'Annie, Jr.' to shine at the Sussex Middle School

SUSSEX — A group of Sussex Middle School students will be performing in Annie, Jr. on Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Annie, Jr. is a based on the successful Broadway musical of Annie that first debuted on Broadway in 1977 and is currently enjoying a successful revival run on Broadway. The classic song "Tomorrow" is probably the most famous song from the production. Other crowd pleasures are "A Hard Knock Life" performed by the orphans, "I Know I'm Gonna Like It Here" by the mansion staff and "NYC" performed by the people of New York City.

Annie, Jr., which is based on the cartoon "Little Orphan Annie" is the story of an orphan Annie who is taken in by the billionaire Oliver Warbucks during the depression. Annie's attempt for happiness is interrupted by the head of the orphanage, Miss Hannigan, and her brother Rooster. Other notable characters are the group of orphans, Warbuck's secretary Grace Farrell, Rooster's girlfriend Lily and of course President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The cast of more than 40 members is made up not only of actors and actresses from the middle school's sixth to eighth grades. But this year, two of the leads are held by talented fifth graders from the Wantage School.

The two main lead roles are portrayed by eighth grader Emily Seely as Annie and sixth grader Evan Poust as Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks. Other roles include: Randi Wask as Miss Hannigan, Jessica Poggi as Grace Farrell, Joshua Lukawski as Rooster Hannigan, Alyssa Welch as Lily, Caroline Reese as Molly, Kaitlyn White as Pepper, Athena Garrison as Tessie, Alyssa Lukawski as Duffy, Colleen Badrow as July, Gabi Ramaglino as Kate, Brielle Morris as Bertha Healey, Amanda Linder as The Star To Be and Destiny Mathes as Drake.

The show is directed by Wantage fifth grade teacher Kerri Freda and SMS Spanish teacher Jean Marie Carroll. Set design is under the direction of SMS art teacher Emily Mortenson.

Tickets for the shows are $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and are available at the SMS box office on the day of the shows. The shows will take place at the SMS auditorium, Loomis Avenue in Sussex. Doors open at 7 p.m. and each show will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.