“The sun’ll come out tomorrow” and three weeks from tomorrow, Suttons Bay Schools will open its second performance of Annie in the high school auditorium. Mrs. Toni Manning, kindergarten teacher, is directing and Mrs. Margaret Lott, K-12 music and choir teacher, is musical director. The two teachers wanted a musical that could feature the talent found in the middle school this year. Annie was the top choice due to its large number of middle school-aged characters and because Mrs. Lott has been wanting to put it on for a long time.

After choosing the show, Mrs. Manning must also secure royalties, order scripts, and prepare audition material. Of all the steps that go into putting on a production, she says auditions and casting are “one of the hardest parts”.

This year, 63 students are acting in the musical, including Ella Bruining (8th grade) as Annie, Hudson Parrent (sophomore) as Oliver Warbucks, Emily Send (senior) as Grace Ferrell, and Emma Kelly (senior) as Miss Hannigan. In addition to the actors, seven members of the student tech crew will be helping out, and Caitlyn Smith (senior) is stage manager and student director.

This classic show is based on the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie” by Harold Gray that debuted in 1924.  Annie is an 11-year-old girl living in an orphanage run by the drunk Miss Hannigan in depression-era New York City. Out of all the orphans, Annie is chosen to spend the Christmas holidays with billionaire Oliver Warbucks. Warbucks is charmed by the optimistic little girl and decides to adopt her, only to realize she is convinced her real parents are still alive and coming to find her.  When Warbucks offers $50,000 to the couple that can prove they are Annie’s parents, Miss Hannigan’s scheming brother Rooster comes up with a plan that could get them rich…. and Annie in a very sticky situation.

Performances will be March 19 and 20 at 7 pm and March 21 at 2 pm. Tickets are $ --------- and will be available in the high school office and  at the door.