Hartland will “stick up its chin and grin and sing ‘Tomorrow! Tomorrow!’” when Hartland Players’ Encore Youth perform “Annie JR.” March 7-8 at the Hartland Performing Arts Center, 9525 E. Highland Road. Performances are set for 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8.
This nostalgic and heart-warming 60-minute musical, presented by The Hartland Players’ Encore Youth Theater group, is based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning best musical. “Annie JR.” tells the story of a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents. The cast includes 31 students from the Hartland/Livingston County area ranging in ages from 9-14, and led by producer Andrea Daguanno and director Jenna Dorset.
“Annie JR.” follows the life 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.
For information on purchasing tickets, visit www.hartlandplayers.org. The Hartland Performing Arts Center is located at 9525 E. Highland Road (M-59) in Howell, Mich. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased via the Hartland Players website or at the door. There is no dress code, but the cast will remind you that you are “never fully dressed without a smile.”
“Annie JR.” is presented through special arrangement with, and all materials are provided by, Music Theatre International (licensed to The Hartland Players/Encore Youth Theater, Hartland, Mich.)
