THE full cast is in place for York Musical Theatre Company’s spring production of Annie at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre after children's auditions last autumn and adult auditions earlier this month.
More than 120 girls auditioned for the parts of Annie and her gang of orphan girls including Molly, Pepper and Duffy. "Girls came from all over the region to audition and two teams of girls will take part in the show," says publicity officer Anna Mitchelson.
"The role of Annie has been given to Kaia Stainton, aged 11, from Wigginton Primary School, while Kathryn Addison will play Miss Hannigan, following her performance as Miss Babs in Victoria Wood's Acorn Antiques The Musical last year."
Richard Bainbridge will be billionaire Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks; Toni Feetenby will return to the company as Warbucks’ ever loyal secretary Grace Farrell and the nasty, money-hungry pair of Rooster and Lily will be played by Matthew Ainsworth and the aforementioned Anna Mitchelson. Larry Gibson will fill the President's shoes as Roosevelt.
In the ensemble will be Charles Marsh; Malcolm Poole; Lee Preston; Sam Rippon; Robert Sager; Amy Dunnington; Julie Fisher; Cyanne Roberts and Paula Stainton.
The children's roles will be performed by two teams. Brooklyn comprises Katelyn Banks as Molly; Sophia Warn as Pepper; Mathilde Barker, Duffy; Holly Todd, July; Sophia O’Callaghan, Tessie; Margaux Barker, Kate, and Elise Tsang, Swing. Yonkers features Tiggy Owen-Smith as Molly; Faye Stainton as Pepper; Hannah Wakelam, Duffy; Charlotte Marshall, July; Evangeline Dillon, Tessie; Mollie Booth, Kate, and Gabriella Hayton, Swing. Annie's faithful canine companion Sandy will provide scene-stealing opportunities for a dog called Barney.
Set in 1930s' New York, Annie follows brave young orphan Annie as she tries to escape the grips of the nasty Miss Hannigan and is taken under the wing of US billionaire Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks.Boasting such songs as Hard Knock Life, Easy Street and Tomorrow, the show will be directed by Paul Laidlaw and choreographed by Nic Jenkins, who worked on Acorn Antiques too.
Tickets for the March 21 to 25 run are selling fast at josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk and on 01904 501935.
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