The winter 2011 Crazy Mountain Productions presentation of “Annie” at The Shane Center in Livingston features a cast of orphans with personality. In total over 65 performers put on three shows a week through mid-December, shows which celebrate the spirit of youth and the belief that love, goodness, a smile and a sense of humor just might solve the problems of the world.
Local actress Zoe Bishop, 11 plays the lead role of the good-natured orphan Annie. Bishop and three of her cast mates took a few moments to chat with The Current after a Sunday afternoon matinee of the performance which garnered a ten-minute standing ovation from a packed house.
Fans in the audience (such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, parents and friends) rushed the stage as the entire cast of performers posed for a quick photo shoot after the show.
After a shot of the whole troupe, the bed-raggled orphans remained for a few more snaps. Most then rushed off to get changed and back to the life outside the theatre for another week of school and family obligations.
Zoe Bishop, Maggie Burkhardt, Amber Fowlie and Beth Hewey remained to share a bit of their experience as young thespians and Broadway hopefuls. The Current asked just a few questions of the girls but the answers give a good glimpse of what life onstage in Mrs. Hanigan’s orphanage is really like for the young actresses.
Zoe Bishop, 11
“Annie”
1. What inspired you to become involved in the theatre?
Bishop: I’ve done like 16 shows. My grandma is in the theatre, my dad is head of the board of Crazy Mountain Productions and my older brother was also in theatre.
2. What do you feel is your greatest talent?
Bishop: I’d have to say singing. I’ve been singing all my life, and playing piano for half of it.
3. What is your favorite thing about the production?
Bishop: Definitely the dog, “Sandy,” and playing with him onstage. He’s walked off the stage and I’ve had to finish the scene alone, and opening night he almost jumped off the stage.
4. What do you find the most challenging thing about the production?
Bishop: The off stage costume changes. It’s a challenge too taking care of my voice, avoiding dairy and stuff and having to be disciplined. The very best thing is the applause at the end of the show.
5. Who is your favorite character in the production? Of all time?
Bishop: “Sandy,” the dog. Of all time? I was “Queen of Hearts” in a school play and I got to wear a big jacket and skirt and a feather boa. I left feathers all over the stage.
Maggie Burkhardt, 13
“Duffy”
1. What inspired you to become involved in the theatre?
Burkhardt: I’ve always just loved being loud and acting. When I was six my mom put me in the show “2005: A Space Musical.” It was a Crazy Mountain Productions workshop.
2. What do you feel is your greatest talent?
Burkhardt: I’m pretty sure it’s singing.
3. What is your favorite thing about the production?
Burkhardt: I love when we do the number “Smile” and we get to dance. In the first two productions the audience got up and cheered.
4. What do you find the most challenging thing about the production?
Burkhardt: We have to work with the buckets and rags. Props are confusing. It’s a little hard to control yourself and the prop at the same time. Also, working around the bunkbeds is rough. We get a lot of bruises and scrapes.
5. Who is your favorite character in the production? Of all time?
Burkhardt: “Pepper” (Amber Fowlie). She’s so tough and mean and it’s hilarious!
Of all time? When I was in “Willie Wonka” I was Violet and it was fun to be bratty, but it hurt my jaws to chew so much gum.
Amber Fowlie, 14
“Pepper”
1. What inspired you to become involved in the theatre?
Fowlie: When I was little I was the little hen in a production of “Little Red Hen” and I really liked all the attention.
2. What do you feel is your greatest talent?
Fowlie: My facial expressions. They vary a lot. And I can keep a straight face.
3. What is your favorite thing about the production?
Fowlie: All the outfits and the things we get to wear. I’d never wear my costume in public! It’s awful, but it’s really fun to dress up in the rags and ripped things and not have to wear any make-up. We do all like the bloomers, too. They’re comfortable.
4. What do you find the most challenging thing about the production?
Fowlie: My character gets to be a bully all the time and it’s fun to pretend because I’m not a really mean person.
5. Who is your favorite character in the production? Of all time?
Fowlie: “Mrs. Hanigan,” she’s just hilarious and a really good actress. Of all time? I loved all the characters in “The King and I.” I loved the play within the play in that production, and although I wasn’t in the show I went to all the rehearsals. I was in the Sister City program and there would have been a time conflict. I would have loved to be in the show.
Beth Hewey, 10
“Molly”
1. What inspired you to become involved in the theatre?
Hewey: On my dad’s side there are a lot of people in theatre. I have an uncle who was almost on Broadway. I love being on stage and the feeling of performing. I also had a kindergarden teacher, Mrs. Bright, who put on scenes and plays with us and it was really inspiring
2. What do you feel is your greatest talent?
Hewey: Just acting, period. I’m not the best singer. I have to work hard at it.
3. What is your favorite thing about the production?
Hewey: I like watching from backstage when the older actors do the “NYC” number. I just love watching the whole performance from backstage.
4. What do you find the most challenging thing about the production?
Hewey: Singing, definitely. But I’m learning more the more I work at it. Some numbers I’m just now getting.
5. Who is your favorite character in the production? Of all time?
Hewey: I love all the characters, “Mrs. Hannigan,” “Daddy Warbucks,” they are all such great actors. Zoe who is “Annie” writes plays and songs of her own. I’m glad she got the part because she really deserves it. Of all time? I think my favorite part was as a Munchin in the “Wizard of Oz.”
Comments