Annie

What can I say about this classic from the Golden Age of Broadway? As a director I have two rules when choosing a project to direct: 1. Why this show?, 2. Why now? So let's address these two questions.

Why Annie?

Annie is an established classic, very popular in Utah, particularly Utah County, well known to all generations and it's hopelessly optimistic. Audiences needs a good old-fashioned musical comedy to lift their spirits every once in a while.

Why Now?

In the plot line of the show, the story takes place during the Great Depression during the Presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The musical number that sets down the political atmosphere of the time is "Hooverville," where the homeless citizens of New York City are sarcastically praising former President Herbert Hoover for making them "what they are today." To directly quote from the program's dramaturgical notes: "The stock market crash of October 1929 plunged the United States into the Great Depression. During the depression, unemployment was up to 25%, resulting in people being evicted from their homes and living in what people called "Hoovervilles." Hoovervilles, named after President Hoover who many believe caused the Depression, were places where the homeless built make-shift homes. One Hooverville was even built on what is now Central Park's great lawn, which, at the time, was a dry reservoir."

Does that sound familiar to you? It should. Trickle-down economics, which Hoover preached during his entire time in office and Congress supported him, caused the Great Depression and history is now repeating itself. Yes, Annie is very relevant and now is a perfect time as any to remount this classic. Later in the show, Annie meets President Roosevelt and through the most famous song of the show, "Tomorrow," she encourages the President and his cabinet to be optimistic and look to the future, and we see the beginnings of what would become FDR's "New Deal" that brought the United States out of the Great Depression and into the prosperity it enjoyed until President Reagan brought back Trickle-down economics; and now, we are once again poised to repeat history. We need Annie's optimism and a leader like FDR more than ever!

Director, David Morgan, musical Director, Justin Bills, and choreographer, Ashley Gardner Carlson have brought relevance to this incredible show and I have been able to see both casts, with three exceptions, and I can definitely recommend this production! It's just under 2 hrs. and 9 min. in length which is incredible for a musical, and the entire ensemble does an incredible job of bringing this beloved classic back to life on the HCT-Orem stage. I even found myself tearing up during "Tomorrow."

A few standouts for me.

MWF Cast: Afton Grace Higbee brought a real spunkiness to the title role but she also had this incredible motherly quality about her and you felt that she wanted to take care of everyone around her, despite needing someone to take care of her and love her. That really touched me about this particular production! The incredible Rex Kocherhans who has graced the HCT-Orem stage in roles such as Emile D'Beque in "South Pacific" and Javert in "Les Miserables," brings his incredible voice to the role of Oliver Warbucks; Rex brought a real heart to this character and not just the simple 2-dimensional comic-book characterization that so many amateur productions do with this role; I felt Oliver's change sincerely and watched his relationship with Annie grow throughout the show. This is due in fact to Rex and Afton's wonderful chemistry on stage together and their incredible talents. Bonnie Wilson Whitlock's tremendous performance as Miss Hannigan is the main reason to see this cast (TTHS; she was standing in for DeLayne Bluth Dayton) in this production. OMG! I loved Miss Whitlock's performance in HCT-Orem's "In the Heights" a few years back and once again she proves to be a consummate artist in her realistic and human portrayal of this iconic comic character. What I loved about Miss Whitlock's performance is that she didn't play a stereotype, she played the real woman behind all of the meanness. You could tell she was just responding to the conditions around her which effected everybody during this terrible time in America's history and her boozing was her coping mechanism, not just a comic "bit." Alongside her were my incredible friends, Wade Robert Johnson as Rooster Hannigan (Single Cast) and Kelly Coombs as Lily St. Regis. This trio was the outstanding performances of the evening! It was so good to see these incredible artists together on stage! The beautiful Jessica Pearce as Grace Farrell (TTHS; she was standing in for Brandalee Bluth Streeter) brought elegance and charm to this production and it was refreshing to see this role played with such simpleness and grace. The ensemble was incredible, not a weak-link in the chain: Galen Chatterton was equally wonderful as both Officer Ward and FDR; my dear friend Shawn Lynn (single cast) as Man 1/Drake was charming as ever and such a versatile and incredible artist; another single caster, JD Ramey was hilarious as Man 2/Bert Healy/Appleseller/Louis Howe; my close and dearest friend Curtis Adams was hilarious as Man 3/Bundles/Fred "Wacky" McCracken/Harold Ickes/Judge Braneis; Eric Christian Lash (TTHS cast) was filling in for Braden Kay Rymer (MWF) as Man 4/Dog Catcher/Jimmy Johnson/Cordell Hall and was so fun to watch on stage, adorable, and great comic timing alongside the incredibly talented Joseph Paul Branca (Single Cast) as Man 5/Assistant Dog Catcher/Sound Effects Man/Henry Morganthau.  UPDATE: On Saturday, July 7, 2018, I returned to see my dear friends DeLayne Bluth Dayton (Miss Hannigan), Brandalee Bluth Streeter (Grace Farroll) and Braden Kay Rymer (Man 4/Dog Catcher/Jimmy Johnson/Cordell Hall) and once again missed Brandalee but got to see DeLayne as Miss Hannigan, who as always did an incredible job as Miss Hannigan. DeLayne stood out just like her double, Bonnie Wilson Whitlock, and was the star of the show! DeLayne stood out and took command of the stage every scene she was in. This production has two very strong Miss Hannigan's! I also saw Braden but he was actually going on as the understudy for Joseph Paul Branca as Man 5/Assistant Dog Catcher/Henry Morganthau, but did go on as Jimmy Johnson in "You're Never Fully Dressed..." Braden is adorable and one hellavu of an artist and he was a standout in these roles. I will be returning on the 16th and hopefully will finally see Brandalee as Grace and Braden in his actual roles. Looking forward to it! The production has only gotten better since I saw it in Previews!  UPDATE: On Friday, July 13, 2018, I returned to see my dear friend Brandalee Bluth Streeter as Grace Farroll and as always, Brandalee was elegant and incredible in her role. The role really suits Brandalee well and I really liked the chemistry between her and Warbucks. Also, I got to see my dear friend Braden play his normal roles in the MWF cast (Man 4, Dog Catcher/Jimmy Johnson/Cordell Hull) and as always performed those roles as well as he did Joseph Paul Branca's roles. I really do feel this production of "Annie" is one of HCT-Orem's best to date productions, simple but very professionally done and I hope, if you haven't seen it yet, to get your tickets ASAP! They're 80% sold out! Don't miss it!

TTHS Cast: Madilyn Terry's performance in the title role was equally incredible as Miss Higbee's perormance and she too had that motherly quality and great chemistry with her Daddy Warbucks, my wonderful friend, Benjamin J. Henderson; what can I say about Ben Henderson, such an incredible talent and artistry in any role that he portrays; some of my favorites of his at HCT-Orem was in "Big Fish," Black Stache in "Peter & the Starcatcher," and Luther Billis in "South Pacific." Brooklyn Pulver-Kohler gave an incredible and hilarious performance as Lily St. Regis; Brooklyn was one of the Tracy Turnblad's in the 1st National Tour of "Hairspray" which came through Salt Lake City several years ago and that is where I fell in love with this wonderful actress; it was so good to see her again and in this hilarious role! My dear friend and former director (HCT-Orem's "Thank You Papa) Ryan Hale Radebaugh was wonderful as Officer Ward/FDR; my good friend Brett Griffeth was so hilarious in his portrayals of Man 2/Bundles/Fred "Wacky" McCracken/Harold Ickes/Judge Brandeis.

The design for the show was incredible. I particularly loved the use of projections in this production. It really helped the pacing of the show. The costumes by Kris Hansen-Call were beautiful and the rest of the design elements were wonderful and blended together for a great production!

I am returning next month to finally see my dear friends, Braden Kay Rymer, DeLayne Bluth Dayton (Miss Hannigan) and Brandalee Bluth Streeter (Grace Farrell) and will add my reviews of their performances after I see them. I am so excited!

Please, don't miss this incredible production of this wonderful Broadway classic. It's 70% sold out, so get your tickets NOW!