Annie, which is directed by Yvonne AK Johnson, opens at Spokane Civic Theatre this Friday, May 18, 2012. We thought we’d bring you a few backstage notes from some of the Annie cast!

And now Sophia:

Aside from your own, who is your favorite character and why?
Miss Hannigan, because her character would be fun to play and you could really spice it up.

What will you take away from your Annie experience?
Getting to play ‘Annie’ because it has always been my dream part.

What do you love most about the character of “Annie”?
Her story. Her hopes of finding her parents and because she finds a family with Daddy Warbucks.


Mark:

How special is this role to you?
Back in the very early 1980’s a touring production of “ANNIE” was coming to the Spokane Opera House.  Prior to the show arriving my grandmother bought me the Broadway soundtrack which I practically wore out beforehand.  My mother and grandmother took me to “ANNIE” when it finally arrived here in Spokane and it was at that performance that my love of the theatre was “born”.  My grandmother has since passed away and to have this opportunity to portray this role in the show that I originally shared with her and that was the beginning of my theatrical journey is truly touching and so very dear to my heart. 

You aren’t the typical “Daddy” Warbucks type (you have hair), how are you going to convince the audience that you fit the role?
As a 39 year old man with a head full of hair I certainly do not look like the iconic character of the comic strip at all.  Yvonne and I spoke early on in rehearsals and decided to make “Daddy” our own, a very different looking version and a little different take on the character.  I can’t erase what people are used to seeing in a Daddy Warbucks. What I can do is give the audience the best performance I’ve got and share with them our interpretation of this wonderful character.