St. Pius X School students to perform “Annie Jr.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Duane Ramsey
419-930-7409
St. Pius X School students to perform “Annie Jr.”
(TOLEDO) – It’s almost show time for nearly half the students at St. Pius X Elementary School in Toledo will be involved in the school’s production of “Annie Jr.” when two full casts perform the musical April 23 through 26, 2015.
“We had so many students who wanted to participate that we decided to double the cast for the show and give more students the chance to learn how to be on stage,” said Erin Burnor, director of the musical and Fine Arts teacher at St. Pius X School.
Burnor said that about 100 of the school’s 197 students from kindergarten through grade eight would be involved in the casts or crew for the four performances of the musical based on the Tony award-winning Broadway show “Annie.” Annie Jr. was adapted for students in different grade levels.
“Annie Jr” will be performed in the parish’s Family Life Center Thursday through Friday nights, April 23-25 at 7 p.m. and with a matinee on Sunday, April 26 at 2 p.m.
Burnor said that one cast will perform the musical on Thursday and Saturday nights, while the other cast performs on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
The lead role of Annie will be performed by Suzie Kohli, daughter of Rich Kohli and Annie Cieslukowski, on Thursday and Saturday. Peyton Burnor, daughter of James and Erin Burnor, will play Annie in the Friday and Sunday shows. That actors who play Annie have to be strong both vocally and musically, said Burnor.
Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks will be performed in all four shows by Isaac Okuley, son of Patrick and Nancy Okuley. It may be the most challenging role in Annie Jr. for a student in these age groups, according to Burnor.
Maria Richard, daughter of Todd and Lisa Richard, will play Grace in the Thursday and Saturday shows, while Madison Griffin, daughter of Dawn Griffin, will play Grace on the Friday and Sunday.
Lena Gochenaur, daughter of John and Lynne Gochenaur, will play Miss Hannigan on Thursday and Saturday nights, with Grace Foor, daughter of Ed and Heather Foor, playing the part Friday and Sunday.
Tickets will cost $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students for each production if purchased in advance at the school. All tickets will be $10 at the door. A limited number of reserved seats for each performance will be sold for $12 per ticket. There will be seating for about 300 people at each show.
Burnor said that parents and some of the older students will help to build the stage and sets for the musical. Several seventh and eighth grade students will serve on the crews for the four productions.
Music for Annie Jr. will be provided by Kim Grajczyk, accompanist and vocal director for the production. Some music from the orchestrated CD may be used for parts of it, Burnor said. Grajczyk is the organist, choir and music director at St. Pius X Church.
“We’re really getting the kids excited about the arts here at St. Pius,” said Burnor.
It may be Burnor’s first year as the fine arts teacher at St. Pius X School, but not her first musical theater production there. She has directed musicals at the school since 2007.
Last fall, Burnor was hired to teach the arts at St. Pius School that include classes in dance, drama, music and musical theater. She teaches each grade once a week in those classes.
Burnor was raised in Maumee and spent many childhood summers in the Maumee Rec Theater Camp and Toledo Rep Summer Camp.
“I performed in many musical theater productions in elementary and high school and college. My love of drama continued through writing, directing and producing theatrical productions in Toledo,” Burnor said. “I believe that the experiences I had during my summers at theater camp and acting in school plays changed my life and I want the same for every child.”
Burnor earned a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and master’s in Early Childhood Education from the University of Toledo. She worked for Springfield Schools for 10 years and directed the drama club, variety shows and musicals for five years.
Burnor and her husband Jim, who helps backstage, and their three children are members of St. Pius X Parish.
St. Pius X Catholic School is located at 2950 Ilger Ave. in Toledo.
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Press Release Contact Name: Duane Ramsey
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 4199307409
Organization Name: St Pius X School
Organization Address: 3011 Carskaddon Ave., Toledo, OH, 43606