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size=3>'Annie' ready to be adopted by you tonight in Geauga<?xml:namespace
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>News-Herald,
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Chagrin</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Times, Solon Times,
Geauga Times Courier<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3>Member, International Association of Theatre Critics
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT size=3><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">This
preview appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald</I>
9/11/09</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 4.85pt 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 9.65pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Inspiration for a musical
can come from anywhere. A poem by T.S. Eliot led to "Cats," an opera by Giacomo
Puccini became "Miss Saigon," and the pop music of ABBA morphed into "Mama Mia!"
It should come as no surprise that Sunday comic strips also have been tapped for
subject matter.<BR><BR>Al Capp's "Li'l Abner" became a musical in 1956. Charles
M. Schulz's "Peanuts" went from page to stage as "You're a Good Man, Charlie
Brown" in 1971. Even Garry Trudeau's "Doonesbury" made the transition from
black-and-white print to <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Great
White Way</st1:address></st1:Street> entertainment in 1983.<BR><BR>No
comic-based creation has been as successful or as adored as the Depression-era
musical that features Harold Gray's redheaded ragamuffin and her gang of
orphaned urchins.<BR><BR>"Annie" opened on Broadway in 1977, ran for six years,
enjoyed a revival 20 years later, has been on perpetual national tour, and has
resulted in a film and a Disney-produced made-for-TV movie. This much-beloved
musical opens the 2009-10 season for the Geauga Lyric Theatre Guild in
Chardon.<BR><BR>The version of the show appearing on the GLTG stage is actually
an assemblage of the best of the original Broadway production and the films,
notes director Pierre Jacques-Brault.<BR><BR>"The revised script uses different
musical arrangements and some updated dialogue," he explains, "but it remains
set in the 1930s and is very true to the original story."<BR><BR>Jacques-Brault
believes that while the comic strip is a two-dimensional construction, this
musical works on multiple levels. It has strong political overtones that adults
in the audience will recognize and relate to. It offers optimism and hope.
However, "Annie" is first and foremost a family show about the importance of
being oneself while finding your place in the world.<BR><BR>"Of course," he
adds, "the music is wonderful and very memorable."<BR><BR>It features such
hummable tunes as "Tomorrow," "It's the Hard-Knock Life," and "Maybe."<BR><BR>A
hallmark of past GLTG family-oriented productions has been an ensemble
consisting of a multitude of adorable children. The 2006 production of "The King
and I," for example, featured a parade of the King's offspring that added 25
minutes to the show. The local Fire Marshal has recommended an alternative
casting strategy for "Annie," noting that a stage full of orphans could be a
traffic problem in the case of an emergency. Consequently, according to producer
Kristine Thompson, the band of orphans is limited to only seven young ladies,
each with a phenomenal voice and distinctive personality.<BR><BR>The title role
is being played by 10-year old <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w:st="on">Rachel Lane</st1:address></st1:Street> of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Madison</st1:place></st1:City>. Other orphans
include Sarah DiFiore, Emma Drake, Ona Martini, Chloe Porter, <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Burton</st1:place></st1:City> resident Catherine
Zickert, and 5 1/2-year-old Kayleigh Collins. Sophie from Chardon will be
making her debut as Annie's dog, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Sandy</st1:place></st1:City>.<BR><BR>Jacques-Brault, who is the
co-founder and artistic director of Mercury Summer Stock Theatre in <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Parma</st1:place></st1:City>, has brought several
of his talented featured players to this production. They include Kelvette
Beacham as Miss Hannigan, Dan DiCello as Rooster, Jen Myor as Lily St. Regis,
and Christopher Fortunato as FDR. Oliver Warbucks and his secretary Grace
Farrell will be played by GLTG veterans Michael Rogan and Allison Lehr,
respectively.<BR><BR>The sun will come out ... tonight.<BR><BR><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Details</SPAN></STRONG><BR><BR>What:
"Annie."<BR><BR>When: Today through October 4 (8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2
p.m. Sundays).<BR><BR>Where: Geauga Theater, <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w:st="on">106 Water St.</st1:address></st1:Street>, Chardon.<BR><BR>Tickets: $15
to $18.<BR><BR>Info: 440-286-2255 or </FONT><A
href="http://www.geugatheater.org/"><B><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none"><FONT
size=3>www.geugatheater.org</FONT></SPAN></B></A><FONT
size=3>.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>