ANNIE Ends Run at MCCC's Kelsey Theatre, 5/2

Mischief, suspense and loads of love are in store when The Yardley Players close their run of "Annie" at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre On May 2nd at the Kelsey Theatre.

Set in the Great Depression, this upbeat musical finds rays of sunshine in one of the darkest eras of American history. It's the hopeful tale of a spunky, red-haired girl determined to find her parents after she is abandoned at a New York City orphanage, where she must do battle with the cruel warden, Miss Hannigan. Audiences will cheer as Annie is befriended by President Franklin Roosevelt and finds a loving new family with the wealthy Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a mutt named Sandy. Based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip, Little Orphan Annie, the show was a long-running Broadway hit made memorable by songs such as "Tomorrow" and "It's a Hard-Knock Life."

Sharing the role of "Annie" are Claire Norden, of Newtown, Pa., and Danielle Standifer, of Hamilton. Other principals include Laurie Hardy, of Hamilton, as Miss Hannigan; Amy Zalot, of Levittown, Pa., as Grace Farrell; Del Howard, of Lawrenceville, as Oliver Warbucks; Joe Zedeney, of East Windsor, as Rooster Hannigan; and Sally Page, of Princeton, as Lily St. Regis.

The production also features John Grewen, of Pennington, as Drake; Walther Smyth, of Trevose, Pa., as Franklin Delano Roosevelt; Wayne Wood, of Fairless Hills, Pa., as LT. Ward; Howard Matter, of Warminster, Pa., as Bert Healy; and Maddie Kane, of Newtown, Pa., as the star-to-be. Featured as orphans are Elizabeth Felkner of Yardville, Salena Qureshi of Columbus, Ashley Rakow of Jackson, Julia Gold of Manalapan, Jill Grezlak of Kendell Park and Miranda Maley of Princeton Junction.

The producer and director is Marge Swider of Langhorne, Pa., with music/orchestra by Pat Masterson of Lambertville, and choreography by Paula Matthews of Washington Crossing, Pa.