Diablo Theatre Co Presents ANNIE 9/10-26

For 17 Performances -- Sept. 10 to Oct. 2 Family Favorite Musical ‘Annie' is Back and Diablo Theatre Company's Got Her (Sandy, Too)

With little fanfare, "Little Orphan Annie" disappeared from the comic strips last June after an 86-year run, but Diablo Theatre Company is making sure she is not forgottten.

The red-headed orphan will still be going strong in the award-winning Broadway musical--"Annie"-- that the strips inspired,

Diablo Theatre Company will stage the show for 17 performances through October 2 at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Tickets --$17-$48-are on sale at the box office, (925) 943-7469, www.lesherartscenter.org.

A family favorite since it premiered on Broadway in 1977, "Annie" features a cast of 29, performing such familiar songs as "Tomorrow" and "It's a Hard Knock Life."

Joined by her beloved dog Sandy, Daddy Warbucks, and the menacing Miss Hannegan, "Annie" will be played by 11-year-old MariAnna Scott of Alameda. She was one of 95 girls who auditioned for roles in the show. Nine were chosen. In 1989, when the Diablo Theatre Company (then the Diablo Light Opera Company) last presented the show, 105 girls showed up for a chance in the production.

Scott, who has performed in more than 15 shows in the area, is no stranger to "Annie." She appeared as one of the young girls in an Alameda Civic Light Opera Company production.

The cast includes veteran performers Laurie Strawn as Miss Hannigan, DC Scarpelli (Daddy Warbucks), Tielle Baker (Nancy), Peter Budinger (Rooster Hannigan), and Samantha Bruce (Lily).

Diablo Theatre Company's production, which jumps the gun on a planned Broadway revival in 2012, will be directed by Amanda Folena, executive artistic assistant at City Lights Theater Co. Cheryl Yee Glass , Diablo Theatre Company's resident music director, will conduct the orchestra. Renee DeWeese is the choreographer. Vocal direction is by Chad Runyon.

The Cast

Jacqueline Andersen (MrS. Greer/Francis Perkins/ Ensemble), Tielle Baker (Nancy),
Morgan Breedveld (Star-to-be/Ronnie/ Ensemble), Doug Brown (Bundles McCloskey/ Hooverville Eddie / Bert Healy/ Henry Morgenthau), Samantha Bruce (Lily/Hooverville), Peter Budinger (Rooster Hannigan), Daniel Epstein (Hooverville Apple Seller, McCraken (Wacky)/Ickes/ Ensemble), Tom Flynn (FDR/Hooverville Man 2), Megan Amanda Hopp (Bonnie/Dog Catcher/Hooverville Woman 4/Usherette/ Ensemble), Olivia Hytha (Duffy). Tosca Maltzman (Maggie),Josh Milbourne (Ward/Brandeis/Hull/Cop/Ensemble), Derek Miller (Johnson/Assistant Dog Catcher/
/Hooverville Cop/Ensemble), Ron Pickett (Drake/Hooverville Man 3 & papers),
Diane Ratto (Pugh/ Hooverville Sophie/Ensemble), Kayla Santos (Pepper), DC Scarpelli (Oliver Warbucks) Kristina Schoell (Tesse), MariAnna Scott (Annie), Izzy Shepard (Kate/NYC Kid), Claire Shepard (Molly/NYC Kid), Suzie Shepard (Annette/Ensemble), Steven Sloan (Howe/Hooverville Cop/NYC Kid/Ensemble), Brian Sterling (Sound Man/Ensemble), Laurie Strawn (Mrs. Hannigan), Diella Wottrich (Cecille/Hooverville Woman 1/Ensemble), Meaghan Wottrich (Emma/NYC Kid).

If You Go

WHAT: Diablo Theatre Company's production of "Annie," music and lyrics by Charles Strause and Martin Charnin.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Sept. 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30; Oct. 1, 2 and 2p.m. Sept. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
WHERE: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
RUNNING TIME: 2 hours, 15 minutes, one intermission
TICKETS: $17-$48 (925) 943-7469; www.lesherartscenter.org, www.diablotheatrecompany.org

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