawanna Trail High School, including the directors, are incredibly understanding. I cannot wait to continue my incredible musical theatre journey with all of them by my side.”
Fabricated mice, made by students, are used as props to showcase the poor living conditions of the place where Annie lives with other young female orphans. The orphanage blankets were made of spare fabric by Lackawanna Trail faculty/staff members Janine Fortney, Kelley Buck, and Valerie Lewis. The orphanage is owned by Miss Hannigan, who despises children, hence the fact that she runs a less-than-legal home for children.
“Annie, of course. is her least favorite, because of her high spirits and optimism, which are Miss Hannigan’s foil,” said student Madeleine Forrer, who plays her. “Additionally, she is the definition of single and ready to mingle! My favorite part of the show is definitely working with the people. The cast and directors are super fun, and we always make time to talk and enjoy our short time together! Another great part about having a close cast is everyone usually laughing at the funny parts.”
Student Jackson Novitch plays the wealthy Daddy Warbucks, who takes Annie into his large mansion. According to Jackson, Warbucks is “prim and proper” and “unknowingly funny.”
“He (Warbucks) starts rigid and serious, but then Annie shows him that there is more to life than just business,” he said. “The things I like about theatre in Lackawanna Trail are insurmountable to list, but to narrow it down, I like how supportive the crew, directors, and my fellow classmates are. This is my first ever time being in any musical as a cast member, and I felt so welcomed by everyone ever since, especially my counterpart within the show, Madison Beichler, who plays Grace Farrell. She has become someone I call a confidante over the course of the rehearsals. I have made so many memories within these few months, and I cannot wait to make more!”
The Drama Club rented a backdrop to portray Warbucks’ mansion, along with a real mansion staircase. Tom Lengel builds the sets along with his student crew. Brittany Young, Sarrah Camburn, and the Art Club paint the sets. Kelley Grunstra made an old-fashioned radio.
The plot thickens when the antagonists, Rooster, Miss Hannigan’s brother, and his partner-in-crime, Lily St. Regis, come to the scene.
“Rooster is a slimy, cunning, and sneaky character who disguises as Annie’s parents, attempting to kidnap her,” said student Layla Tweed, who plays this character. “The thing I like best about being in the show is definitely how supportive the cast and crew are. The directors are amazing at what they do and are a huge help, and I’ve made so many friendships throughout being in the show. Theatre at Lackawanna Trail is an amazing community to be a part of, and I look forward to this season every year!”
Student Willow Ritter plays Lily St. Regis.
“Lily is a playful, witty, and over-the-top character who is a lot of fun to play,” she said. “She is dramatic and energetic, always ready to stir up trouble. Her big personality, sharp sense of humor, and exaggerated accent make every scene she’s in entertaining. I love being able to embrace my character and bring laughter to the stage. What I enjoy most about being in the musical is definitely the people. In my two years of being a part of the drama club, I have made so many meaningful friendships and bonds that I know will last far beyond these productions. There is something special about drama club that brings us all together, spending long rehearsals together, supporting each other on and off stage, and all working towards a common goal doing what we love. By the end of the year, we truly feel like a family.”
The play will feature the classic songs such as “Tomorrow” and “Easy Street.” There will be a few extras, such as “You Won’t Be an Orphan for Long” and “Something Was Missing.” It will be played by a pit band, which includes a mixture of students and teachers, led by Becky Burdett. The students have been rehearsing since January. The play is directed by Elissa Loubet.
“Annie is a mostly female-driven show, which accommodated us,” she said. “We also felt that we had the talent to fill all the roles needed, and it was a show everyone was familiar with. Though directing a musical takes a lot of time and hard work, I wouldn’t trade it for anything! I love the process of seeing students grow into the best versions of themselves. They gain confidence, learn to work with others, and garner new skills. We have students backstage running set changes, the sound and lighting board, student directing, maintaining the props, and a crew for costume changes and maintenance. I believe it is our job to empower the next generation to become us one day.”
