Toby Quillin – Loveland, Colorado … An audience of more than 300 people were transported to New York City during the Broadway-style production of the musical Annie in the Campion gymnasium on Saturday night, January 28.
Keaton Drake, a sophomore student, shared, “The play was fun to watch, and I think that all the actors played their parts very well. It was an enjoyable story and I liked it a lot.”
Campion’s adaptation of Annie, one of the best family musicals, was based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie and loosely based on the 1885 poem Little Orphan Annie written by James Whitcomb Riley.
Annie, the main character in the play, was performed by senior student Ruth Rawlings. “I didn’t really mind everyone watching me as the main character because I was prepared,” she reflected. “I knew all my lines and had memorized them for more than five months, so I was comfortable.”
The Campion Academy Orchestra accompanied the performance with an overture and finale. Flutist Quiana Davis commented, “I was stressed because the pieces of music were hard, and we only had two weeks to prepare. In the end though, it was amazing and incredible! I couldn’t even hear myself because of the applause! It was a great night overall.”
The performance benefited the senior class with most of the money coming from the sales of New York-style foods such as hot dogs, black-and-white cookies, and New York cheesecakes. “There was a lot of good food at the show, but my favorite was the cheesecake because it was delicious, sweet, and creamy,” commented Alexandra Cordoba, a sophomore student.
Annie was the second musical drama teacher Erin Johnson has directed. “I am very proud of the drama class this year and the work they put into the show,” she explained. “I feel like this year there was a lot of excitement from last year’s production and our class time was full of positive energy and new talent. I am looking forward to the growth of the drama department.”
—Toby Quillin is on the Campion News Team. Photos provided.
