Broadway beloved musical takes to the stage

Celebrate the spirit of music in Exploits and feel warm and funny when the lead character first sings the lines that many have come to love since the Broadway musical in 1977 and the movie in 1982: Tomorrow - It's Only A Day Away.

It's Annie, the story of the street-smart yet lovable 11-year-old orphan set during the Great Depression, who eventually ends up adopted by a benevolent billionaire. The musical has been performed more than 2,000 times since its debut, and has become a favourite for school performances in North America and Europe ever since.

And now Bishop's Falls' Leo Burke Academy is bringing Annie to the Gordon Pinsent Centre for the Arts May 6-8.

Musical director Michael Race and stage director Gary Rodgers are at the helm of the production, which features approximently 65 students in the show, either on stage, in the orchestra or backstage.

It's listed on the town's calendar for Centennial year events, but Mr. Race says the plans for the school to put off a musical have been in the works for a while.

"I presented the idea of doing a musical to Gary almost a year ago," he said. "We presented it to the administration and staff and everyone thought it would be a great project for the school."

They picked Annie, he added, because of the need to find a musical that would appeal to all ages.

"It has the nostalgic memories of the comic strip Little Orphan Annie and many young people know the story from the Disney movie," he said.

The musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. It ran for nearly six years on Broadway, resulted in numerous productions in many countries, as well as national tours, and won the Tony award for best musical. The musical's songs Tomorrow and It's the Hard-Knock Life are its more popular pieces.

Many people are involved in the show, but there a few in the lead roles, including Candice Bernard (Annie), Mark Feener (Oliver "Daddy"Warbucks), Renee Fancey (Miss Hannigan) Matthew Feener (Rooster, who is Miss Hannigan's brother), Chris Furey (President Roosevelt) and Alyssa Feener (Grace).

The musical wasn't intended to be part of the Centennial celebrations, but Mr. Race said that it showcases the young people in Bishop's Falls, and that the Centennial Committee has been very supportive of the production.

"We appreciate their help in getting the word out about our show," he said. "Of course, there is too many people to mention in terms of thanking them for their help, but I don't think there was anyone when asked has said they were unable to help.

"We have people involved from the school (students, staff and administration), and both the communities of Bishop's Falls and Grand Falls-Windsor."

There was no shortage of volunteers in wanting to help put the production together, but Mr. Race admitted there was one roadblock to overcome: the schedule. He says it's been the organizers' biggest challenge.

"Leo Burke Academy is a small school and the students who are in the production are also involved in every aspect of our school and the community."

Trying to work around this has been difficult, he said.