POULSBO — The amount of young performers wanting to help the Kitsap Children’s Musical Theatre tell the tale of “Annie” was so large, there are three casts for the show.
One-hundred and thirty-four people will perform “Annie” Nov. 14-24 in the North Kitsap Auditorium.
The production drew young people from as far as Belfair and Chimacum, director and founder Kerby Criss said. Even the three Annies hail from different towns: Bainbridge Island, Port Ludlow and Poulsbo.
The casts have rehearsed 10 hours each week since Aug. 17 .
“The choreography is just amazing,” Criss said. “I’m so proud of them.”
“Annie” is the story of a, 11-year-old girl living in a dismal orphanage. Her story takes a 180 when she is chosen to live with Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks, a wealthy munitions industrialist.
After winning over Warbucks and his staff, Annie is helped by the once stern industrialist to find her parents. But plans go awry when certain acquaintances and family seek to interrupt Annie’s quest to find her parents.
The casts of “Annie” are split into A, B, and C. Cast A is mostly teenagers, with B a mix of younger and older performers. The majority of Cast C is elementary-aged performers. Some performers play in multiple casts.
Casting the show was difficult, because of height restrictions. Criss said she wanted the people playing Annie to be “small,” as well as small orphans. In one cast, no one could be taller than 59 inches.
The shows will be more affordable. On opening night, tickets are $5 for everyone. The rest of the showings — Nov. 15-17 and Nov. 22-24 — will be $5 for children, $10 for adults.
“They are worth $20 to see,” Criss said. However, this will make the shows more “accessible” for everyone.
“The kids need an audience,” he added.
Among the reasons to see “Annie,” Criss said seeing the “orphans” perform is quite the
spectacle.
“Annie” could be last production rehearsed at theater’s current location.
The musical theater holds auditions and rehearsals in the former Courtesy Ford building at 20081 Viking Way.
The musical theater operates with more than 100 volunteers, according to Criss. That includes everyone from the director herself, to the five fathers of performers who volunteer as security.
Between all the activity, and even a “snack shack,” Criss said their location is “its own little town.”
But the organization may soon be on the hunt for a new home.
Criss said she’s heard bids on the former car dealership are in. She expects the organization to be in the building until the end of “Annie.”
Though she would prefer not to move, she said staff is prepared to move in a few months.
Moving isn’t out of the ordinary for Kitsap Children’s Musical Theatre. The theatre moved during the last set of shows, when a business purchased the former Chevrolet building it was housed in on Viking Avenue.
Criss said the board of directors is looking to find a more permanent place. A few options have surfaced, but no decisions have been made.
“As long as the kids are having fun,” she said.
The theatre is working to start an orchestra for future productions, which Criss hopes wants to be used for the next production: “Fiddler on the Roof.”
“Annie”
When: Nov. 14-24
Pay-what-you-can donation shows Nov. 12-13
Where: North Kitsap Auditorium, 1881 NE Hostmark Street, Poulsbo
What: Kitsap Childrens Musical Theatre performs “Annie.” Adults are $10, children ages 17 and younger are $5.
Info/performance times: www.kcmt.org.
