J.C. Smith said he has a soft heart for little girls, so his Closed Door Entertainment’s production of “Annie” is right up his alley.
The musical, which opens tonight at the Catoosa County Colonnade, has 15 of them, including the red-haired character whose search for her parents is at the heart of the show.
“I’m a pushover for little girls,” Smith said, despite having auditioned more than 100 of them. “We had more little girls than I would have ever dreamed would come out [to auditions].”
The producing director said “Annie” is not a run-of-the-mill community theater show but is blessed with extras to make it stand out.
Smith said the production will have a 15-piece orchestra rather than a piano and drums; a set built under the supervision of home builder John Fava; sets and backdrops painted by professional painters Kathy Morris and David Riall; and even a live dog to play Annie’s pooch, Sandy.
IF YOU GOWhat: “Annie.”When: 7:30 p.m. today, Saturday, Oct. 22-23; 1 p.m. Oct. 23.Where: Catoosa County Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, Ga.Admission: $15 adults, $12 seniors/children, $11 groups.Phone: 706-935-9000.
“It’s a fantastic package,” he said. “It’s not a typical community theater show. We are an amateur troupe that operates on a professional level.”
The show, originally based on the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” contains well-known songs such as “Tomorrow,” “Little Girls” and “New Deal for Christmas,” but Smith said he likes his cast of 28 in “It’s the Hard Knock Life” and “We’d Like To Thank You.”
“The girls are fantastic with the choreography, and so are the adults,” he said. “We were blessed to get who we’ve got.”
Maddie Brashier, 13, portrays the title character and is, according to Smith, “out of this world.”
“This is not her first lead,” he said. “She played Oliver [in the stage play of the same name] twice. She is very accustomed to the stage.”
Lora Ogden is co-director of the production, and Paul Stone is the musical director.
Contact Clint Cooper at ccoooper@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6497.