Annie Jr Opens Wednesday at Richter Park

By Bobby Bria

Based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray, Annie, the world-wide phenomenon and winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical is now adapted for young performers in Annie jr. The beloved book and score by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin features some of the greatest musical theater hits ever written including “Hard-Knock Life,” “Easy Street” and “Tomorrow.”

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in the depression-era of 1930’s New York City. A spunky young girl who never stops believing that “The sun will come out tomorrow,” Annie jr, tells the tale of Annie (Olivia Cotter – Danbury CT), an orphan determined to find her parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage run under the strict hand of the embittered and cruel Miss Hannigan (Julia Heiden – Danbury CT).

Annie’s parents left her with only half of a heart-shaped locket and a promise that some day they would return.

When billionaire Olive Warbucks (Gabby D’Ostilio – Danbury CT) invites one orphan to stay with her for the Christmas holiday, Annie charms Grace Farrell (Hailey Posmantier – Danbury CT), private secretary to Olive to land the coveted spot. Luxury abounds at the Warbucks’ mansion, and together, they each discover new happiness. Warbucks soon decides to help Annie find her parents. As fate would have it, Miss Hannigan, her brother, Rooster (Eric Wallin – Danbury CT), and his girlfriend Lily (Kelsey Heyel – Bethel CT) try to claim Annie as their own daughter but they are quickly exposed as fakes.

In the end it all works out in Annie’s favor, Warbucks adopts Annie and her wish for a loving family comes true — Annie’s “Tomorrow” turns out to be “today.”

Performances start at 8 p.m. with grounds opening at 7 p.m. for picnicking.

All tickets $13 in advance/$15 at door. (An additional $1 will be added to all ticket prices by the Richter Park Authority for Friends of Richter Park. Please check out their website at
 http://friendsofrichterpark.org for information on their plans to enhance Richter Park.)

For tickets and for more information, visit the website at www.musicalsatrichter.org, email info@musicalsatrichter.org or call (203)748-6873

Now in its 30th season, Musicals at Richter is Connecticut’s longest-running outdoor theater. Performances are at the Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Road, in Danbury, CT 06811. Performances are given outdoors under the stars where audience members can bring food and drink to picnic on lawn chairs and blankets before and while they watch the show.

A fun, family-friendly way to spend a beautiful summer evening.