BY KAREN BOSSICK
The stage of the Sun Valley Community School Theater will be transformed into the 1930s-era mansion of Oliver Warbucks this week when St. Thomas Playhouse presents the beloved classic “Annie.”
But yes, you will have to wait til “Tomorrow”—actually a couple tomorrows—to see it, as the play doesn’t take the stage until Wednesday, Sept. 17. It runs through Sunday, Sept. 21.
The Family Main Stage production featuring a community cast of all ages is based on a comic strip titled “Little Orphan Annie.” It revolves around a Depression-era orphan who runs away from a New York City orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan to find the parents who abandoned her years earlier.
In one fun-filled adventure after another, she foils the evil plans of the embittered Miss Hannigan and her shifty brother Rooster, gets President Franklin D. Roosevelt to introduce the New Deal and befriends a millionaire industrialist named Oliver Warbucks and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
The Broadway version won the 1977 Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Book Based on a Musical, Best Actress, Best Original Score, Best Set Design, Best Costume and Best Choreography.
“We last staged a full production of it 18 years ago in 2007. So, it’s been a little while since we’ve had a full production of it,” said Director Sara Gorby. “Playhouse felt it was time to introduce it to a new generation as it has a message of optimism and perseverance and overcoming adversity--something we all need periodically.”
The 2007 version directed by Anna Johnson and Dick Brown featured Maddie Miller and Megan Morrell as Annie, Tim Eagan as Daddy Warbucks and Cherie Kessler as Miss Hannigan. The cast also included Randy Hall, who was mayor of Ketchum at the time, and Jon Thorson, who was mayor of Sun Valley then, as members of FDR’s White House Cabinet.
This year’s production features about 60 people all told, including two casts of orphans to ensure that every child who wanted to be in the show could.
“It’s a timeless tale, but every cast brings its own personality,” said Gorby.
The Annies--Simone Spachman and Sloan Hines--have been taking part in Playhouse productions for a few years and they had “really solid auditions for a demanding role and are singing well,” said Gorby.
Michael Cohen, who stars as Daddy Warbucks, is taking part in his third show with Playhouse, having been in “Wizard of Oz” and “Billy Elliott”—a play in which his son Jack starred in the title role.
“Seeing him grow through these past few years, he’s ready to play a leading man,” Gorby said.
Kelly Nicholas, who plays Miss Hannigan, is starring in her first Playhouse show, having taken part in Laughing Stock Theatre’s last “Christmas Carol.”
“She’s funny and mean and brings a lot to the table,” said Gorby. “I think the audience will be surprised by the level of talent we have.”
St. Thomas Playhouse was getting its feet under it as a new theater company last time it staged “Annie.”
“Now, the maturity of our organization and the quality we try to personify is really coming through because we’ve been training the children through our Company B camps,” said Gorby. “It’s special to see their growth, and they’re very dedicated.”
The camps, which start kids on stage at 4, offers children access to theater and culture at a young age.
“St. Thomas and others, including The Liberty Theater Company and The Spot, work with high school and middle school students so we’re seeing the reward of that,” Gorby said. “I hear a lot about the confidence being on stage gives them when it comes to presentations at school. And, from a community perspective, engaging with adults that are not their parents or teaches gives them a broader view of what our community is like.”
THE CAST: Annie, Simone Spachman, Daddy Warbucks, Michael Cohen; Miss Hannigan Kelly Nicholas; Will Hemmings, Rooster; Lily, Katie Curtiss; Grace, Caitlyn Mills.
Others: Jason Howell, Kjedwryne Schiers, Qwydion Schiers, Scout Kendall, Andrew Schiers, Richard Waycott, Jack Cohen, Asher Pettit, Tucker Stangelini, Kristal Schiers, Niko Smith, Fred Payne, Dana Thomas, Cori Mooney, Jessica Mayne, Mayson Sheppard, Suzi Zook, Kira Fallers, Traci Morales, Nik Kosach, Van Flandro, Nik Kosach.Jason Howell and Tucker Stangelini.
BIG APPLE CAST
Simone Spachman as Annie with Orphans Cecily Lynch, Darlene Bridwell, Beau Kendall, Casey Rolf, Isla Salvatierra, Claire Anderson, Finley Solomon, Theo Young, Catherine McCoy, Mykala McCann, Lillian Tillotson, Galena McCann, Vinny Foudy, Tinsley Glenne, Sydney Duncan, Rosie Duncan, Adeline Zook, Teagan Shea.
EMPIRE STATE CAST
Sloan Heinz with Orphans Sasha Irvine, Maude Bates, Wilhemina Plummer, Olympia Kosach, Riley Meyer, Aylee Ware, Lilla Bloedorn, Marlo Nieves, LaLa Payne, Riley Copperman, Kaitlyn Cooper, Grace Boccabella, Opal Gergen, Georgie Payne, Aelexa Fowler, Sophia Fosburg, Aurora Gawlinksi, Roxy Gawlinski, Stella Jenner, Morgan Thomas.
IF YOU GO…
“Annie” runs at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17 through Saturday with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21.
Simone Spachman and the Big Apple Cast will perform Wednesday and Friday evening and in the Saturday matinee. Sloan Heinz and the Empire State Cast will perform Thursday and Saturday evenings and in the Sunday matinee.
Tickets are available at https://www.stthomasplayhouse.org/.