The musical Annie Jr. opens next week at Quincy Music Theatre.
The show is a production of Stage 11, a theatre group for young people in Tallahassee. Co-owner Robyn Smith says she established Stage 11 a few years ago with her sister Rachel to make the arts more accessible to all.
“For children to be able to participate in our productions, we don’t charge an upfront fee of any kind," Smith says. "Our goal is to be able to provide entertainment opportunities to the community but also performance opportunities for students, particularly from low-income households.”
Smith directs Annie Jr. It’s a condensed version of the iconic musical about a red-haired orphan who escapes Miss Hannigan and finds a home with Daddy Warbucks. This version is designed to accommodate the show’s young cast members. Performers range in age from 16 down to 5 years old.
“The lines are shortened to help make them a little bit easier to come out of their mouth, especially for those that are still learning to read. The music is put into keys that are better for the developing voice," Smith says. "But ultimately, they’re an educational tool, and they’re a way for these kids to be able to perform these characters and these stories from these wonderful full-length musicals but in a much more palatable length and size.”
Rehearsals take place in various locations around Tallahassee since Stage 11 doesn’t have its own space yet.
Annie Jr. opens Friday, March 22 and runs for two weekends through March 30 at Quincy Music Theatre.
Click here for ticket information.
