Wrangell’s rendition of “The Sound of Music” sold out twice last December, but thanks to the Nolan Center and a host of dedicated community members, the curtain won’t stay closed for long. Last Tuesday, Nolan Center Director Cyni Crary announced that the spring musical will be “Annie.”
This uplifting tale of resilience and found family, filled with classic show tunes like “Tomorrow” and “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” is coming to Wrangell on the weekends of May 12-13 and 20-21. The Nolan Center is seeking actors to fill the musical’s colorful cast of characters, from the high-rolling tycoon Daddy Warbucks to the sleazy crook Rooster Hannigan to the indomitable orphan Annie herself.
Haley Reeves, who played the Mother Abbess in “The Sound of Music,” will direct the show and Sage Smiley, who played Sister Margaretta, will co-direct. Reeves comes from a small Montana town with a vibrant community theater scene, where she was able to explore all aspects of a production from stage management to sound engineering to acting.
“Annie” will be her first experience as a director and she is “really excited to show off the talents of the other people in town,” she said. The director is “there to make other people shine and that’s what excited me about it.”
Actors of all ages and singing abilities are encouraged to participate. Auditions are Feb. 15 and 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. Non-singing actors will be asked to read lines; singing actors should come prepared to perform a musical number of their choice. It doesn’t have to be from “Annie,” either. Reeves recommends actors pick a song that makes them feel confident and showcases their entire vocal range. No backing track will be necessary — audition attendees can sing acapella.
When Reeves, Crary, Smiley and set designer Michael Baina met to plan the show, their goal was to maximize community involvement. “Annie” has labor-intensive lead roles, but it also features a large ensemble cast, making it an ideal musical for die-hard theater aficionados and newcomers alike. “If somebody’s even just barely thinking about trying out … come try out,” Reeves said. “Just dip your toe in.”
For those who prefer to operate behind the scenes, the Nolan Center is also seeking costumers, set designers, stage managers and more. To land one of these equally essential roles, contact Reeves at (406) 262-4360 or Crary at (503) 720-0106.
Before last December, Wrangell hadn’t held a community theater production in over 20 years. After Joe Rizzo directed “The Music Man” and “Bye Bye Birdie” in the late 1990s, the town’s theatrical scene faded away.
But “The Sound of Music” brought the community’s thespian streak back with a vengeance. The cast and crew were wondering, “what will the reaction be,” said Reeves. “Everything just blew our expectations out of the water.” After the show’s unexpectedly large turnout, the Nolan Center decided to put on regular winter and spring musicals each year. “It was an incredible response from the community,” Reeves added, and increasing the frequency of shows will give more people the opportunity to attend.
“Theater has a way of bringing a community together,” she continued. “It’ll never happen again the same as it was before. Each show has its own aura that sticks with you. It just brings all sorts of people from everywhere together and you get this shared moment.”
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