I’ll admit it: I’m a theater addict. I’ve snuck off to New York whenever I could, just to sit in the dark and watch a story come alive. This fall I finally decided to stop watching and start doing.
Since August, nearly every night, I’ve called out “I’m off to rehearsal!” and joined a few dozen Fillmore neighbors to sing, dance, flub lines, and laugh. None of us is paid. All of us are hooked.
It began with an old friend. Hannah Faith and I went to high school together, so when I heard she was directing Annie with Tyler Jackson, I was in. Before auditions, Hannah gave a free workshop every day on singing, acting, dancing, and auditioning, open to anyone in town. That welcome is why so many of us showed up.
This is a family show in every sense. Hannah’s daughter Lily plays Lily St. Regis, her son Roland plays Sandy (yes, the dog!), and her sisters are the Boylen Sisters. Jo and David Becerra, a real-life married couple, play Miss Hannigan and Daddy Warbucks (fortunately, they’re getting along), while their daughter is Annie and their son is Rooster. The Krafts and Lengnings have whole families onstage too, and kids are running the tech.
I play Mrs. Greer, and my 10-year-old son Hunter and I are both first-timers. He’s Lt. Ward, a servant ensemble member, and President Roosevelt’s Secret Service man. Watching him find his characters has made me prouder than any standing ovation could.
You know the story and probably the songs. Bring the grandparents and the kids. Bring someone who needs a reason to smile.