‘A message of hope and optimism’: Children’s Theatre of Elgin to present ‘Annie Jr.’
Leaping lizards! Children’s Theatre of Elgin is getting ready to perform “Annie Jr.” Friday through Sunday, Nov. 15-17, at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.
Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning best musical, “Annie Jr.” follows the story of an orphan named Annie living a “hard-knock life” at the New York City Municipal Orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie dreams of being reunited with her parents and takes action to find them.
In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Roosevelt, and finds a new family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
“’Annie’ is an iconic piece of musical theater that has withstood the test of time. More than 46 years after its original Broadway debut, children around the world continue to take the stage and share its messages of hope and optimism,” said production coordinator Brent Houltram.
Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday’s performance begins at 2 p.m. at the Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way in Elgin. Saturday’s performance will feature American Sign Language interpretation. General admission tickets are $16 or $14 for children, students or seniors. Tickets can be purchased at cteelgin.com.
“Annie Jr.” has proved to be especially popular in the Elgin area, with more than 150 children having auditioned for this production. Director Allison Cherry expressed the joy that these children have to share with the community.
“This story of a little girl’s strength of mind and spirit can give hope to just about anybody on a day that’s gray and lonely,” Cherry said. “That feeling of hope, even when you’re at your lowest, still shines through in this classic production. CTE gives me this kind of hope on days that I need it the most, and spending my Saturdays with this group of over 100 dedicated and loving young actors has really brought the true meaning of ‘Annie’ to life.”
“They are the sun that comes out tomorrow after a long hard week at work, and I have truly looked forward to every Saturday morning these past few months,” Cherry continued.
Producer Anna Roberts also shared her personal connection with the musical, saying, “Producing ‘Annie Jr.’ allows me to bring this sense of joy and inspiration to a new generation of theatergoers, just as it was brought to me when I was a child. It is my hope that the magic of the story, the music, and the performances will leave a lasting impression on the children and families who see it, just as it did for me when I was young.”
In addition to the public performance schedule, Children’s Theatre of Elgin will hold a free, sensory-friendly preview at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. Register at bit.ly/anniesensory.