Monday, March 18, 2024

Leavenworth Summer Theater presents family favorite musical, Annie

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For the first time, Leavenworth Summer Theater (LST) is presenting the musical, Annie. Director Paul Atwood has some history with the show. When he was a young man, his parents took him and his sister to see the show in Seattle. He was hooked on theater.  

About 15 years ago, he directed Annie as part of the first Apple Blossom show at the Performing Arts Center. His been involved with LST over the years too, directing Guys and Dolls, The Music Man and The Sound of Music. “All my kids have been in the Sound of Music. My wife has been in the Sound of Music, so I’m very familiar with Leavenworth Summer Theater,” Atwood said. “We took a few years off. I was doing more of the kids stuff, being Von Trapp children. Then, they asked to do Annie. I was actually in last year’s production of Beauty and the Beast. It was great to be back again. I forgot how much I missed it.”

Atwood said he really likes experiencing not just the local talent, but also the college students who come to town to try out for the shows. He believes summer stock is where these students can really hone their craft. 

Casting for Annie was a lot of fun. 

“It was great because I got to pick from the cream of the crop. I had girls from Seattle trying out, not just local. It was great for the orphans. Then, we get to the college atmosphere. The gal playing Grace is a grad from the Whitworth drama department,” Atwood said. “There are a bunch of Central kids. I have Ernest Palmer playing Daddy Warbucks. I met him last year playing, we were opposite each other. He was the Candlestick and I was Codsworth. We established a good friendship. He’s fantastic. He’s going to blow it out of the ballpark.”

Playing Annie is Aubrey Thomas, a young performer who’s already appeared in Fifth Avenue shows in Seattle. 

“I have the little performers that are already seasoned actors. It has been a joy,” Atwood said. “The gal who plays Miss Hannigan is from Seattle and is funnier than funny.” 

LST founder John Wagner is part of the cast too. 

“The funniest thing about that. The first time I did Annie. He played FDR. He’s playing FDR again. As long I can keep him in a wheelchair and not standing up. He is like 7-feet tall. He is awesome, just great,” Wagner said. 

The first dress rehearsal went off without a hitch. Atwood said he can breathe a lot easier now. 

“You always wonder if this is going to work or not. They just step up to the plate. I’m amazed at this process. I wonder if people are going to laugh. This is a musical comedy, based off a comic strip,” Atwood said. “What is so funny and strange, this was written by three middle aged men back in 1975, during Watergate and Nixon. It really resonates and packs more of a punch in today’s era.”

Certainly, since the show so well known, that does add to the pressure. Atwood says he’s not an artist, but an entertainer. He feels if the show can make him laugh, it should be pleasing to the public. 

Certainly, the orphans will capture your attention. 

“They’re going to come out loving everything, but they’re going to come out and say that kid cast was strong. The orchestra, Jewel Iwasa is the conductor. He’s gathered some of the cream of the crop with this orchestra. The orchestra is amazing,” Atwood said. “I think people are just going to love it. After the dress rehearsal, I feel a lot of better.”

Annie opens tonight at the Hatchery Park Stage. 

Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.

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