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Students Giving Orphan A Home

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 22, 2008

DADE CITY - East Pasco Adventist Academy this weekend will stage "Annie, jr.," part of the "Broadway Junior Collection" of musicals tailored to more tender voices and young actors' sensibilities.
Curtain time is 8 p.m. Saturday and at 3:30 and 6 p.m. Sunday at the school, 38434 Centennial Road.

Admission is $4 for children younger than 12, $6 for people 60 and older, and $7 for other adults and teens. Buy tickets at chamber of commerce offices in Dade City and Zephyrhills or at the academy.

Directing the performance is Marvin Robertson, who comes to Dade City from Port Charlotte, where he was a minister of music and choral conductor. He also volunteered to work with music groups at Port Charlotte Adventist School. He has conducted children's, collegiate and adult choirs, and several have toured the United States, Canada and Eastern Europe.

The Broadway Junior Collection is represented by New York-based Music Theatre International. The licensor's chairman and chief executive officer, Freddie Gershon, said students learn how to read music or a script and, in the case of "Annie, jr.," about the stock market crash, The Depression, the New Deal, and Presidents Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt.

As they work together in staging, lights, sound or cast, schools also are creating a sense of community - attracting moms, dads and teachers who otherwise might not get involved in campus activities.

The local response to a call for help was overwhelming, Robertson said in a news release. Some 35 to 40 parents and other community members pitched in on the production.

"In my wildest dreams I never thought we would get such an outpouring of support," he said in the release. "With the continued hard work of the cast and crew volunteers, this production is sure to be a success."

Robertson, whose young charges call "Doc" or "Mr. Annie," said they tackled the project with enthusiasm.

"Initially we worked primarily with the principals, i.e. Annie, the orphans, Warbucks, Grace, Miss Hannigan, Lily, Rooster, Bundles," he said. "These are very talented kids who are growing rapidly in the understanding of their various roles in the production."

The original musical about Little Orphan Annie was first produced on Broadway in 1977. Published in 1998, "Annie, jr." is a shorter version that retains all of the characters, plot themes and essential musical numbers.

For tickets and further information, call (352) 567-3646.

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