Leaping Lizards! Wiscasset will “stick up its chin and grin" and sing "'Tomorrow!  Tomorrow!’” when Wiscasset Middle High School performs Annie JR., it was announced by Drew Cohen, president of Music Theatre International (MTI). Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning best musical by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, Annie JR. tells the story of a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents.

“Annie is a heartwarming show with an important message about the true nature of family. In the show, we see how a plucky little girl transforms her entire life by making the most out of every moment,” said Cohen. “MTI would like to applaud the students from Wiscasset Middle High School for all their hard work on their production.” 

With a cast of over 25, Wiscasset Middle High School will present Annie JR. on April 11 at 7 p.m. and April 12 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Wiscasset Middle High School, 272 Gardiner Road, Wiscasset.  Admission price is pay what you can! There is no dress code, but the cast will remind you that you are “never fully dressed without a smile.” 

This production is also supported by what director Tim Ryan has called the “Unity Theater Program" with additional support from the Wiscasset Special Education Department and will be structured similarly to the Unified Basketball Program the Maine Principals Association sponsors, mixing students with disabilities with the rest of the student population. The productions blend students with developmental disabilities (Unified Student - Actors/Crew) with students without developmental disabilities (Unified Student Partners - Actors/Crew) to rehearse, perform, and represent their school. Unified Theater impacts all kinds of students and helps promote physical activity, teamwork, social inclusion and of course the joy of performing in front of a live audience and receiving well deserved applause.

"Pay What You Can!" makes it difficult to cover both royalties and production costs but we really want to make theater available to the community. The production team is currently planning its Raffle Fundraiser for this event. Raffle items so far include certified autographed photos of actresses to have portrayed Ms. Hannigan on film and stage: Carol Burnett, Kathy Bates, Cameron Diaz and Whoopie Goldberg. We are also starting to get donations of "Annie" related items and gift certificates.