Dominique LeBlanc Cast as Annie in Drayton Entertainment's ANNIE, Launching May 29

After a nationwide search, Drayton Entertainment has selected 13-year-old Halifax native, Dominique Le Blanc to portray the lovable red-headed orphan in its production of the Broadway musical Annie, which begins rehearsals today and plays at three different locations over the 2012 Season.

Annie will open at King’s Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene and run for four weeks from May 29th through June 23rd. The show will be remounted at the Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend from August 15th through September 1st and then again at the Country Playhouse in St. Jacobs from November 13th through December 23rd for the holiday season.

Earlier this year, Drayton Entertainment launched a video search for the actress to portray Annie. Hundreds of young performers submitted videos of themselves performing “Tomorrow” in hopes of landing the plum role. A select few were asked to audition in person for Director, Alex Mustakas. Le Blanc flew from Halifax to attend the callback and won the part in late April.

“Dominique is an immensely talented young performer – she has the lovable stage presence and feisty spirit that’s essential for the role of Annie,” says Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a young performer, and we are thrilled to give Dominique the chance to spend the next few months working with some of the finest actors and creative professionals in the country.”

Le Blanc, a natural red-head and a precocious grade seven student who attends École Secondaire du Sommet in Bedford, NS, has been performing since the age of 8, when she made her theatrical debut in a community theatre production of High School Musical produced by Upstage Studios. She has since appeared in both The Wizard of Oz and A Christmas Carol: The Musical with Neptune Theatre in Halifax. Le Blanc has also appeared on television in Sinking Ship Entertainment’s film It’s a Hard Knock Life (For Girls) and CTV’s Christmas Daddies.

“I can’t believe I get to be Annie, says Le Blanc. “It all just feels like a dream come true. I’m so excited to start rehearsals!”

Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office toll free at 1-855-drayton (372-9866) or online at www.draytonentertainment.com.

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