Buddy MoorehouseFrom now until opening night on Nov. 15, the Livingston Post will be profiling cast members of the Community Theatre of Howell’s production of “Annie.”
When Amy Watters moved to Howell three years ago and tried out for her first Community Theatre of Howell show, she was hooked.
“I lived in Lansing for many years and commuted to Hartland for my teaching job,” said Watters, who works as a junior kindergarten teacher in Hartland. “I had heard many wonderful things about CTH but living so far away, it was impossible to try out for a show. I knew that if I ever moved closer I would audition. Three years ago we moved to Howell. That fall, I auditioned, along with my daughter Amanda, for ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ We both got cast and had a great experience! Since then I have been in two other CTH shows, ‘Little Mermaid’ and now ‘Annie.’ ”
Watters will be taking the CTH stage starting next weekend playing a couple roles in “Annie,” performing as both a maid and as one of the singing-and-dancing Boylan Sisters.
In addition to Amanda, 18, Watters and her husband Trevor have a son, Connor, 13.
Theater has been a lifelong love affair for Watters.
“I was in theater in high school,” she said. “I played Audrey in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ my junior year. That was a fun role. As an adult, I have had the opportunity to do some work on stage in church productions. CTH has been such a great outlet for me to do what I love – be on stage.”
As for her new theater home, “The thing I like the most about CTH is the sense of family and community that happens as we rehearse and spend time together,” she said. “The laughter and fun we have over the months we spend together is priceless. I have made so many good friends over the past few years through CTH.”
“Annie” is the beloved Broadway classic based on the story of Little Orphan Annie. The musical tells the Depression-era tale of how Annie breaks away from the evil orphanage master Miss Hannigan, and how she wins the heart of the ultra-rich Daddy Warbucks. The songs include “Hard Knock Life” and the classic “Tomorrow.”
“As a kid, I loved the musical ‘Annie,’” she said. “I had the record album (yes, I am that old) and would listen to it over and over, pretending I was Annie. It’s been so great to be in a show that I have wanted to be in since I was young. It’s a show that leaves the audience smiling and I’m so happy that I can be a part of that.
“I play several roles in ‘Annie.’ My favorite is my Boylan Sister character. The costumes are fun, the scene is funny, and I get to sing a really great song with two other talented people, Abbey Bean and Shannon Groves.”
Watters can’t wait for opening night to arrive on Nov. 15.
“The audience is going to be blown away by the talent in this production,” she said. “Every single cast member is amazing, from the smallest orphans to the adults. The hard work and dedication are apparent from the moment the curtain opens. There’s a small part of me that wishes I could sit in the audience and experience this amazing show. You don’t want to miss it!”
The Community Theatre of Howell is presenting “Annie” at the Howell High School Freshman Campus, 1400 W. Grand River Ave., Howell. Shows are Nov. 15-17 and 22-24, with showtimes at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday each weekend.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for students and seniors, available at Finding Roots in Howell, Maria’s School of Dance in Fowlerville, Big Acre in Brighton, and Ed Bock Feed and Seed in Pinckney. Tickets are also available by calling 517-545-1290, or online at cththeatre.org. You can buy tickets by clicking here.
