Mars musical 'Annie' helps Make-A-Wish
ADAMS TWP — Theatergoers can enjoy a musical this weekend while helping children with life-threatening illnesses.
“Annie” will be performed at Mars High School at 7:30 p.m. Friday and at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
The production is the fourth from 2014 Mars High graduate T.J. Pieffer and a group of students and alumni who love musical theater.
All proceeds from the show, as with all past shows, goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Stage manager Zach Landau, also a 2014 Mars graduate, said $3,000 was raised last year.
He said this year's production of “Annie” will include a live band plus students from the elementary and middle schools as Annie's fellow orphans.
The six-piece band includes Mars alumni and community members as well.
“The music for 'Annie' is kind of jazz so a band works better for that,” Landau said.
He said auditions for the ambitious production were in mid-May. Beginning in June, the cast and crew rehearsed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
“It really is student and community driven,” Landau said. “These are budding young adults putting their best foot forward to put on one of the best musicals of all time.”
He said he knew the production would be awesome when he heard that Mars Middle School student Marnie Butler, who will play Annie, sing.
“She surprised me from day one,” Landau said. “Her voice is phenomenal.”
Cole McManus, another 2014 Mars graduate, will play President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the production. He researched photographs, speeches and other information on FDR to nail the role.
“Quite frankly, I'm loving it,” McManus said. “It's fun portraying him.”He said in addition to the suit and blanket to place over his legs, a wheelchair from the time of FDR was borrowed from a theater to add authenticity to the role.He said he was initially worried about acting with the younger students, who play Annie's fellow orphans, but his concerns were relieved when rehearsals began.“They handle themselves quite professionally,” he said.Pieffer, who is directing the show as he has the past three, agreed.“It was interesting figuring out how to talk to a 9-year-old and a 26-year-old at the same time,” Pieffer said.He said everyone who comes to the show this weekend will leave with a smile on their face.“It's going to be a great family show, and a great first-time show for kids who have never been exposed to live theater,” he said.Tickets are $5 at the door or may be bought online in advance at <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/annie-tickets-15611047062" target="_blank">www.eventbrite.com/e/annie-tickets-15611047062</a>.
