While it’s not the typical holiday fare on area stages, the upcoming Augusta Players’ production of “Annie” has the flavors of the Christmas season.
“A lot of people don’t know that It takes place during Christmas,” said Christina DeCarlo, who is directing “Annie,” which will be performed Dec. 13-15 at the Imperial Theatre. “The final number is ‘A New Deal for Christmas,’ and the theme of Christmas holiday, Christmas spirit and finding home runs throughout the entire show.”
“Annie,” the Tony Award-winning Broadway play set in New York City during the height of the Great Depression in the 1930s, focuses on the comic strip character of Little Orphan Annie, which made its debut in 1924.
Circumstances are bleak in the first act. Annie and her fellow orphans lament their existence in the orphanage by singing “It’s The Hard Knock Life,” and people who’ve lost everything and are homeless because of the stock market crash sing “Hooverville.”
Despite that, there’s an underlying optimism and hope for the future driven by the title character and her iconic song “Tomorrow.”
Playing the role of Annie is Ansley Rhodes, a 13-year-old student at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School.
“She’s a very positive and optimistic character. She’s really fun to play,” said Ansley. “She’s been through a lot of situations and wants to make sure no one goes through that.”
By Act II, that hope expands and so does the spirit of Christmas. DeCarlo said that the set will go from drab and dreary to include more lights and decoration as the play progresses and there promises to be some Christmas magic at the end.
“Annie” will be performed at 8 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14 and at 3 p.m. Dec. 15. For tickets, go here.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
