MANSFIELD — Ask anyone in the cast and crew of “Annie” at the Renaissance Theatre what the main theme of the show is, and the answer is unanimous.
“Hope is what the show is about,” said first-time director Ryan Shealy. “It’s the reason the show has survived this many years. To be able to present it during the holiday season and during this time in America is interesting, and hopefully people can come and find hope for themselves.”
“Annie” tells the tale of a plucky orphan who is determined to find the parents who abandoned her on the doorstep of an orphanage, run by the embittered Miss Hannigan. Reminding everyone that the sun always comes out “Tomorrow,” the show is a fun-filled adventure of luck, love, and positivity in the face of adversity.
Bringing the title character to life is Ontario sophomore McKenna Stoffer, appearing in her 30th musical theater production. Stoffer has been acting since the age of 9, but “Annie” has been her most challenging role yet.
“I sing a lot of challenging songs, but I like that I’m playing a challenging role because it pushes me to be a better actress than I was before,” she said. “I think it’s really good for me to play a role like this.”
The role may be challenging for Stoffer, but it’s certainly not unfamiliar. Growing up, the movie version of “Annie” was playing on repeat in her household.
“I watched this movie daily, I was obsessed with it,” Stoffer said. “I used to sing ‘Tomorrow’ all the time, but I never thought I would get the chance to play this part. It’s a major dream role I’ve always had, and it’s crazy I get the chance to play it.”
Playing the foil to Annie’s hopes is Condrea Webber as Miss Hannigan in one of the only villainous roles she’s played at the Renaissance.
“It’s a whole other side of me, and really makes me work hard to be mean,” she said. “But this is my forte, working with kids is what I do every day, and their energy helps me keep my energy up as well.”
Opposite of Stoffer’s spunky, hopeful Annie is Colton Penwell as the straight-laced Oliver Warbucks. This is the second father figure Penwell has played in holiday shows at the Renaissance, appearing as the gruff Old Man in “A Christmas Story” last year.
“He’s got a lot of heart but he’s also a little brash,” Penwell said of Warbucks. “I think he has the biggest turn of anybody because when he starts out he’s a money guy, then all of a sudden this little girl shows up and he falls in love with this little girl, and changes big time.”
A veteran on the Renaissance stage, Penwell’s biggest challenge for this role was the physical transformation. Almost a month before the show opened, Penwell took the leap and shaved his head bald.
“I said if I got the part I was going to do it; I’ve never seen a good-looking bald cap,” he said with a laugh. “We’ve put our own unique spin on the show, but there are some things you can’t mess with, and Warbucks has got to be bald. So I went for it.”
According to Shealy, the goal was to bring a more industrial feel to the Renaissance’s version of “Annie” with a set made to look like an abandoned factory. The design was purposeful in order to remind audiences the show is set during the Great Depression.
Working with the cast of 30 – half of which are children – has been a “fun stress” for Shealy.
“I’m stressed but I get to be stressed doing something I love to do, so even when I’m tired and me and the crew have been here for 14 hours, it’s doing something we love,” he said.
“Annie” will be featured at the Renaissance Theatre November 10-11 and November 17-18. Tickets start at $15 and are on sale at MansfieldTickets.com or at the Box Office and via phone at (419) 522-2726.
And don’t forget, with the holidays coming up, the show has to include a bit of holiday cheer.
“It gets pretty magical with the Christmas stuff sprinkled in,” Penwell said. “It’s so heartwarming, you’re going to hear the songs you love and leave feeling good about yourself. It’s a great way to kick off the holiday season.”
