Marquee Youth Stage Presents: Annie Jr.

Marquee’s Veteran Performers Bring Back Smiles, Hope and Milestones with “Annie Jr”

Marquee Youth Stage is proud to present “Annie Jr”, at The Batavia Fine Arts Centre on August 6th and 7th at 7:30 pm and August 8th at 4 pm. “Annie Jr features” over 60 local youth, plus a few returning from the original 2011 cast and stepping in as part of the production team.

Audiences can expect to see a range of new and seasoned performers, but what is different about this tenth-anniversary production of Annie Jr is the nostalgia it brings with Annie being Marquee’s first production back in August of 2011. The stage manager, Olivia Zimmermann who was a new performer and orphan in the original cast shares, “[her] favorite part has been watching the kids bonding and making friends during rehearsal. It brings back so many memories from the first time around—it’s so cool to think that these kids in this show are forming similar relationships to the ones [she] made all those years ago, and [she] hope[s] they will also be able to come back and enjoy each other’s company 10 years from now!” Olivia will begin her senior year in the fall, majoring in Communication Sciences and minoring in Theatre. The same sentiments are echoed by Music Director Natalie Cerrone who played Mrs Pugh in the original production. Natalie just completed her Masters in Special Education and will be starting her career as a self-contained social-emotional learning teacher at Frank C Whitely in Palatine this fall.

Members of the team approached Artistic Director Connie Flores about bringing back Annie for the Marquee milestone summer show. While this year has had its challenges amid a pandemic, the message of hope shines through as actors laugh and smile through a dance polish rehearsal, which Director Caroline Cerrone describes as her favorite part: “rehearsing the big ensemble songs because [she] love[s] seeing all of the kids on stage practicing together. Caroline who has been a part of the Marquee family for nine years will be completing her senior year as an Elementary Education major beginning this spring.

Recent SCE graduate and veteran performer/choreographer Teagan Ditsworth is behind teaching the dance for all the musical numbers. “Nothing brings me more joy than watching the growth that occurs over the span of our rehearsal process. Through their dedication, the cast masters all aspects of the performance, truly giving life to the choreography. I will greatly miss this position, says Teagan who will be a rising University of Alabama Philosophy and Political Science major this fall.

This timeless family musical for all ages is sure to warm hearts. Bring friends and family and come celebrate the message that the sun will come out tomorrow! For tickets and more information, go to MarqueeYouth.org.

“Annie Jr.” is presented through special arrangement and all authorized materials are supplied by Music Theatre International, New York, N.Y.