‘Annie’ reminds us ‘tomorrow will be better’

During hard times, it’s easy to forget that “the sun will come out tomorrow.” But Gretta Assaly hopes her production of “Annie,” performed by the Children’s Theatre School, will ignite a fire of optimism in the audience and encourage them to believe in a bright future.

“At this time, we need that little spark of optimism,” said Assaly, the director of the show. “It’s important to look toward tomorrow. Tomorrow will be better.”

She said the familiar story of family is what creates this spark of optimism seen on stage and makes it a perfect musical for families to see.

“Songs that people have been humming along for years just come to life on the stage,” she said.

More than 50 kids ages 8 to 15 and about 8-10 adults will perform “Annie” at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater at 7 p.m. on Sunday and Monday night.

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“It’s very much a kids’ production,” Assaly said.

All of the lead roles have a different actor playing them each night, besides Cooter Overcash, the associate director, who plays Oliver Warbucks both nights. When the lead actors aren’t playing their main characters, they play orphans and New Yorkers.

The kids are also involved in sewing the costumes and creating the props, as well as learning how to sing and write scripts.

“They connect all the dots in the rehearsal process,” she said. “It gives them a sense of leadership and ownership behind the show.”

A family affair

Fifteen-year-old Woody Brook has been involved with the theater’s productions for about eight years, but he returns this year as one of the company’s two interns.

“In years past, there was a lot of chaos,” he said. “But it’s running smoothly and the kids are well-behaved and really into it.”

Brook is playing Rooster Hannigan Monday night while his two younger sisters, Chloe, 11, and Evee, 8, will be orphans and their mother Bobbi will play the role of Miss Hannigan.

“It’s fun, I enjoy having the opportunity to hang out with them all day,” Woody said.

Bobbi Brook said she has always loved the role of Miss Hannigan, so she jumped at the opportunity to play her in “Annie.”

“It’s going to be a fun night,” Woody said. “I’m excited to be on stage singing with (my mom).”

Assaly said having so many members from one family involved in the production is very special and truly creates a sense of community.

“It’s a memory that family will share forever,” she said. “They’ll look back on this and think, ‘remember that time when we were all in ‘Annie?'”

But the Brooks aren’t the only family involved in the play. Many of the adult actors are parents of children in the play, and there are several other pairs of siblings, including Anabel and Tess Johnson, who both hold leading roles.

Tess Johnson, 11, plays the star role of Annie the opening night of the play, and her sister, Anabel Johnson, 13, plays Grace Monday night.

The two sisters have been in four plays together with the Children’s Theatre School, Inc. and have fun doing something they love together, Anabel Johnson said.

“It’s a good thing we’re not (playing our main roles) on the same night because we’d probably start cracking up in the middle of it,” Tess said. “Right now I’m really excited, but I’ll probably get nervous.”

‘They don’t want to leave’

Shannon Overcash, 16, who interns with Woody Brook, is the daughter of Cooter Overcash and plays Lily St. Regis Monday night. She said her time with the Children’s Theatre School has not only taught her about the behind-the-scenes components of theater, but it has been a great social experience as well.

“It’s something I’ve always loved to do,” she said. “I’ve been able to experience all other aspects of theater backstage. I’ve loved being able to meet new people with the same interests.”

Assaly said some kids come to the Children’s Theatre School not knowing anyone, but they find their best friends within a few days.

“They just love acting and learning about theater,” she said. “They don’t want to leave when their parents come to pick them up.”

Amanda Boyd, 11, plays a Boylen sister and the Star-to-Be, and is part of the sewing team as well. She, along with a handful of other girls, has sewn patches on clothes for the orphans in the play and has cinched the sleeves on Miss Hannigan’s robes.

“We’re like a costume family,” she said.

Camryn Woodworth, 12, who plays a Boylen sister, is also part of the sewing team and said she has become very close with the other girls.

“Sometimes we get out of hand, and sometimes we work like a well-oiled machine,” she said.

Although Assaly has worked in professional theater, she loves working with kids the most and said that when she’s watching the kids, every day is a great day.

“It’s more fun to work with kids because you’re really working with tomorrow,” she said. “I probably have more fun than anyone.”

Courtney Riley is an intern at the Vail Daily. Email comments about this story to criley@vaildaily.com.