Bet your bottom dollar that the middle school hallways are buzzing with excitement. On Friday, May 8th, the fifth and sixth graders took center stage with the production of “Annie Jr.,” a show chosen specifically to match the high-energy spirit of the cast.
During the second performance of “Annie Jr.” on Friday, Caroline ’32, fell ill. She had persevered and shone during her first show during the school day, but her fever spiked again, and she was unable to continue. Theater Director Emily Glick stood in for Caroline for the second half of the show, embodying the motto that the show must go on.
“Caroline is an incredible talent. She performed beautifully and I really enjoyed hearing her amazing voice. It was a wonderful show!” Sheri Rose, the grandparent of a cast member, said.
When selecting this year’s musical, Glick didn’t want a quiet, reserved story. She wanted something that she knew the young middle schoolers could bring to life.
“I wanted to do something that matched the energy of the fifth and sixth graders,” Glick said. “They have a lot of passion and sass!”
That energy paid off in the rehearsal room. Despite the typical hurdles of middle school theater—like elective schedules that often get shifted or cut—the cast has shown a professional level of dedication.
“You can really immerse in this world they’ve created!” Glick said.
For the lead actors, the experience was a mix of professional growth and pure social fun.
Caroline, who played Annie, was thrilled for the challenge. “No matter what role I got, it would still be a really fun learning experience,” she said, noting that her favorite moment was performing the iconic “Tomorrow,” especially the scenes between the parts of the song.
Oliver ’32 played Oliver Warbucks, bringing a bit of his own flair to the role, and in very shiny black shoes and a black suit.
“It brought me such joy knowing that it was a true musical that I could learn,” Oliver said.
Beyond the singing, he enjoyed the insight this experience gave him into his classmates. “It’s exciting to see the people they are when they’re acting compared to the people they are off-set.”
Elle ’32, who starred as Mr. Warbucks’s sophisticated secretary, Grace Farrell, admitted that even though she was in most scenes with the “adults,” she had a soft spot for the ensemble. “I really like ‘Hard Knock Life’ even though I’m not in it.”
“If I wasn’t Grace, I would really want to be an orphan,” she said.
CJ ‘32, who played the supporting role of the radio announcer Bert Healy, found his joy in the comedy of his character and the “enthusiastic” community that he worked with.
According to Glick, the real “must-see” magic was in the details of the ensemble. The director hoped that the audience would look past the unison choreography to see the world-building happening on stage.
“All of the orphans have their own points of view and relationships with each other,” Glick explained. “In those scenes, even if they’re doing the same choreography, it’s so exciting to look at each individual and wonder what their personal story is. “
From Oliver’s sophisticated outfit to the orphans scrubbing the floors, “Annie Jr.” was a testament to the talent and passion of this group of fifth and sixth-graders who were clearly ready for their spotlight.
As the cast balanced rehearsals with history projects and humanities classes, one thing was certain: When the curtain rose, this group was ready to show that they “didn’t need anything but” a stage and a spotlight.
