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Prepare to be charmed by the large, talented cast of Central Middle School’s (CMS) current musical production, “Annie.”
Based on the Broadway show, the plot centers around a plucky young orphan named Annie living in 1930s New York. In seeking to find her real parents, Annie runs away from the orphanage, befriends a lovable mutt named Sandy, outwits the scheming Miss Hannigan and her evil brother Rooster, and unexpectedly finds a place in the hearts of childless billionaire Oliver Warbucks and his good-hearted assistant, Grace Farrell.
The production’s score includes fan favorites like “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Tomorrow,” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” with lyrics by Martin Charnin and music by Charles Strouse.
Shows will be at the CMS Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, and Friday, May 3, as well as at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 4. Opening night was Tuesday, April 30.
“Annie” cast members. Photo by Katie Skramstad
General admission tickets are $3 for students and seniors 55 and older, and $5 for other adults. They are available on Go Fan in advance, and can also be purchased with cash or credit at the door.
Katie Skramstad, the show’s artistic director and a CMS English teacher, said she hopes people will come to see the production. “We’re really appreciative of all the support the community has given us at CMS over the years,” she said.
The show features an impressive 56 cast members, 45 crew members, and 20 pit musicians. Skramstad said CMS has a lot of talent and interest in theater arts, and as a result, “We do massive productions.” The main goal is to create a teaching environment where students learn about all aspects of theater, have fun, and ideally become supporters of the theater as they grow older, she said.
The sets were built with the guidance of CMS teacher Dave Johnson. Photo by Kellan Isaacson
In addition to acting and production skills, Skramstad said students learned woodworking and construction under the guidance of new set director Dave Johnson, a CMS reading teacher who is also a professional carpenter.
“Audiences will be really amazed by the set students have created this year,” she said. “I’ve watched the kids do more construction than I’ve ever seen them do – it’s really remarkable.”
Ruthie Brant as Annie and Scout as Sandy. Photo by Katie Skramstad
Johnson also had a share in the casting of the production, with his well-trained hunting dog, Scout, playing the role of Annie’s dog, Sandy. “Ruthie Brant, who plays Annie, has been working really hard with Scout to get him to respond to her hand signals, and it usually works,” Skramstad said.
She added, “One piece of Hollywood advice they always say is never to work with children or animals, but I think those are the two most charming groups to work with. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Cast and crew
“Annie” cast members. Photo by Kellan Isaacson
CastAnnie: Ruthie BrantWarbucks: Max SwansonMiss Hannigan: Amelie QuinnGrace: Sophie McGuireRooster: Tony ChristianLily: Laney OlsonMolly: Via AndersonKate: Avantika GosaviTessie: Sonakshi DwivediPepper: Annika HarneyJuly: Charlotte DiazDuffy: Olive PolhillOrphans: Ella Anderson, Kate Anderson, Genevieve Atkinson, LivBakkum, Livi Heitzman, Katelyn Moretter-Bue, Aida PatrickDrake: Tyler OstersCecile: Aashni KannappaganeshAnnette: Emily MitchellMrs. Greer: Elena HandMrs. Pugh: Sofia LameyerBert Healy: Noah BinnieFred McCracken: Brady PattenJimmy Johnson: alvin CoplinBoylan Sisters: Swara Sujith, Greta Dahl, Claire PavelkaJudge Brandeis: Oliver MartinPresident Roosevelt: Sreeram PabbathiIckes: Kason RedfordPerkins: Sally WilkenMorganthau: Corbin MillerKaltenborn: Zooem JacobsHowe: Oliver MartinHull: Lewis MartellBundles the Laundryman: Mattie HoffmannApple Seller: Lilia MausDog Catcher: Karyna DziarkoWard: Corbin MillerStar To Be: Lila NelsonUsherette: Kel QeuzadaKid: Syd WeiherEddie: Brady PattenSophie: Amelia SuslovHooverville Men: Kason Redford, Lewis Martell, Oliver Martin, Calvin CoplinHooverville Women: Hattie Farm, Chloe Schell, Harper Engelsen, Sonya Townsend
EnsembleOlivia BakkerPrinisa DesaiVirginia HolmanMelissa LimaSilva MoraesTanvi NivatryMcKinley PavelkaAlli Schaubschlager
Miss Hannigan enters the scene. Photo by Katie Skramstad
Backstage during an “Annie” dress rehearsal. Photo by Kellan Isaacson
Student directors: Luke Breeser and Kellan IsaacsonStage managers: Lyla May and Brooke-Lynn ByfieldSound manager: Eli PudenzLights manager: Essie Brackeen
Staff directorsOrchestral director: Ben AndersonTechnical directors: Dave Johnson, Tara Jones, Juan Perona, and Gerti SommerfeldVocal director: Sara RowanChoreography: Lauren SchererArtistic director: Katie Skramstad
A few members of the “Annie” production team. Photo by Kellan Isaacson
CrewAaron MensingAllison WeberBoston ByfieldBrayden StephanBrooke EhlerCamille TylerCeline SmitbolDylan BarreraEl SilvaEleanor PoutasseElise SoderlundEmily KyarsgaardEmily SchelerEsther AgalaEthan TrowbridgeEvie TeplitskyFaith JohnsonGabby EppHollan PetersonIsabel JagersonJulia HaaskenKavya KhareKyla CozaLiam TwomeyLily BrownLivi AyvazMaddie HaberMadison LeeManonmayi IvaturiMax MuenzenmeyerNayasha BhoyarSeth GorrillaSoph PhanSophia BrownTasha SuriZoey Toperzer
“Annie” had 45 students on crew. Photo by Kellan Isaacson
Pit OrchestraAlto Sax/Soprano Sax: Claire BoothAlto Sax: Keira FaddenBass: Kolby KieckerCello: Grayson HardingCello: Emma SteinbornClarinet: Aria LaffondClarinet: Lela MorrisClarinet: Maya PaddockFrench Horn: Noah PaulyPercussion: Ty GodfreyPercussion: McKinley UlfersPercussion: Saige ThomasmaPiano: Nandani KothariPiano: Tara AndersonTrumpet: Ella KylanderTenor Sax: Lulu CastilloTrombone: Aidan PhanTrombone: Yukino KazamaTuba: Niklas ArribasViola: Logan WatkinsViola: Ivery Thaden-KochViola: Henry SmithViolin: Welsey TranViolin: Rishi JaiswalViolin: Victor Trejo
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