The family focus of Children's Theatre of Annapolis takes on new meaning this weekend with three siblings cast in leading roles of the musical Annie Jr.
Nine-year-old Meagan Bannigan will make her debut as the spunky orphan and gets the bonus of rehearsing with her 13-year-old sister Allie, who will co-star as the nasty Miss Hannigan, while her 12-year-old brother Michael will play Miss Hannigan's scheming lazy brother, Rooster.
"It's all Annie all the time in our home for now," said their mother, Anne Bannigan.
She said that Meagan learned all of her lines within 24 hours of getting her script. The third-grader at Kenilworth Elementary School in Bowie has since dyed red her natural brown hair and had it curled.
"I'd say that's real commitment," said music director Cathy Hollerbach, who complimented Meagan for her knowing every song "letter-perfect."
At last week's first dress rehearsal at the Pascal Center for the Performing Arts at Anne Arundel Community College, Meagan proved she could follow the intricate, athletic dance routines created by director and choreographer Katy Schronce. The orphans didn't miss a beat or a cartwheel as they rehearsed the demanding "It's the Hard-Knock Life" routine.
Meagan sang a heartfelt "Tomorrow" joined on the AACC stage for the first time by Sandy, played by a yellow lab named Crash who is owned by CTA alumnus Kermit Blaney. They seemed a natural pair.
From the comic pages to Broadway, the Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin musical Annie tells about the Depression-era orphan who was left on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage run by Miss Hannigan later to run away, befriend a stray dog and find a home with rich Oliver Warbucks, friend of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Annie Jr. is essentially the 1977 Broadway hit musical, but "without some of the darker Depression-era elements like Hooverville," said CTA spokeswoman Diane Bedlin.
About 90 were expected to audition for Annie Jr. and a record 166 showed up, Bedlin said. They ultimately became a cast of 36 from four counties and 22 schools.
This will be the final CTA show performed on the AACC stage: This fall, the 49-year-old community-based nonprofit company will present Peter Pan in its new playhouse at Bay Head Park.
It appeared that the crew and cast were giving 100 percent in preparation for the historic last performances at the college, including 9-year-old Alexandra Baca of Arnold, who plays Annie's friend, Molly; 13-year-old Austin Heemstra of Severna Park, who plays Daddy Warbucks; and 14-year-old Hayley White of Arnold, who plays his secretary, Grace.
This show deserves a longer run than only the one weekend that AACC's calendar permits. Maybe later in the season CTA will be able to do Annie segments at fundraisers to add to the $1.3 million already raised toward its $1.8 million goal.
Performances of Annie Jr. will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $12 general admission or $10 for those older than 55 or younger than 12. Order tickets by calling 410-757-2281 or sending an e-mail to boxoffice@childrenstheatreofannapolis.or g.