Natchez Little Theatre, Mississippi’s oldest community theatre, is hosting auditions for the final production of the 65th Season, “Annie.” This beloved musical is being prepared for a revival on Broadway, and Natchez Little Theatre will present “Annie” June 6-9 at Natchez Little Theatre at 319 Linton Ave. at Maple Street in historic Natchez.

“Annie” features a large cast of children and adults and will be directed by NLT’s artistic director, Layne Taylor, with musical direction by Mario Radford and choreography by Sydney Eidt. Auditions for the children’s roles will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Natchez Little Theatre, and parents or guardians must accompany all children under 16 who want to audition. As this is a musical, the auditions will only require the children to sing one of the following three songs: “Tomorrow,” “Maybe” or “Hard Knock Life.” Mr. Radford will be on hand for accompaniment and will warm up those auditioning at 10 a.m. sharp.

Seven orphan characters that are girls’ roles: Molly, the littlest, who is 6; Kate, the next-to-littlest, who is 7; Tessie, the cry baby, who is 10; Pepper, the toughest, who is 12; July, the quietest, who is 13; Duffy, the biggest, who is also 13; and Annie, the lead, who is 11. The actors don’t have to actually be those ages but be able to be believable as those ages. Other children’s roles are available — both male and female — for the chorus and other minor characters.

The large adult cast will have their singing audition at 3 p.m. on Sunday in NLT’s auditorium with Mr. Radford accompanying. The adults should come prepared to sing a song from the show that is sung by the character for which they are auditioning. Songs are listed on Natchez Little Theatre’s website: www.natcheztheatre.org; Facebook page and on Twitter at #natcheztheatre.

Many of the adult cast will double in roles as servants, Hooverville squatters, Cabinet members, servants, dog catchers, policemen and chorus. The principal roles are Oliver Warbucks, a billionaire; Grace Farrell, Warbucks’ private secretary; Miss Hannigan, the director of the New York City Municipal Orphanage; Rooster, Miss Hannigan’s no-good brother; Lily, Rooster’s bimbo girlfriend; Bert Healy, a radio emcee and celebrity; the Boylan Sisters, three singers on the Bert Healy Show; President Franklin Delano Roosevelt; Lt. Ward of the New York City Police Department and Bundles McCloskey, the laundry man.

“Annie” is a Tony-award winning musical that has enjoyed numerous revivals.

The story is based on the popular comic strip, “Little Orphan Annie.”

No experience is necessary to audition or participate, and Natchez Little Theatre loves giving new talent an opportunity to perform.

Everyone sings in the show, but not everyone has a solo.

Rehearsals will begin Saturday, March 23.

So come audition for “Annie” and be a part of NLT’s 81-year history! If you have any questions, please call me at Natchez Little Theatre, 601-442-2233 or e-mail me at natchez@bellsouth.net.

 

Layne Taylor is the artistic director of the Natchez Little Theatre.