Annie 2010

Annie is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

Jana DeZwarte shouted out “I LOVE YOU PELLA!” when she accepted the ICTA Award for Actress in a Featured Role for her portrayal of Miss Hannigan in Annie.

Production Dates/Times:
Friday Dec 3, 2010 at 7pm
Saturday Dec 4, 2010 at 7pm
Sunday Dec 5, 2010 at 2pm
Thursday Dec 9, 2010 at 7pm
Friday Dec 10, 2010 at 7pm
Saturday Dec 11, 2010 at 2pm

Production Crew
Director – Cyndi Atkins
Producer/Asst Director: Pat Moriarity
Stage Manager James Punke
Accompanist: Brian Nolder
Set Design: Mat Kelly
Master Carpenter: Jim Palmer
Light Design: Arvin Van Zante
Make-up Coordinator: Peggy Moriarity
Program: Anne McCullough Kelly
Audition Help: Deb Linn, Shelley Buhrow

Cast
Annie – Hannah Emmert and Rachel Peter
Annie – Rachel Peter
Oliver Warbucks – Tom Vander Well
Grace Farrell – Annie Wignall
Miss Hannigan – Jana DeZwarte
Rooster – Dan Van Gorp
Lily – Brystal Hopkins
Molly – Taryn Johnson
Pepper – Eleanor Witt
July – Mariah Kooyman
Duffy – Elyse Parisee
Tessie – Danielle Nardini
Kate – Kara Schaudt
Appleseller – Amanda Gross
Dogcatcher – Jacob Cowman
Asst Dogcatcher – Calvin Van Donselaar
Lt Ward – Jim Emmert
Sophie – Bev Graves
Eddie – Mark Moreland
Star-to-be – Lauren Ashworth
Drake (butler) – Phil Hoole
Mrs. Greer (housekeeper) – Suzi Jones
Mrs. Pugh (cook) – Rhonda White
Cecille (french maid) – Deb Linn
Annette (french maid) – Gloria Ashworth
Fred McCracken w/ Wacky – Dayrel Gates
Bonnie Boylan – Lisa Witzenburg
Connie Boylan – Brenda Becker
Ronnie Boylan – Jodi Jones
Bert Healy – Tim Hall
Ickes – Greg May
Perkins – Peggy Moriarity
Hull – Pat Moriarity
Morganthau – Jim Palmer
Howe – Mark Moreland
Roosevelt – Arvin Van Zante
Bundles – Dayrel Gates
Sandy – Maggie Parisee
Dog Handler – Lori Parisee

Servants
Joshua Bailey, Cassie Buma, Scott Burns, Camille Henry, Ciera Kooyman, Emily Maseh, Tyler Rezapour

Orphan Chorus
Evie Armstrong, Mackenzie Becker, Molly Bolt, Caroline Bradley, Pearl Doty, Abby Gross, Ariana Guerena, Isabelle Hall, Annie Matherly, Jalayna Morgan, Sarah Peterson, Greta Putnam, Hannah Smart, Jessa Van Gorp, Halle Van Vark, Olivia Vander Leest, Madeline Webb, Sierra White

Chorus (Hooverville, NYC or both)
Rachel Anderson, Brenda Becker, Delores Boerigter, Shelley Buhrow, Jacob Cowman, Jim Emmert, Blake Fontinel, Dayrel Gates, Bev Graves, Amanda Gross, Tim Hall, Randy Icenbice, Sally Job, Jess Jones, Jodi Jones, Anne McCullough Kelly, Nancy Moreland, Mark Moreland, Jim Palmer, Grayson Parisee, Thomas Salz, Zach Van Donselaar, Calvin Van Donselaar, Lisa Witzenburg

Final attendance figures for Annie:
Fri Dec 3: 277
Sat Dec 4: 285
Sun Dec 5: 327
Thu Dec 9: 300
Fri Dec 10: 319
Sat Dec 11: 300
Total: 1808
Average: 301

Annie’s Director, Cyndi Atkins, made the decision early on to cast two girls in the lead of Union Street Players’ (USP) production of Annie. Through the history of USP there have been several roles that have used two different actors, but the practice is generally employed in smaller roles and bit parts when one actor can’t make all of the performances. To have two actors share the lead is something of a novelty.

The reasons Cyndi gave for wanting two Annie’s were simple and practical. The role of Annie is a heavy load for a young actor and the songs are demanding on a young voice. By having two Annies to share the role, the demand on either of them would be less. It also ensured that, God forbid, one of them goes down with sickness or injury you’ve got the most important role in the show covered. When one of them is playing Annie, the other is still on stage, but playing one of the orphans.

Fun Facts:

Hoping for a “Hard Knock Life,” almost 60 girls walked through the doors of the Joan Kuyper Farver Auditorium in the Pella Community Center to audition for roles in Union Street Player’s production of Annie!
USP is proud to offer the opportunity for people who have never been on stage before to get a taste of live theatre. Over 30 of the 78 cast members in Annie are making their USP stage debut, and many of them are on stage for the first time (or the first time in many years).
Speaking of stage debuts, the youngest cast member of Annie is Madeline Kelly. At 11 weeks old, Madeline isn’t even old enough to say she’s “cutting her teeth” on stage. Madeline is the daughter of Mat and Anne McCullough Kelly. Look for Madeline and her mom in the Hooverville chorus!
Being in a USP show was a family affair for many people. Glancing over the program you can find about 15 parent/child pairs on stage. There are more family couplings if you add siblings and spouses!
Annie Director, Cyndi Atkins, had a stroke of genius. Instead of the usual mid-week rehearsal between shows, much of Union Street Players Annie cast took their show on the road! The group performed scenes and songs from the popular musical for residents at Pella’s Hilltop Manor.