Jeannette students to perform classic ‘Annie’

The popular tale of Annie, determined to find the parents who dropped her off at an orphanage years ago, is in regular rotation among high school musicals.

Jeannette City School District students believe their production of “Annie,” showing at the junior/senior high school auditorium April 5-7, will be familiar to audiences, but with their own spin on the tale as well.

The show features a cast and crew of 65, with students as young as first grade part of the musical, says Jason Huether, math teacher and musical director for six years.

“We’ve always had a children’s ensemble since I took it over in 2014,” Huether says.

With a large influx of students in seventh, eighth and ninth grades, many who are new to the junior/senior high school’s Drama Club, “Annie” is a good training ground, Huether says.

Not only is “Annie” a classic, he notes, but it’s a musical familiar to many young students and has a lot of roles for “orphans.”

The musical’s production is a bit of a family affair for Huether.

Wife Lynde and mother Donna Huether work on cast costumes; son Marcus Parffit, a professional dancer, is choreographer; and daughter Sarah Parfitt is technical director.

One of the family’s dogs, Ricky, even makes an appearance, as does student Gianna Giachetti’s goldendoodle, Otis, who plays Sandy.

“He’s relaxed. He doesn’t bark,” Giachetti says.

No photos of Otis/Sandy are being “leaked” in advance, says Huether, due to some “surprises” during the performance.

Spoiler alert — he’s very cute, and eager for his close-up.

Ellwood Brant is in his second year as vocal director, and a live orchestra will perform during the musical.

Students stepping up

Taking the lead role is Autumn LaVella, 14, an eighth-grade student.

Although it’s her first lead role, it’s the sixth year she’s performed in school musicals.

“I tried out for general ensemble. Then they called me back and had me (sing) two ‘Annie’ songs,” she says.

During a recent rehearsal, she is seen comforting other “orphans,” voicing her conviction that her parents are simply “lost,” and trying to run away from the mean Miss Hannigan.

Assuming the character of Daddy Warbucks is sophomore Da’Quan Claiborne, 16.

He played Uncle Henry in last year’s production of “The Wizard of Oz,” and found himself gravitating toward a “dad” role, he says.

“It’s tougher than I thought. Now it just pops in my head,” Claiborne says of the important role.

He’s also learned to enjoy singing “Why Should I Change a Thing?,” in which his character ponders the point of taking in a child.

“I didn’t like it at first. That song is one (now) of my favorites. It tells the audience who the character is,” Claiborne says.

Senior Brittany Carl, 17, is finishing out her four-musical high school career by playing Warbucks’ secretary, Grace Farrell.

“I was Dorothy (in “The Wizard of Oz”) last year. I had my (lead) year. It’s time to help someone else,” she says.

Grace, she says, has a “fair share” of singing to do.

“She also is the embodiment of what a strong, working woman is. She works for Daddy Warbucks, but she is not afraid to stand up to him,” Carl says.