by Jeanni Ritchie
I was 12 when Annie arrived in theaters. By then I’d seen it three times on stage and wished I could’ve been flipping over mop buckets and singing about a hard-knocked life with Aileen Quinn and the others. I knew every word of the Broadway musical numbers and quickly learned the new movie ones like Dumb Dog and Sign by wearing out the cassette soundtrack I got that Christmas. My grandmother bought me a Little Orphan Annie wig I wore on the entire flight home from Kansas. My mother was dismayed to find my little sister holding the hand of a red-headed stranger as she disembarked with me nowhere in sight!
I’ve always loved that musical!
Little Girls, sung to comedic perfection by Carol Burnett in the film, was my go-to song when auditioning for musicals as an adult. I had three little girls of my own at home. Someday I’ll land in the nuthouse came out quite convincing at times!
Lagniappe Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning musical based on the Harold Gray comic strip September 26-29 at Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center.
Synopsis:
With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations … and
even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! She finds a new home and family in billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
School Shows: September 25-27 at 10 AM
Register early to bring your class to see the show. Besides the arts standards of a theatrical production, students can learn about The Great Depression, Herbert Hoover, FDR, and The New Deal. The lives and stories of the orphans provide opportunities for
social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons in social awareness. It is a fun, educational field trip with unlimited opportunities for expansion.
Public Shows: September 26-29
September 26- 7 PM
September 27- 7 PM
September 28- 7 PM
September 29- 2:30 PM
Call 318-487-8243 or email info@lagniappetheatre.com for more information. Visit https://www.lagniappetheatre.com/events/annie-the-musical for tickets.
Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center is located at 1202 3rd St, Alexandria.
Full Cast List:
Annie – Reese Toney
Oliver Warbucks- Grant Blakeney
Grace- Kelly Lombardi
Miss Hannigan- Katoya Flowers
Rooster- Vincent Smith
Lily St. Regis- Talon Dearborne
Mr. Bundles- Josh Flatt
Roosevelt- Bradley Allison
Ward- Rob Wright
Orphans
Molly- Nora Smith
Pepper- Sophie Trump
Duffy- Neriah White
Tessie- Renlee Toney
July- Daisy Wester
Kate- Trinity Williams
Lyla Moran
Kaylee Shelton
Audrey Johnson
Grace Randell
Lily Clouse
Olivia Franco
Emily Blair
Elowyn Bonner
Millie Luno
Stella McCullough
Grace Kling
Camylla Torres
Emery Falgoust
Olivia Roberts
Zah-Nique Peters
Evie Beaubouef
Eleanor Smith
Maggie Iles
Emily Morrow
Farida Habib
Hana Habib
Queen Fulton
Josephine Ruth Gordon
Claire Strandquist
Lizzie Strandquist
Jane Woolf
Sadie Guin
Zhiveena Green
Zaria Hudson
Avyana Wilson
Lily Lombardi
Emmy Ruby
Ella Ruby
Madesun Barnhill
Penny Brumley
Lizzie Cooper
Anne Michael DeBlieux
Mary Hampton Beck
Cailyn Barber
Lucy Franco
Amelie Franco
Mary Gootee
Dog Catchers
Head Dog Catcher – Max Warren
Rhett Schexnayder
Henry Winterer
Ian Jace Williams
Leland McCullough
Ezra Robinson
Ray Kelone
Maximus Flatt
Jasper Moton
Charles Wright
Flynn Cahill
Garrett Wester
Alex Greenbaum
Radio Cast
Bert Healy- Bubba Warren
Sound Effects Man- Quin Allison
Jimmy Johnson- Kevin Mayo
Fred McCracken- Josh Flatt
Wacky- Jasper Moton
Ronnie Boylan- Lily Claire Blakeney
Connie Boylan- Emma Allison
Bonnie Boylan- Ariel Wilson
Producer- Walker Cheek
House Staff
Drake- George Fine
Cecille- Jenna Beaubouef
Annette- Ava Warren
Mrs. Greer- Spring Wester
Mrs. Pugh- Ashleigh Allison
Servant Chorus
Lily Claire Blakeney
Emma Allison
Ariel Wilson
Libby Claire Mayo
Amanda Willis
Emma Claire Naquin
Jessica Sears
Aaliyah Percin
Ashleigh Allison
Madelyn Lombardi
Molly Kate Sumrall
Canaan Robinson
Cy Robinson
Bubba Warren
Josh Flatt
Walker Cheek
Eli Robinson
Corbit Bonner
Quin Allison
Hunter Guimbellot
Stephon Lee
Rob Wright
Kevin Mayo
Brad Allison
Cabinet Staff
Ickes- Walker Cheek
Perkins- Spring Wester
Hull- Kevin Mayo
Morganthau- Rob Wright
Howe- Josh Flatt
Hooverville
Eddie- George Fine
Sophie- Amanda Willis
Apple Seller- Kevin Mayo
Man 1- Walker Cheek
Man 2- Rob Wright
Man 3- Bubba Warren
Man 4- Brad Allison
Woman 1- Emma Claire Naquin
Woman 2- Jessica Sears
Woman 3- Aaliyah Percin
Woman 4- Ashleigh Allison
Jenna Beaubouef
Ava Warren
Spring Wester
Lily Claire Blakeney
Emma Allison
Ariel Wilson
Libby Claire Mayo
Madelyn Lombardi
Molly Kate Sumrall
Canaan Robinson
Cy Robinson
Josh Flatt
Eli Robinson
Corbit Bonner
Quin Allison
Hunter Guimbellot
Stephon Lee
Lilea Hawkins
Elli Claire Falgoust
Molly Kate Sumrall
Nathalie Buller
Mckenzie Brandow
Everett Ann Wilkins
Carina Gutierrez
Natalie Gutierrez
Maya Massey
Skyler Cruze
Hanna Lowery
Coco Cahill
Sophia Guin
Abby Greenbaum
Kim Brumley
Bre’leigh Bamburg
Braelyn Douglas
Chloe Hurley
NYC
Star to Be- Libby Claire Mayo
Cop- Rob Wright
Usherette- Molly Kate Sumrall
Usherette- Madelyn Lombardi
NYC PEOPLE:
Amanda Willis
Emma Claire Naquin
Jessica Sears
Aaliyah Percin
Ashleigh Allison
Jenna Beaubouef
Ava Warren
Spring Wester
Lily Claire Blakeney
Emma Allison
Ariel Wilson
Libby Claire Mayo
Madelyn Lombardi
Molly Kate Sumrall
Canaan Robinson
Cy Robinson
George Fine
Kevin Mayo
Walker Cheek
Rob Wright
Bubba Warren
Brad Allison
Josh Flatt
Eli Robinson
Corbit Bonner
Quin Allison
Hunter Guimbellot
Stephon Lee
Lilea Hawkins
Elli Claire Falgoust
Molly Kate Sumrall
Nathalie Buller
Mckenzie Brandow
Everett Ann Wilkins
Carina Gutierrez
Natalie Gutierrez
Maya Massey
Skyler Cruze
Hanna Lowery
Coco Cahill
Sophia Guin
Abby Greenbaum
Kim Brumley
Bre’leigh Bamburg
Braelyn Douglas
Chloe Hurley
