Summerset Theatre opens Season 56 with the musical ‘Annie’

Summerset Theatre will open with “Annie,” on Thursday, June 13 as part of its 56th Season. The musical, based on the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” appeared on Broadway in 1977 and won seven Tony Awards. Over the years, Little Orphan Annie has inspired many versions of her story to be told.

This will be the third time Summerset Theatre is performing the beloved musical. Previous productions of “Annie” were in 1989 and again in 2002.

“It has been an absolute joy working on this production with an amazing group of talented individuals,” said Randal J. Forster, the director of this production. “When we decided to select this show for Season 56, it was very clear to me that ‘Annie’ was the right show for today. We needed to produce it again for another generation of theater goers and performers.”

“Annie” is first a historical piece, documenting the tremendous impact of the Great Depression on New York City. The year 1933 has been described as “the worst year of the Depression,” leaving 15 million people, or one quarter of Americans, out of work.

It is unclear if President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was really inspired by a little red-haired orphan to create the New Deal, but Annie can remind people that we must always look on the bright side of life and remember that tomorrow is only a day away.

Performance Dates

June 13, 14, 15, 21, 22 at 7 p.m.

June 16, 23 at 2 p.m.

Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College

$20 Adults | $12 Students

For more information & tickets, visit: www.summersettheatre.org

Cast Members

Orphan Annie – Maggie Dreyer

Molly – Lydia Lynch

Pepper – Charley Collins

Duffy – Mollie Johnson

July – Riley Szyszkowski

Tessie – Blake Zimbelman

Kate – Heavan Hiegel

Orphan – Margot Stanley

Orphan – Elyse Gustafson

Orphan – Reese Meyer

Orphan- Emma Potter

Orphan – McKenna Barren

Orphan – Heather Meyer

Miss Hannigan – Kaye Perry

Rooster Hannigan – Tony Huizinga Lily St. Regis – Katie Hunerdosse

Grace Farrell – Misha Stanley

Oliver Warbucks – Luke Reese

Roosevelt/Ensemble – James Zschunke Mr. Bundles/Ensemble- Lucas Johnson Lt. Ward/Ensemble –Caden Strampe Drake/Ensemble – Ethan Brandt

Mrs. Pugh/Ensemble – Heather Kjos Schmit Mrs. Greer/Ensemble – Jenny Dryer Cecille/Ensemble – Inga Dudley

Annette/Ensemble – Renae Clark Bert Healy/Ensemble – John Stanley Boylan Sister/Ensemble- Tehya Orr Boylan Sister/Ensemble – Jocelyn Voth Boylan Sister/Ensemble – Moyra Voigt Judge Brandeis/Ensemble – RJ Anderson Morganthau/Ensemble – Maggie Bremner Howe/Ensemble – Antonio Morales Maid/Ensemble – Ellen Ekins

Maid/Ensemble – Jacelyn Rudderow Servant/Ensemble – Bryan Cruz Vasquez Apple Seller/Ensemble – CJ Turcotte Apple Seller/Ensemble – Jake Plummer Paper Boy/Ensemble – Sam Westland

Orchestra Members

Conductor – Brian Johnson

Keyboard – Lorene Strobel

Bass – Kaiah Gibson

Drums – Cheryl Berglund, Blake Zimmerli

Percussion – Cortney Christianson

Violin – Victoria Smith

Reed One – Ben Jahnke, Colin Zidlicky

Reed Two – Amy Wightkin

Reed Three – Jessie Camp

Trumpet 1 – Tim Davis

Trumpet 2 – Libby Zafft, Ron Post

Trombone 1 – Bradley Carlton, Christoph Dundas

Creative Team

Director Randal J. Forster

Assistant Director Jannel Howard

Musical Direction Brian Johnson

Technical Director John Deyo

Stage Manager Kim Potter

Choreography Marny Rohr

Costume Design Madlain Vander

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