4:45:10 PM CDT
SAN MARINO - The local community is in store for a real treat next week when the San Marino Theater Camp returns for a third triumphant season with its fully-staged production of “Annie.” In what promises to be a showstopper, the musical, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical and ran for six years on Broadway, will showcase youngsters from area schools who are entering the 2nd through 8th grades.
Starring in “Annie” are San Marino children Caroline Andre, Mary Jane Ary, Kerry Bayle, Caroline Bescoby, Annika Bolton, Jordan Claypool, Sophie David, Carolyn Holt, John Hutchinson, Nicole Javier, Karie Miller, Will and Vivien Morosoff, Jamie and Sasha Mosely, Chloe Owen, Edward Phillips, Celine Vendler, Dash Vinson, Arnee Wen, and Leila Wu. Soon-to-be 7th grader Lauren Hickey is “Annie” and Flintridge Prep freshman Teddy Willard plays “Daddy Warbucks.”
Beloved Valentine and Carver elementary schools’ music teacher Richard Seymour is the producer/musical director of the show. His company previously produced two spectacular shows; in 2007, a talented cast of 30-plus children, many of whom have since gone on to star in San Marino high school musicals, had the time of their lives performing “Grease,” and the following year, he pulled out all the stops with a spirited staging of the “Wizard of Oz.”
Seymour is accompanied by San Gabriel Valley tap wizard Mark Knowles, who will direct and choreograph the show. Among Knowles accolades are staging the world famous Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall; creating the dances for the world premiere of “Big Bang” in Singapore and choreographing the off-Broadway hit “Hysterical Blindness.” In 2002, Knowles who is the author of two award-winning books on tap dancing. was one of 11 people chosen from across the country to serve on the President’s Commission of Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
Blake Williams, who is the theater director at San Marino High School, is the show’s technical director.
Seymour, who was honored for his many contributions to children at last year’s San Marino Founders Day celebration, says he’s thrilled with his childrens’ talents. . . and there’s a curious twist. “Unbelievably, I cast one of my actors (4th grader Sasha Mosely) as “Duffy” – and I had no idea when I casted the part that Sasha’s aunt (Randall Brooks) portrayed the same role in “Annie” on Broadway years ago!” he says, laughing.
Three weeks of rehearsal culminate in a trio of performances on Thursday, July 29, at 7 p.m. and on Friday, July 30, at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at The San Marino Center, formerly the Women’s Center. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 dollars for children and are available for purchase at the Center weekdays between 1 and 4 p.m. and at the door before the performances.
Contact: Andrea Willard – 799-7311 (home) or 818-3500 (cell) or Richard Seymour – 213-880-1355
