By Vanessa Langdon
News Editor
The Albany High School Theatre Ensemble is presenting a revamped version of Annie for their spring musical. True to form the theatre ensemble has skewed the ‘typical’ story to have a grittier true life aesthetic. The student theater group, under the direction of Ward Dales, will be performing the more realistic musical Thursday March 19 to Sunday March 22. There are daily shows Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. and a Sunday 2 p.m. matinee. Tickets are available at the door for $15 dollars. Student and senior tickets are $5 dollars.
The musical, Annie, is typically about a young orphan girl as she struggles to find a family that loves her. This production uses the diverse population of Albany High School to create a relatable story about a person’s struggles against all odds. According to Dales they have created a story where the orphans are not cute little girls but girls who are aging out of the system.
Dales, chose Annie for this years show after taking inventory on who he had available to him. After creating a short list of musicals “we weren’t thrilled, so I went back to the giant list,” Dales said.
“We didn’t think about it because it’s schmaltzy, we normally do something with teeth,” Dales said of the more lighthearted show.
The group previously performed “Into The Woods” set in a mental hospital. Dales has similarly changed the context of Annie.
“The story is focusing on the relationships. You can’t escape the camp but in-between there are moments Annie thinks,” Dales said.
The ensemble of 40 students has been practicing the musical since October rehearsing afterschool 3 to 6 p.m. everyday.
The number of students involved in the show fluctuates throughout the preparations.
“We started with a cast of 52 but it’s gone down a lot. We have kids with complications in their lives,” Dales said of students who move, need to work afterschool, or have other pressing commitments.
Dales treats the group as he would a professional troupe and expects them to self-examine and create their own backstories for their characters.
“They have to personalize the role. When you get to that moment you can’t fake it, you have to the heart,” Dales said.
“This is really not your typical high school production these kids are really trained as to how to work in the theater,” said Nancy Timpanaro-Hogan.
She and Dales have worked together as professional actors and she joked that she would love to play Miss. Hannigan, and now has the role.
“It’s a great idea to have a professional work with the kids. It’s a remarkable happening and they’re learning from me and me more from them,” Timpanaro-Hogan said.
Timpanaro-Hogan said that she and the students are in the trenches together during rehearsals after she and Dales got through the red tape to get permission from the actors union and the high school for her involvement.
“They have an investment and they have a storyline whether speaking or not. These kids all know why they’re there,” Timpanaro-Hogan said. The role of Grace Farrell is being portrayed by Albany High senior Lily Regan. This is Regan’s second production with the theatre ensemble but her first lead role.
“Everyone loves this musical it’s such fun and happy. We have a different feel we show the sadness. Annie is relatable,” Regan said.
Annie is portrayed by another student actor with her first lead role for the high school. Senior Morganne McClement spends the three hours a day rehearsing with her fellow actors at school before rehearsing for countless hours outside of school to make the show even better.
“It feels really good to be a lead. I put a lot of work going in to this the past three or four years,” McClement said.
McClement has been performing since fifth grade when she began singing as a canter at her church, Saint Thomas the Apostle in Delmar.
“It’s a timeless story that a lot of people have fallen in love with,” McClement said.
Students have worked tirelessly under the direction of Dales to bring the show together in a few short months.
“All Ward Dales’ productions have heart,” said Timpanaro-Hogan. “You will feel what the characters are feeling.”
