(Le Mars) — Gehlen Catholic High School Fine Arts Department will present the musical “Annie” beginning on Thursday evening starting at 7:00 p.m. and again on Saturday evening. The story is about an orphan girl who is able to turn a staunchly, wealthy gentleman into a man with a heart of gold when he adopts the little girl. In the meantime, Oliver Warbucks offers a financial reward if the real parents of Annie can be found. Junior, Carlyn Bretey, the daughter of Keith and Terri Bretey has the lead role playing Orphan Annie. She talks about the character.
There are several familiar songs associated with the musical Annie such as “Tomorrow”, and “Its a Hard Life” but for Bretey she favors the opening musical number.
Kathrin Ripley, the daughter of Jerry and Ingrid Ripley plays Miss Hannigan, the role popularized by Carol Burnett during the movie version of “Annie”. Ripley explains that Miss Hannigan supervises the orphanage, but doesn’t particularly care for the children, and especially doesn’t want to see Annie be happy. Ripley says rehearsals have been challenging at times, but she has enjoyed the experience.
The part of Miss Farrow, the private secretary of Oliver Warbucks, is played by junior Kaitlyn Norfolk the daughter of Robert and Lisa Norfolk. She explains her role has an integral part with the story-line’s plot.
As a junior, Norfolk is already experienced with the theater. She was in the spring musical “Anything Goes” and a year ago traveled to Orange City for the Tulip Festival to be in the musical “West Side Story.” Norfolk says she is working hard on perfecting her role featured in “Annie.”
Another young, but experienced actor, is Sebastian Buman. Buman has the role of Oliver Warbucks. The junior is the son of Richard and Angie Buman. He has previously been involved with plays featured at the Le Mars Postal Playhouse, and at the Orange City Tulip Festival.
Buman sums up his character as being a stoic businessman at the beginning of the play, but soon becomes a “big old softie” after meeting Annie. Buman says he tries to communicate in a conversational manner when rehearsing his lines.
Mark Morehead is directing the musical. The curtain will rise at 7:00 p.m. at the Jason Puetz Memorial Gymnasium, and tickets can be purchased for $5.00
