‘Annie’ concludes Super Summer season

Marilyn LaRocque

Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2002 | 8:26 a.m.

"Annie," the rollicking musical based on the famous Depression-era comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" by Harold Gray, concludes the Super Summer Theatre's (SST) 27th season of outdoor performances at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park west of Las Vegas.

The play opens tonight and runs for three weeks, on Wednesday through Saturday evenings through Aug. 24, plus a show on Sunday, Aug. 18. Gates open at 6 p.m and close at showtime, which is 8 p.m.

Lyricist-director Martin Charnin originated the idea of "Annie," and ultimately convinced a dubious Charles Strouse and Thomas Meehan, respectively, to write the music and the book. It was one of the most successful collaborations on Broadway.

"Annie" opened at the Alvin Theatre on April 21, 1977, and ran for 2,377 performances. It is the third longest-running musical of the 1970s.

It was made into a hit movie in 1982, starring Albert Finney, Aileen Quinn, Ann Reinking and Carol Burnett. It was also a recent TV special.

Annie, an 11-year-old orphan, is living at the Municipal Orphanage in New York City, run by the stereotypically cruel Miss Agatha Hannigan. Always the optimist, Annie is convinced her parents will return and reclaim her.

One of the many show-stopping songs is "Tomorrow," (as in, "The sun will come out tomorrow"). When billionaire Oliver Warbucks enters the picture and ultimately decides to adopt Annie, Miss Hannigan launches a nefarious scheme to bilk Warbucks by having two scoundrels pose as Annie's parents, so they can demand compensation for her adoption.

As is the outcome in all happy musicals, the schemers are routed and good triumphs.

The role of the carrot-topped Annie is played by Gina Maini, 11, who has been singing and acting since age 4. She has appeared in "Carousel," "Music Man" and "Bye Bye Birdie."

Quentin Walters is Daddy Warbucks. He has had leading roles in several SST productions, among them "Oliver," "Hello, Dolly" and "Mame," and was the Lion in "The Wiz."

Keriann Parkes plays Warbucks' faithful secretary, Grace Farrell, who is deeply in love with him. But until the last scene, Warbucks is too ego-centered to realize that. Although this is Parkes' debut with SST, she has performed in "Pajama Game," "Little Shop of Horrors" and "The Wizard of Oz."

The devious Miss Hannigan is portrayed by Keala Settle. She is joined in her skulduggery by Jennifer deAnne King as Lily St. Regis and Michael-Jon Sullivan as Rooster, posing as Annie's bogus parents. King is an SST regular, having performed with them for 11 years.

King attended Southern Utah University as a musical major. Sullivan is reprising his role as Rooster, which he did in a previous SST staging of "Annie." He too is an SST regular, with credits in "Fiddler on the Roof," "West Side Story," "Hello, Dolly" and "Peter Pan."

"Annie" is being produced by Sullivan-Cleary Productions, with Betty Sullivan-Cleary as director. Her previous SST plays include "Fiddler on the Roof," "South Pacific" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown."

Playgoers should come prepared for the outdoor site at Spring Mountain Ranch. Blankets or a standard-size chair are allowed, as are picnic baskets. A chair may be rented for $1. Food is also available at a concession stand.

Bringing a sweater is suggested. Not allowed are: chaise lounges, banana chairs, low chairs and pets. And if you're coming tonight, it is traditional to bring a jar of peanut butter for the Salvation Army on opening night.