Wayne Valley Theater’s fall production this year will be Annie. While it is typical for the fall production to be a drama and the spring production a musical, like last year, this year will have two musicals. Some of the notable characters include Annie (Delilah Morelli), Oliver Warbucks (Craig Legras), Miss Hannigan (Charlotte English), Grace Farrell (Mia Marquez), Rooster (EJ Calabrese), Lily (Samantha Filloramo) and FDR (Tyler Leu).
Annie, first emerging in 1977, follows the story of an orphan in New York City during the Great Depression named Annie. She is given the opportunity to spend Christmas with New York’s richest man, Oliver Warbucks, and experiences a whole new way of life. The story also follows true historical events including FDR’s New Deal which was utilized to put an end to the Great Depression. Annie is a musical written in a traditional style according to Ms. Russoniello, characterized by large-scale renowned music numbers such as “NYC,” “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow,” and “Hard-Knock Life.” When discussing difficulty of the number, “Hard-Knock Life,” she says, “You need a lot of energy to sing it and it’s very, very, high.” With great voices comes great responsibility. “The best way to keep getting better is to practice,” Rusionelleo emphasizes. “But don’t overpractice. It’s good to sit with your music every night to revise the words and not overdo as well as protect your voice.”
Aidan Alcalde, who is a senior and plays the orphan named July, talks about his feelings towards playing the character. He remarks, “I know most of the cast members and I have a really good relationship with all of them. When I’m at a rehearsal, I can really just be myself and I don’t have to be the smart one or anything. I get to be me.”
From students to staff, the musical is supported by all at Wayne Valley. The production as a whole has around fifty students involved and a handful of teachers including the director Mr. DeFazio and the music director Ms. Russoniello. In addition, some teachers will offer students extra-credit opportunities for attending the musical.
You can see the musical on November 14 at 7 PM, November 15 at 7 PM, and November 16 at 2 PM. Tickets can be purchased online ahead of time on the Wayne Valley Athletics website or at the door when you arrive.
It has been 134 years since Annie’s original comic strip ran, and its popularity has been rising ever since. From remakes of the ageless story to musicals on Broadway, Annie isn’t just a story about an orphan, it’s about the importance of love and friendship, and the journey she goes through to have it.
