Harmony School of Creative Arts putting on sunny ‘Annie Jr.’
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — “The sun will come out tomorrow,” and “Annie Jr.” is coming as well thanks to Harmony School of Creative Arts students, staff and parents.
“We do several things during the spring, but this is probably our big spring show,” said Barbara Bend, Harmony’s executive director. “We’ve done ‘Annie (Jr.)’ several years ago, but it’s just such a wonderful musical with a great message of hope and love. It was just time to bring it back.”
The show runs April 30-May 2 at First Baptist Church, 501 12th St. Performances are 7 p.m., and tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for ages 3-12. Tickets are available in advance at Harmony School of Creative Arts, 1503 Mormon Mill Road, or at the door the night of the performance.
Harmony will again hold its special interactive children’s show at 10:30 a.m. May 2. Admission is free for children up to age 12 (for this show only) with a ticketed adult and a donation of three to five canned goods or other non-perishable food items.
After the special Saturday morning performance, cast members will ask children in the audience about the show, and attendees also may ask questions of the cast.
The cast began rehearsing for the show in January. Bend said cast members are all Harmony students.
“I think it’s important for the students to get a chance to perform in public,” Bend said.
She pointed out that performing arts such as singing, dancing and acting help youth develop and mature. Few children go on to pursue acting or music careers, but the skills they acquire through the performing arts — such as confidence, creative thinking and discipline — carry over into all facets of their lives.
Plus, acting and singing are just fun.
“Annie Jr.” is a shorter version of the full-length musical “Annie.” The Harmony production runs a little over an hour, Bend said, instead of the full two to two-and-a-half hours.
“Annie” first hit the stage in 1977 and has continued to entertain people for more than 30 years. Bend said the story about a young orphan named Annie continues to spread a message of hope and love.
“It’s just such a powerful message,” she said. “It’s something that kids and adults even today, I think, just need to hear.”
As a musical, it features plenty of singing and dancing.
This year, many of the parts are double cast to ensure each of the Harmony students get a chance on stage. Plus, the parents have been hard at work behind the scenes with building sets, making costumes and keeping things organized.
“It’s been a lot of work, but it’s fun and worth it,” Bend said.
Call (830) 693-1791 or go to www.harmonyarts.org for more information.
daniel@thepicayune.com
