All About 'Annie'
No, an orphan train has not jumped the tracks in Butler, and it's not really Christmas in July, though both tots and tinseled trees are elements in the Butler Summer Dramatics production of the classic “Annie.”
This musical will open July 28 at the Succop Theater at Butler County Community College.
Each year, the Butler Summer Dramatics Project holds auditions in late May for the two-month-long program pulling a full scale musical together.
The talent on stage and behind the scenes is all local youth who are mentored by more seasoned theater folk.
“It is a way for people who have been involved with the theater to give back and train the next generation,” said Gordon Cavalero, one of the brains behind the program.
Butler Summer Dramatics has produced 28 shows since its beginning in 1967, Cavalero said.
Playing the title role of Annie will be Skylar Ruth of Butler Township. The ninth grade student from the Butler Intermediate High School is already a veteran of the stage and last appeared as Baby June in the Musical Theatre Guild's fall production of “Gypsy.”
“Annie is a loving and caring orphan, who is struggling to find her parents,” said Skylar, who noted her main source of inspiration for the show is her love of family.
“I decided to do this show because it is my favorite musical and I love the Summer Dramatics Project,” she said.
Skylar has been in five Summer Dramatics productions and can't say enough about the experience she has gained.
“The Summer Dramatics Project is such a fun program since they allow everyone to be in the show. I think it gives kids the opportunity to try something they wouldn't normally do, because of fear of failure,” she said.
Actors are encouraged to spread their wings and hone their craft.
“I'm bringing my own personality to ‘Annie' because like her; I try to give my all in everything, especially musicals,” Skylar said.
Her character's savior and father of her dreams, Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks, is being played by B.J. Hyatt of Meridian, who is studying vocal performance at Slippery Rock University.“Warbucks is the world's richest unmarried man and his world is flipped upside down by one little orphan,” Hyatt said.“On the outside he is a tough businessman and is very ‘happy', but in actuality he is sort of a lost soul amidst his own treasures and realizes how he needs someone to make him truly happy,” he added.Hyatt said he feels that this production is different than the last four he's been in, and for him it's about discovering dedication.“True dedication is something that I, in the past, have lacked. This year is a different story and I am finding that I love it that much more when I truly dive into what it is that I am doing,” he said.The woman behind Warbucks, Grace Farrell, is being portrayed by Logan Olszewski of Renfrew, who will be majoring in musical theater at DeSales University in the fall.“Grace is the private secretary to Oliver Warbucks. She is also a strong woman who works hard for what she believes in,” Olszewski explained.She said that while being a serious business secretary might be a stretch, portraying a strong woman is easy for her.“I am portraying a strong woman who is happy with what she has and truly enjoys making other people happy,” she said.The comical and sinister Rooster will be played by Derek Kaufman of Meridian, who also will major in musical theatre this fall. He will attend Point Park University.“Rooster is a slimy con man who is always looking for the next opportunity to score some cash,” said Kaufman, who admitted to selling some of his lunch and snacks to make some money when he was a youngster. He said the similarities end there.Kaufman is actually reprising the Rooster role from a production he did at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Beaver County.“My inspiration for that part came in large part from Tim Curry's portrayal of the character in the 1982 film ‘Annie.' He was very creepy and slimy, yet a comedic relief most of the time so I try to balance those two things,” he noted.
<B>WHO: </B>Butler Summer Dramatics Project<B>WHAT: </B>“Annie” musical<B>WHEN:</B> 7:30 p.m. July 28 to 30 and 2 p.m. July 31<B>WHERE:</B> Succop Theater at Butler County Community College<B>TICKETS: </B>Reserved seating is $10 and $12 and tickets are available at Mays Music Shoppe, 247 E. Jefferson St.<B>INFO: </B>724-283-5811
