AFTER months of rehearsals, the cast of Horsham Arts Council’s Annie are gearing up for opening night.
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The show will open on Friday at the Horsham Town Hall.
It will run for nine performances until May 21.
The journey to the stage started in November last year when Horsham Arts Council announced that Annie would be its next show.
Emily Friedrichson-Hay signed on to direct and auditions were soon underway to find the perfect cast.
Producer Simon Dandy said it was Ms Friedrichson-Hay’s first time as a director for the Horsham Arts Council.
“While it is a big task, we know she will do a great job as she is being supported by a fabulous team of people,” he said.
Before long, two Wimmera 11-year-olds were set to star in the show.
Horsham’s Claudia Lopez O'Donnell and Stawell’s Bonnie Mellor will share the production’s lead role as Annie.
This will be both Claudia’s and Bonnie’s first arts council show.
Claudia said she wanted to audition for Annie because she had a passion for acting.
“It was a great opportunity to be involved in the show with my friends,” she said.
“The audition was a bit scary and nerve-racking, but I got through it.”
Claudia said her favourite song from the show was Tomorrow.
“It happens when Annie is feeling down, but then she sings the song and it makes everything better,” she said.
Bonnie said she was very excited to be involved in the production.
“I was very surprised when I found out I would be playing Annie,” she said.
“I was so excited that I started crying.
“I was nervous in the audition but once I got through it, I was alright.”
Bonnie said she was looking forward to working with all the cast and having a good time.
More than 140 people auditioned for the show’s 60 roles.
While it features a strong cast of children, there are performers of all ages.
Mr Dandy said the auditions were competitive.
“It’s a very strong cast. There are new faces and familiar faces,” he said.
“Its a good mix of ages: we’ve got a guy in his 70s and a girl who’s nine years old.
Rehearsals soon started to heat up as opening night approached.
Tickets for the show went on sale in February, and were quickly snatched up.
The council decided to add an extra show before of the demand.
A new element this year was a full orchestra, that would perform in the pit at the town hall.
Music director Karen Gebert said about 15 musicians are involved in the orchestra.
She said it was amazing to see so many talented people coming together.
“They all have to work together as a group and these are people who have never played together before,” she said.
“On the surface, the music looks easy, but it’s quite challenging.
“Everyone is working so hard and it’s going to be a fabulous show.”
Mrs Gebert said the orchestra and the performers had been rehearsing together.
“The performers have had plenty of practice with the orchestra so they shouldn’t bat an eyelid on the day,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to the show, but the nerves are starting to build.
“Everyone has put in so much hard work – people don’t realise how many people are involved in these shows both on stage and off.
“It’s exciting to see the show come together.”
Now the stage is set for opening night.
Mr Dandy said the cast and crew of Annie were excited ahead of the performance.
He said the show was a classic story that showcased talent from across all ages and areas of the Wimmera.
“We’ve got really talent young children as young as nine doing fantastic things right through to adults, with our oldest cast member in their 70s,” he said.
“Having done performances myself as a child I think back and I didn’t realise how much confidence and skills it gives you – even in day to day life.
“You see it as fun but mingling with people of all age is a big thing.”