'Annie' at Blessed Sacrament School - My Review

It was gratifying to sit in the gym/auditorium at Blessed Sacrament School again awaiting another production by the Blessed Sacrament Children's Theatre. I had missed doing so last year when the program went dark after their impressive Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat under the direction of Chuck Stango, but now it has come back with a flourish with this year's wonderful production of Annie. The show was sponsored by Mathnasium, a business owned by Maggie Tremaglio.

Bob Tansley is very happy to be back at Blessed Sacrament to direct his 11th show at this Catholic school in Waterbury. Pat Hearn loyally served as Co-Director. Mr. Tansley has directed kids of all ages for the past 23 years and hopes to continue doing so for another 23 years. In his notes, he thanked Mr. Stango for taking the reins in his absence two years ago and also thanked him for leaving so that he could come back for this production. The pastor of Blessed Sacrament, Rev. Jeremiah Murasso, expressed his thanks in the program to John O'Donnell and the entire team of volunteers for bringing theatre back to the students of Blessed Sacrament, but he himself was also instrumental in its return. Click here to read about the backstory.

The many "original" volunteers were back, despite the fact that most do not have children involved anymore. An ad in the program states, "They give their time and talent so these students can share in the experience that has been part of the school since 2001. It is very much appreciated by the parents, the kids (past, present and future) and everyone at BSS. Thank you."

Click here to read more about how this group got back up and running.

Opening night (Thursday) had been sold out, as was this performance soon after I bought my ticket at the door. The black banner for the current production was already covering one of the windows. The auditorium was crowded with parents, relatives and friends of the Blue Cast that was scheduled for this performance. It is quite amazing to me that the directors have to essentially do every rehearsal twice, as do the 18 principal actors.  It seems to be a daunting undertaking to work with over 100 area students.

Earlier in the week, I had seen a bit of the rehearsal with the Red Cast. This cast featured Kennedy Morris in the lead role and she was a superb Annie. The Blue Cast Annie was played by a third grader named Grace Altenburger and she was equally talented. Seated far back in the auditorium, I was unable to see her (or anyone else) for the first scene, but I could hear her wonderful singing voice and knew that she would do just fine. The very tall and recently bald Justin Sanzari had played an orphan in his first Annie with Mr. Tansley and now returned to play a convincing Daddy Warbucks.

All the Blue Cast featured orphans did a great job at being cute and sassy, while every one of the ensemble orphans and residents of Hooverville were adorable. Jacob Gannon was very funny in the role that Mr. Tansley once played at Seven Angels, Drake the Butler. Dillon Sanzari played a fine FDR. Travis Karas is a teen with lots of talent; he played the role of Rooster and Ickes (a member of the President's Cabinet with a solo) perfectly. Allison VanDerlyn was super as Rooster's partner in crime, Lilly St. Regis. Her blond wig and New Jersey accent were spot on.

RJ Damato reminded me of a young Chuck Stango as he played both Mr. Bundles and Bert Healy. Lots of quite adorable young ladies played maids, the lovely Boylan Sisters, and other roles, some of them male. Assistant Choreographer Ben Orlando nailed his cameo as Judge Brandeis. Sandy in the Blue Cast was played by Shelby O'Donnell, presumably because he has a human or two in high places.

Of special note was Lauren Stango as this cast's beautiful Grace Farrell. This young lady was the perfect Grace and has a lovely voice to match a stage presence that is well beyond her years. As she sang "NYC" in front of the curtain with Annie and Warbucks, I was reminded of her father playing the latter at Seven Angels; I am sure that he was as well. Here the staging of this number was especially impressive.

There were many exits through the main aisle, a fact that many audience members appreciated, I am sure. Before the show, Mr. Tansley explained that the curtain would be purposely kept open for many of the scene changes, because the crew "is just as much a part of the show," and we should feel free to applaud for them. And applaud we did, for the changes of this magnificent set were a thing of beauty. The set designed by the director was both clever and beautiful and very well-lit. Not only did the largest staircase move with the help of two stagehands, it split in half and changed color.

The eleven-piece orchestra, under the direction of Keith Wilson, sounded great and included Scott Spallone on bass and a talented Dave Finn on drums. At times, the score drowned out the singers despite their microphones, but for the most part they could be heard. The wonderful costumes by Debbie Forchielli matched the period.