‘Annie: The Musical’ at CMS, May 2-4

Prepare to be charmed by the large, talented cast of Central Middle School’s (CMS) current musical production, “Annie.”

Based on the Broadway show, the plot centers around a plucky young orphan named Annie living in 1930s New York. In seeking to find her real parents, Annie runs away from the orphanage, befriends a lovable mutt named Sandy, outwits the scheming Miss Hannigan and her evil brother Rooster, and unexpectedly finds a place in the hearts of childless billionaire Oliver Warbucks and his good-hearted assistant, Grace Farrell.

The production’s score includes fan favorites like “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Tomorrow,” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” with lyrics by Martin Charnin and music by Charles Strouse.

Shows will be at the CMS Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, and Friday, May 3, as well as at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 4. Opening night was Tuesday, April 30.

General admission tickets are $3 for students and seniors 55 and older, and $5 for other adults. They are available on Go Fan in advance, and can also be purchased with cash or credit at the door.

Katie Skramstad, the show’s artistic director and a CMS English teacher, said she hopes people will come to see the production. “We’re really appreciative of all the support the community has given us at CMS over the years,” she said.

The show features an impressive 56 cast members, 45 crew members, and 20 pit musicians. Skramstad said CMS has a lot of talent and interest in theater arts, and as a result, “We do massive productions.” The main goal is to create a teaching environment where students learn about all aspects of theater, have fun, and ideally become supporters of the theater as they grow older, she said.

In addition to acting and production skills, Skramstad said students learned woodworking and construction under the guidance of new set director Dave Johnson, a CMS reading teacher who is also a professional carpenter.

“Audiences will be really amazed by the set students have created this year,” she said. “I’ve watched the kids do more construction than I’ve ever seen them do – it’s really remarkable.”

Johnson also had a share in the casting of the production, with his well-trained hunting dog, Scout, playing the role of Annie’s dog, Sandy. “Ruthie Brant, who plays Annie, has been working really hard with Scout to get him to respond to her hand signals, and it usually works,” Skramstad said.

She added, “One piece of Hollywood advice they always say is never to work with children or animals, but I think those are the two most charming groups to work with. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Cast and crew

Cast
Annie: Ruthie Brant
Warbucks: Max Swanson
Miss Hannigan: Amelie Quinn
Grace: Sophie McGuire
Rooster: Tony Christian
Lily: Laney Olson
Molly: Via Anderson
Kate: Avantika Gosavi
Tessie: Sonakshi Dwivedi
Pepper: Annika Harney
July: Charlotte Diaz
Duffy: Olive Polhill
Orphans: Ella Anderson, Kate Anderson, Genevieve Atkinson, Liv
Bakkum, Livi Heitzman, Katelyn Moretter-Bue, Aida Patrick
Drake: Tyler Osters
Cecile: Aashni Kannappaganesh
Annette: Emily Mitchell
Mrs. Greer: Elena Hand
Mrs. Pugh: Sofia Lameyer
Bert Healy: Noah Binnie
Fred McCracken: Brady Patten
Jimmy Johnson: alvin Coplin
Boylan Sisters: Swara Sujith, Greta Dahl, Claire Pavelka
Judge Brandeis: Oliver Martin
President Roosevelt: Sreeram Pabbathi
Ickes: Kason Redford
Perkins: Sally Wilken
Morganthau: Corbin Miller
Kaltenborn: Zooem Jacobs
Howe: Oliver Martin
Hull: Lewis Martell
Bundles the Laundryman: Mattie Hoffmann
Apple Seller: Lilia Maus
Dog Catcher: Karyna Dziarko
Ward: Corbin Miller
Star To Be: Lila Nelson
Usherette: Kel Qeuzada
Kid: Syd Weiher
Eddie: Brady Patten
Sophie: Amelia Suslov
Hooverville Men: Kason Redford, Lewis Martell, Oliver Martin, Calvin Coplin
Hooverville Women: Hattie Farm, Chloe Schell, Harper Engelsen, Sonya Townsend

Ensemble
Olivia Bakker
Prinisa Desai
Virginia Holman
Melissa Lima
Silva Moraes
Tanvi Nivatry
McKinley Pavelka
Alli Schaubschlager

Student directors: Luke Breeser and Kellan Isaacson
Stage managers: Lyla May and Brooke-Lynn Byfield
Sound manager: Eli Pudenz
Lights manager: Essie Brackeen

Staff directors
Orchestral director: Ben Anderson
Technical directors: Dave Johnson, Tara Jones, Juan Perona, and Gerti Sommerfeld
Vocal director: Sara Rowan
Choreography: Lauren Scherer
Artistic director: Katie Skramstad

Crew
Aaron Mensing
Allison Weber
Boston Byfield
Brayden Stephan
Brooke Ehler
Camille Tyler
Celine Smitbol
Dylan Barrera
El Silva
Eleanor Poutasse
Elise Soderlund
Emily Kyarsgaard
Emily Scheler
Esther Agala
Ethan Trowbridge
Evie Teplitsky
Faith Johnson
Gabby Epp
Hollan Peterson
Isabel Jagerson
Julia Haasken
Kavya Khare
Kyla Coza
Liam Twomey
Lily Brown
Livi Ayvaz
Maddie Haber
Madison Lee
Manonmayi Ivaturi
Max Muenzenmeyer
Nayasha Bhoyar
Seth Gorrilla
Soph Phan
Sophia Brown
Tasha Suri
Zoey Toperzer

Pit Orchestra
Alto Sax/Soprano Sax: Claire Booth
Alto Sax: Keira Fadden
Bass: Kolby Kiecker
Cello: Grayson Harding
Cello: Emma Steinborn
Clarinet: Aria Laffond
Clarinet: Lela Morris
Clarinet: Maya Paddock
French Horn: Noah Pauly
Percussion: Ty Godfrey
Percussion: McKinley Ulfers
Percussion: Saige Thomasma
Piano: Nandani Kothari
Piano: Tara Anderson
Trumpet: Ella Kylander
Tenor Sax: Lulu Castillo
Trombone: Aidan Phan
Trombone: Yukino Kazama
Tuba: Niklas Arribas
Viola: Logan Watkins
Viola: Ivery Thaden-Koch
Viola: Henry Smith
Violin: Welsey Tran
Violin: Rishi Jaiswal
Violin: Victor Trejo