 | | The Lamar Consolidated High School Fine Arts Department is presenting the musical "Annie" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Herndon Auditorium in Rosenberg. Main cast members are, front row, Angelita Torres and Katie Hall; back row, Alex Frnka and John Amar Velasco. They are surrounded by "Rio," who portrays Sandy. (Staff photo by Denise Adams)
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| During rehearsals for "Annie," one member in the audience is quietly munching on fries, sipping juice and clapping at the appropriate moments. That fan is 15-month old Jackson Hill, son of Jeremy Hill, who is directing Lamar High School's first musical in many years, "Annie."
Based on the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" and used by permission of the Tribune Media Services, Inc., "Annie" is the tale of a Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents and a real family. She lives in a New York City orphanage, but Annie never loses her belief that happiness is right around the corner.
In preparation for the musical, Lamar High musicians are running through the upbeat score while actors, actresses and the stage crew are making sure their timing is impeccable for opening night. As the clock ticks down to curtain time, Hill is confident his students will stage a memorable musical for all ages.
"Lamar hasn't had a musical in years, and rebuilding the program is a challenge," said Hill, who is in his first year as the theater arts director at LCHS. He immediately gives credit to the faculty and the students at the school.
"They are both outstanding and just phenomenal," he said.
He is grateful to Lamar's past theater director, Jim Bowman, whom Hill said laid the groundwork and built the foundation for the high school to once again stage a musical that features numerous actors, sets changes, dancing and both solo and ensemble songs.
In addition to the challenge of rebuilding a musical arts program, the cast for "Annie" is comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores who have little prior experience building sets and coordinating set changes. However, what they lack in experience they more than make up in enthusiasm and a dedication to getting the show "just right."
The five seniors and a handful of juniors are extremely helpful, and everybody is working together to make sure "the sun will come out tomorrow."
Rounding out the cast are four-legged cast members, including "Rio," trainer Renee King's dog, who portrays Annie's faithful companion, Sandy.
Originally, Hill said he and the other fine arts teachers Julia Hall and Ramiro Estrada, talked about producing "The Sound of Music." After the school's hiatus from musical theater, Hill said they wanted a crowd pleaser show with instant name recognition. Because there were more females in the theater arts department than males, they decided "Annie" would be a better show to cast and produce. There are numerous ensembles, including the orphans, the Hooverville residents and Oliver Warbucks' house crew.
"It works well to where we're headed with our young program and our young cast," said Hill. There was an added bonus - many of the students had staged "Annie" when they were in eighth grade. Alex Frnka, who plays Oliver Warbucks' able assistant, Grace Farrell, was Annie in the eighth grade play. Katie Hall is portraying the greedy Miss Hannigan, and now she plays Lily.
"R.J. Stegemiller, who is playing Rooster Hannigan, is the only one repeating his role from the eighth grade," said Hill. Although many of the students remember their stage experience in middle school, Hill is quick to remind them that they need to bring a fresh acting attitude to the Lamar stage, and the students are enthusiastic about the play.
"This reconstruction is what makes this play interesting," said Hill. Also, he has the help of fellow educators. Julie Nunan, now a Foster High teacher, is the former director of the Terry High Rangerettes ,and she is serving as the choreographer for "Annie."
"She's such an artist, and she's doing a great job," said Hill. Orchestra director Ramiro Estrada and musical director Julia Hall are co-collaborators on the play, and this team of talented educators is making sure the students breathe fresh air into the play.
The technical crew has been working diligently behind the scenes, from using borrowed props to using donated Styrofoam to create movable walls, a run-down orphanage and Daddy Warbucks’ opulent mansion. Hill is confident the school can build on this strong reemergence to the musical stage and work up to more intricate musicals, such as "Ragtime."
"That's the direction we're headed," said Hill, and he is confident the students at Lamar have the ability to achieve their goals. The diversity of the cast, in ages, ability and culture, creates a multi-layered production. Hill said all the students and staff involved with "Annie" are the perfect combination to stage a play that's all about optimism and facing life with a smile.
"Annie is happy wherever she lives, from squalor to splendor, and the underlying message is if we view our lives optimistically, we'll be optimistic. If we view life as pessimists, we'll feed off of that pessimism," said Hill.
"Annie" will be performed for school audiences Wednesday, and the play opens to the general public at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are $10 for students and $12 for adults at the door. For reservations, call the school's box office at 832-223-3137.
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