Every time the musical Annie moves town, local performers have to be found to play the parts of the young orphans, including the mop-headed sweetheart of the title role. This means many excited youngsters get the chance of their lifetimes to perform in a professional production.
The musical’s next stop is Melbourne (opening on May 25) and the talented new bunch of orphans has recently been announced.
Playing the lead role of Annie are Monique Heath (10) and Hattie Hook (11), both pupils at the May Downs School of Dancing, and Caitlyn Marks (11), who studies at Patrick Studios Australia.
Monique has always been a passionate performer and has been dancing and singing from a young age. She grew up in Donvale where she lives with her parents, two brothers and one sister. Showbusiness runs in Monique’s family - her brothers and sisters have appeared in musicals such as Billy Elliot, Love Never Dies and Mary Poppins, and she is very excited to be following in their footsteps. Monique is a versatile performer who has also appeared in film, including the recent The Eye Of The Storm.
Hattie has been training for many years. She was very excited when, at the young age of 8, she was chosen as a state finalist in the Australia Day National Anthem competition. Hattie has a wide variety of interests and skills her favourites being figure skating, la crosse, life saving and Netball. Hattie comes from a talented family: her grandfather is Geoff Hook, the well-known cartoonist, and one of her sisters appeared as Jane in Mary Poppins.
The most exciting project Caitlin has been involved in was, at the young age of nine, having the opportunity to be a part of a music video that was filmed in the Mojave Desert in California. Caitlin is also very athletic and loves running and playing soccer.
The girls will alternate in the lead role of the little orphan girl. Her companions will be played by Lucinda Armstrong Hall, Georgia Barbuto, Teagan Bartolo, Quinn Cameron, Eliza Carlin, Stella Carroll, Claudia Chayna, Sarah Croce, Wren Gillett, Jasmine Goldberg, Cheyenne Griggs, Kandice Joye, Madison Lu, Amy Lyon, Paris Mahar, Isabella Meilak, Bronte Muir, Maddison Padula, Maxine Palmerson, Mietta White and Mackensie Young.
The adult cast remains the same as for the Brisbane season, and what a lineup it is: Anthony Warlow, Nancye Hayes, Todd McKenney, Chloë Dallimore, Julie Goodwin and Alan Jones as President Roosevelt.
Annie will light up Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from 24 May.