Published: July 19, 2008 11:17 pm      

Annie auditions for children and adults set for next week

special to The Star



Meridian Little Theatre will hold tryouts for the hit Broadway musical “Annie,” which will be staged Oct. 2-8.

Tryouts for the children roles of Annie and her six orphan friends is set for Sunday, July 27, 1:30 p.m., at the Highway 39 playhouse. The title role of Annie calls for an 11 year old who must have humor, vitality and spunk. She needs a terrific voice (must be able to hit an “F”), and move on stage well. Annie's solos include “Maybe,” “Tomorrow,” “It's a Hard Knock Life,” and “I Don't Need Anything But You.”

Six other orphan children are needed, age range of 6-13, and they should be able to sing and dance. The orphan urchins are: Molly (6), the youngest; Kate (7); Tessie (10) the crybaby; Pepper (12), the toughest; July (13), the quietest; and Duffy (13), the oldest. They sing “It's A Hard-Knock Life” and “You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile”.

Tryouts for adult feature roles and chorus will be held on Monday, July 28, and Tuesday, July 29, at 7 p.m. at MLT. These roles include:

Oliver Warbucks, the billionaire industrialist, is in his late 40s or 50s and should have a really commanding presence, with great warmth, humanity and power. He needs an excellent high baritone voice. He sings “N.Y.C.," “Something Was Missing,” and “I Don't Need Anything But You.”

The mean-tempered spinster who is in charge of the orphanage is Miss Hannigan. She smokes and drinks on the sly, all the while hating little girls. Miss Hannigan's comically cruel character calls for a woman with a strong voice that moves well on stage. Her songs include “Little Girls” and “Easy Street.”

Miss Grace Ferrell is the young, beautiful and sophisticated private secretary to Warbucks. She is efficient, personable, warm and well-groomed. She should have a good soprano voice and be able to dance. Ferrell sings “I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here,” “N.Y.C.,” “You Won't Be An Orphan For Long,” and “Annie.”

Miss Hannigan's con-artist brother, Rooster, is a semi-evil character. This broke, villainous ex-con needs a strong voice, and must move well. Lily St. Regis is Rooster's floozy girlfriend and accomplice in crime. She is not very bright and doesn't have a whole lot of class. She sings “Easy Street” and also dances.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt is the President of the United States at that time. He should be in his 50s or 60s and have as close a likeness to FDR as possible, play comedy and be fairly musical.

Other roles include: Bert Healy, a radio program announcer and singing star; the three singing Boylan sisters; Bundles McCloskey, the laundry man; Lt. Ward, a policeman; the Hooverville bums; and Warbucks' servants – Drake, the butler; two French maids, Cecille and Annette; Mrs. Greer, the housekeeper;, Mrs. Pugh, the cook; the chauffeur; other female maids, and, of course, Sandy, the shaggy mongrel dog. The two choruses consist of the servants and Hooverville Bums.

There will be no substitutions or changes of the tryout date, according to Melinda Perry, casting committee chairman.

Jimmy Pigford is director; Pat Gray is choreographer; and Carey Smith is orchestra director.