A message of hope

The sun’ll come out this weekend.

Jay County Civic Theatre’s production of “Annie” is set to light up the stage Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and Dec. 12, 13 and 14.

Based on Harold Gray’s 1920s comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” the original Broadway theatrical production in 1977 ran for six years and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Choreography. Its success led to a film adaptation in 1982, with subsequent returns to Broadway in 1997 and 2012, and other movie remakes. 

“Annie” follows the story of a child who believes her parents left her in the orphanage by mistake. She’s taken in by the billionaire Oliver Warbucks, who chooses to bring an orphan into his home to promote his image. With Annie still on the search for her parents, Warbucks announces a reward to find them. 

“Annie is a heartwarming, family-friendly show about finding family and finding kind of who you are,” said co-director Rachel Tebbe.

Tebbe explained Annie learns to stay true to herself over the course of the show. She also learns that family doesn’t have to be blood-related.

“Might be a little unconventional, but the love you feel for other people is what truly makes a family,” said Tebbe, who also directed Jay County Civic Theatre’s production of “Frosty the Snow Man” and in June served as assistant director in “Freaky Friday.”.

The show features a few new faces to Jay County Civic Theatre, including Fort Recovery residents Kate Ratliff as Miss Hannigan and Helena Roessner as Annie.

Ratliff described Miss Hannigan as a terrible, mean and sloppy individual.

“She is the one that nobody wants to meet in a dark hallway,” Ratliff said. “She runs the orphanage, and she bosses all the kids around. She’s clearly unhappy with where she’s landed in life.”

She remembers auditioning for the role of Annie in Anderson’s Mainstage Theatre’s production when she was a child. Ratliff talked about her disappointment when she didn’t make that cast list.

“I was so sad I didn’t get the role, but I was just a little too young, and the girl that they got to play her was amazing,” she recalled. “But coming back into the show as Miss Hannigan is like a full-circle moment for me.”

Roessner, 11, described Annie as an ornery, sweet and caring orphan teeming with courage and hope to find her parents. Starring as the main girl herself in her first Jay County Civic Theatre role has been a dream come true for Roessner.

“This show is like anybody’s dream role, and I’m very, very grateful that they chose me for it,” she said.

Reid Knuth, who doubles as Warbucks and the show’s music director, explained the score includes a lot of unison singing. Various jazzy numbers lean into New York and New Orleans tones. Although it has some differences to the movie, the show features many of its famous tunes such as “Tomorrow” and “Hard Knock Life.”

“We’ve got a lot of new faces,” Knuth said. “I’m proud of all the progress they’ve made. I think they’ve done a great job bringing the songs to life.”

Cast members moved through rehearsal last week in costume. Fresh off Thanksgiving, they’re polishing final touches in rehearsal this week before the show’s debut Thursday.

Tebbe talked highly of the cast following rehearsal Nov. 25.

“We’re getting to a point now where they’re really starting to have fun and let loose and really find their characters,” she said. “So, these last couple practices are always my favorite. The characters really start to come to life.”

Shows are at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and Dec. 12 and 13 and 2 p.m. Dec. 14. Tickets may be purchased by visiting bit.ly/JCCTAnnie, calling (260) 726-4809 or visiting Arts Place.

Alex Ardizzone, who stars as con artist Rooster Hannigan and in 2024 led civic theatre’s “Finding Nemo Jr.” production as Marlin, shared what he sees as the show’s overall message.

“This show is really a lot about hope,” Ardizzone said. “Hope for the future, hope that things are going to get better and just hope for the good in things, which I think is a message that is pretty well-needed nowadays.”

Tebbe said the show’s timing in December fits perfectly with the holidays.

“This is definitely going to be a show that’s going to make you feel all sorts of emotions,” Tebbe said. “Happy, sad, worried — and it should really put you in the Christmas spirit of finding the true meaning of family.”