Students Shine in Annie Jr.

Middle school drama elective students took to the stage this week after spending months rehearsing the musical production Annie Jr. Annie Jr. is part of Music Theatre International’s Broadway Junior program, and features all the charm of the Annie musical, capturing Little Orphan Annie's exciting journey through 1930s New York as she looks for her family. “Students had been asking that we do Annie as our musical, and I thought it was the perfect production because it has many different roles and is well liked and well known,” explains director and drama teacher Crystal Brown. The drama elective teaches our middle schoolers many valuable skills. “They have been learning how to be in an ensemble and how to be present in the moment, and are developing confidence in their abilities,” explains Ms. Brown. “They are also learning projection, how to memorize lines, and how to develop characters.”

 

The students performed to back-to-back sold-out theaters and brought the audience to their feet. Says musical director Kimberly Lostetter, “The students really rose to the occasion and the last two nights were amazing!” Adds Director of Middle School Dr. Sivan Tarle, "The students clearly felt a sense of ownership and pride in the work they did on the stage and behind the scenes. Their joy and energy resulted directly from the fabulous dedication and creativity of Ms. Brown and Ms. Lostetter." MORE PHOTOS