(Seguin) – A childhood favorite hits the stage this weekend in this summer’s Camp Broadway production of Annie Jr.
A total of 45 local children will step back into the 1930s in New York City where they will share the story of everyone’s favorite redhead Annie who is determined to escape an orphanage in hopes of finding her family.
Photo courtesy Aidan Martinez
The musical production which comes together on the stage of the Stephen & Mary Birch Texas Theatre will be the result of two weeks of rehearsals led by Director Sheila Lucas.
Lucas says she’s always amazed by not only the talent pool that exist in this community but by what these kids can do in such a short amount of time.
“It doesn’t amaze me because I see it year after year after year. I mean we know what our former campers can do and the ones that have had big parts before, we know that we can count on them but then we get a new camper that comes out and just stands there and blows us away. It’s so exciting,” said Lucas.
Excited for the curtains to open is 10-year-old Tess Mathews who landed the role of Annie. Mathews says her desire to be on stage is what inspired her to audition for the lead role.
“This is the role I wanted, and I wanted this role because I love to be on stage and I wanted to be on stage as much as I could and have more chances to sing and dance,” said Mathews.
The time spent in the audience, however, might have folks in disbelief when they learn that this is Mathews’ first ever experience of being on stage.
Nonetheless, Mathews says on or off the stage, it has all been quite the experience – an experience that began with she first learned that she had landed the role of Orphan Annie.
Photo courtesy Aidan Martinez
“Me and my friends yelled a lot because we were really happy and so we were cheering. I thought it was like my favorite camp that I’ve done because the lunch break is always really fun because they will play music and we can sing and dance and it’s just always fun because we will also play some games,” said Mathews.
Among the other lead roles is Billionaire Oliver Warbucks, a.k.a. Daddy Warbucks who leads Annie on this journey of finding her family. Landing the character is 11-year-old Jack Johnson. Johnson says although he did not land the character he had auditioned for, he still managed to grab a role that he has enjoyed.
“I auditioned for President Roosevelt which is another part and they said why don’t you say a little bit for Warbucks and then maybe sing a song and then they just told me I got the role,” said Johnson.
Meanwhile as theater characters rely on makeup, illusions and costumes to bring their roles to life, Johnson took the portrayal of his character a step further by shaving his head.
“My mom had the suggestion and I’m just like ‘why not?’ My hair grows like a weed on steroids anyway,” said Johnson.
Lucas adds that these types of surprises only adds to why she loves directing Camp Broadway. She says you never know what’s going to happen. Plus, she says working with children always make things interesting,” said Lucas.
“Every inch of this space is just music, music, music and laughter all day long squealing and playing games and just having fun. They have the best time and that makes my heart just so full. I am so grateful and so blessed to get to do this even though it drives me crazy,” laughs Lucas.” I’d go home and would go ‘I’m not going to do this again. I’m not going to do this again and then I’m like of course, I’m going to do it again. Of course I am. I love it. I love it. It’s like food. Food for the soul.”
With only three performances this weekend, Lucas is asking that people not wait to get their tickets. She says while it is a condensed version of the story and not the normal two act play, it’s still the great musical that has been around for the last 45 years.
“The Daddy Warbucks story line, the Miss Hannigan story line, it’s all the same. Everything is the same. The music has been a little bit updated but it’s really iconic music. Everybody knows the Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow so they all know those songs and they are all in there and Hard Knock Life of course,” said Lucas.
Cast members include children from kindergarten to those entering the 9th grade.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased online at thetexas.org. They are also available at Gift and Gourmet, Keepers and at the Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce office.