'Annie' Opens for Holiday Season Run at Valrico's James McCabe Theater

Leapin' Lizards! It's back, another run of "Annie" the musical in the Greater Brandon community.

This time, the Depression-era musical, based on the Little Orphan Annie comic strip, is brought to the stage by the Village Players, at the James McCabe Theater in Valrico.

The Tony award-winning musical, with book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, centers on the life of an orphan abandoned on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage.

That orphanage is run by Miss Hannigan, who, , "is a drunken, embittered, middle-aged woman who's found herself taking care of a bunch of kids when what she really wants is a man."

The show for some characters has been double cast, which means both Taylyn Olney and Virginia Stacy get their chances to put their own theatrical touches and interpretaions on the title role.

As for Sandy, the dog?

Only one, , who takes to the stage with his owner, Julia Harbord, who plays the role of July, an orphan.

"ANNIE" SHOW DATES AND TIMES:

• Dec. 2-3, 9-10 and 16-17, at 8:15 p.m. Also, Dec. 11 at 3 p.m.

• Tickets cost $12 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors.

• The James McCabe Theater is at 506 5th St., in the Greater Brandon community of Valrico, north of State Road 60. For information, call: 813-677-8045.

RELATED COVERAGE:

PRODUCTION CREW

• Domin Pazo - Director
• Heather Richardson - Assistant Director
• Allen Richardson - Music Director
• Heather Cazzola - Choreographer
• Leah Jacoby - Assistant Choreographer
• Josie Costa - Production Manager
• Dan Flen - Stage Manager
• Tom Mitchell - Sets
• Maurice Cecchini - Props
• Ryne Faurote, Laura Olney, Chris Augustine - Painting
• Debrorah Carpenter - Costumes
• Lisa Fraraccio - T-Shirts

CAST MEMBERS:

Listed in alphabetical order. (Note: The show for some characters has been double-cast, designated as "A" and "B.")

• Kate Augustine – Molly (A)
• Amy Bailey - Grace Farrell
• Kelly Coultas – Christine, Boylan Sister
• Jeff Crum – Drake, Carl, Mr. Hull, Eugene
• Ann Marie Diamond – Tessie (B)
• Carolyn Diamond – Duffy (B)
• Mary Brook Diamond – July (B)
• Chris Duncan – Bert Healy
• Paula Dunham - Cindy, Mrs. Pugh, Mrs. Perkins, Mother of the kid getting autograph
• Ryne Faurote – Rooster
• Haily Fonte – Mrs. Greer, Boylan Sister
• Isabella Fraraccio – Sophie, Sussane
• Kassidy Gavagan – Pepper (A)
• Tom Guerre – FDR
• Michael Hansen – Drunk Eddie, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Morganthau, Wacky
• Gabby Hansen – Pepper (B)
• Matia Hansen – Kate (B)
• Julia Harbord – July (A)
• Josiah Jacoby – Kid getting autograph
• Leah Jacoby – Darla, Cecille
• Gary Kelly – Officer Ward, Mr. Kaltenborn
• Kenneth Kelly – Mr. Bundles, Mr. Jones, Harold Ickes
• Steven Lauders – Dog Catcher, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Howe
• Ginger Eisenhauer Maskar – Lily Saint Reggis
• Thom Miller – Oliver Warbucks
• Rylie Nelson – Kate (A)
• Taylyn Olney – Annie (A)
• Julia Stacy – Molly (B)
• Katie Stacy – Star-to-Be, Boylan Sister
• Virginia Stacy – Annie (B)
• Taylor Tew – Duffy (A)
• Clay Webb – Punjab
• Hannah Westcott – Tessie (A)
• Lisa Westcott – Miss Hannigan