Photo Flash: ANNIE Runs As The BCP Play-A-Part Fundraiser

The Buck Creek Players will wrap up their 37th season "From Page to Stage" with their fourth biennial Play-A-Part Fundraiser of the hit musical, Annie, sponsored in part by The Friends of Bill Hall. Quickly becoming a BCP audience favorite, the Play-A-Part Fundraisers separate themselves from The Playhouse's traditional community Theater Productions in that all roles are "won" through silent auction with no required auditions! Veteran musical theater performers join first-timers to give this classic musical a comedic twist much like The Carol Burnett Show. Annie features music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin and book by Thomas Meehan. Boasting one of Broadway's most memorable scores, including "It's the Hard-Knock Life," "Easy Street," "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," and the eternal anthem of optimism, "Tomorrow," you can bet your bottom dollar that this comedic take on the traditional hit musical will definitely bring a smile to your face.

For its very limited four-performance run, curtain times will be at 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, August 5th and 6th, with 2:30 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday, August 6th and 7th. All performances will be held at the Buck Creek Playhouse, 11150 Southeastern Avenue. General admission is $20 for everyone and can be reserved by calling (317) 862-2270 or online at www.buckcreekplayers.com.

When Annie first wowed audiences at Connecticut's Goodspeed Opera House more than 34 years ago, no one could have imagined the reach that one little girl would have. 50 million people of all ages have been delighted by two Broadway stints, five national US companies, two West End runs, two hit movies and dozens of international productions, and the show is still going strong. A 2012 Broadway revival is currently in the works.

Based on Harold Gray's "Little Orphan Annie" comic strip which debuted in 1924 and ran for over 80 years, Annie is set in Depression Era New York City at a time when the economy looked bleak, government seemed ineffective and the average citizen was desperate and frustrated. Sound familiar? With its hopeful message and unwavering belief in a better tomorrow, Annie became one of the biggest Broadway musical hits of the 1970's, running for almost six years and playing 2,377 performances. The musical won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan) and Best Score (Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin), the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, and the Grammy for Best Cast Show Album.

In many ways, Annie is a modern-day Cinderella story. Cast aside by society, this optimistic orphan remains ever positive, ever confident that she will find the home of her dreams. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, sass and sympathy, courage and compassion, she wins the hearts of those around her without ever losing sight of her humble beginnings and her simple aspiration to one day find a place for herself and her devoted dog Sandy in a loving family. Indeed, Annie has become an icon that transcends generations - the very embodiment of the resolve and resilience needed to realize the American dream of a brighter future ahead.

Abused by cruel orphanage matron Miss Hannigan, Annie, a spunky, redheaded orphan, decides to run away and find her parents. After eventually managing to escape the orphanage, she sadly is caught by the police and sent back. Soon though, her luck improves. Billionaire Oliver Warbucksand his secretary Grace Farrell decide to invite an orphan over to his mansion and young Annie is chosen. They all quickly hit it off and Warbucks agrees to help Annie find her parents by offering a $50,000 reward. Will Annie find her parents? Or will Miss Hannigan and her accomplices, Rooster and Lily, succeed in their scam to swindle the bucks from Warbucks? Don't wait until "Tomorrow" to reserve your seats so you can find out. Call 317-862-2270 before you miss your opportunity! Reservations can now also be reserved online as well at www.buckcreekplayers.com.

All photos by Aaron B. Bailey

Danielle Carnagua

Danielle Carnagua

Danielle Carnagua

Danielle Carnagua

Danielle Carnagua