
Center Stage artistic director, Gary Scarpa, has announced auditions for the theater’s summer production of the Tony Award winning classic, Annie, to be performed at Shelton High School from July 27th to August 4th.
The production will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Youth CONNection, which was founded by Scarpa and his wife Francesca, with whom he will co-direct the production, in 1983. The Youth CONNection is a summer theater company for high school and college students. The group also casts children when the show calls for younger performers as is the case with Annie.
“We’re really excited about bringing one of our favorite shows back to the stage,” explained Scarpa. “I remember seeing the show in 1977, when it swept the Tony Awards, and loving it. We enjoyed it so much that we probably saw it three or four times on Broadway, and this upcoming production will mark our fifth time doing Annie as a directing team.
Annie tells the story of a irrepressible young orphan who, in the midst of the Great Depression, must live in a miserable orphanage run by the tyrannical, but comical, Miss Hannigan. Annie’s seemingly hopeless situation changes dramatically when she is selected to spend a short time at the residence of the wealthy munitions industrialist, Oliver Warbucks. Quickly, she charms the hearts of the household staff and even the seemingly cold-hearted Warbucks cannot help but learn to love this wonderful girl. He decides to help Annie find her long lost parents by offering a reward if they would come to him and prove their identity. The production won seven Tony Awards in 1977, including Best Musical, and there have been three different film versions of the musical. The play features Broadway classics like “Tomorrow”, “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile”, and “I Don’t Need Anything but You”.
There are two categories of eligibility. Children must be female, must be going into third grade (in September) or older, and must not be taller than five feel. High school and college students (not older than 23) are also eligible.
“There are host of wonderful roles,” said Scarpa. “Besides the obvious roles like Annie and Daddy Warbucks, there are more than twenty featured speaking and singing roles for high school and college students. All roles are open, and we are hoping to see many candidates at the audition.”
Auditions will take place from 6:30 to 9:30 on May 23rd, for high school and college students, and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 26th, for elementary school girls. To sign up for an audition appointment and for further information about the audition and the show, visit www.centerstageshelton.org or call 203 – 225-6079. Center Stage is located at 54 Grove Street in Shelton.