Students from grades 4 to 6 played the unlucky orphans who shined like the Chrysler Building, during the dress rehearsal of Annie at St. Joseph’s, June 7.

Hub Staff

The students at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Port Elgin will leave audiences saying, “Oh my goodness, oh my goodness,” after they catch the school’s production of the musical, Annie.

Students in grades 4 to 8 have been working on the musical since March and were very enthusiastic and excited to perform their dress rehearsal for primary students on June 7, ahead of their evening performances, June 7 and 8.

Grade 5 student Nadia Szulist who plays the lovable orphan, Annie, was excited for her family, especially her grandparents, to see the show, but insisted before the rehearsal that she didn’t get nervous on stage anymore.

“Some people are nervous and some are excited, but I played Gretel in the Sound of Music last year and learned my lines in a week,” Szulist confessed when asked about memorizing her lines and performing.

Szulist’s favourite song in the play is Tomorrow, which helped her audition for the role. “Everyone had to sing a song and do a part, a piece of the play and memorize it, and... I don’t know, I just sang and I got Annie,” Szulist said.

Teacher, Lucie Desbiens said that students and staff have been working hard since they started putting the musical together. “It’s been over three months of recess, lunches and after school. It’s been an incredible dedication on the part of teachers and staff,” said Desbien who added it couldn't have been done without two standout teachers, MaryJane Hewitt and Lindsay Wright, with the rest of St. Joseph's staff pitching in.

Hewitt said that the students were very eager to perform Annie with some just being introduced to it.

“Some of the kids are really into theatre and they know Annie, they know all the oldies, but a lot of the kids went home and watched it after we introduced it to them and then became very excited.” said Hewitt.

She added that the students at St. Joseph's are lucky to have these opportunities and have a teacher like Madam Wright who was a force putting this together.

Entry to the performance is by donation.

Anna Rinn (left) played orphanage manager Miss Hannigan, while Sarah Heenan (right) played the likeable secretary Grace Farrell, during St. Joseph’s production of Annie.

On the left, dusting-off the props that were used around the gymnasium were servants from the Warbocks mansion, Georgia Alpajaro (left) and Taysia Light; on the right, grade 5 student Nadia Szulist, played the title character in St. Joseph’s production of the musical Annie.

Working hard behind the scenes were crew members from left, Chante Muzzell, Colette Barrett, Avery Blundell, Skyler Pomroy, Patyn Light and Samantha Babb.

St. Joseph’s students were already in character and ready to dust off their dancing shoes prior to the dress rehearsal, June 7.