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Badin High School will stage ‘Annie’ this week

Grace Farrell, played by Mallory Gantenberg, points out some of the sights of New York City to Annie, played by Allie Pickerill, as they walk through the city with “Daddy” Oliver Warbucks, played by Greg Schierholt, during a March 11 rehearsal for Badin High School’s production of “Annie,” which opens Thursday, March 25, and runs through Sunday, March 28.

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By Richard O Jones, Staff Writer 10:36 PM Saturday, March 20, 2010

HAMILTON — Seniors Allie Pickerill and Gray Schierholt will make their final appearances in a Badin High School musical as they star in the feel-good story of “Annie” this week.

Pickerill stars in the title role, the orphan girl trying to find her parents during the American economic depression of the 1930s.

“This is different from any role I’ve ever played,” she said. “Annie gives the kids a lot of hope and sends out a very inspiring message.”

Annie is brought to the home of the wealthy and tough Oliver Warbucks to spend Christmas.

“He starts out as a very stern character, all business,” said Shierhold, who said he’s been in every show produced at Badin since his freshman year. “His heart gets turned around and he opens up to the world, that there’s more to life than money.”

Director Lisa Schaffer said that doing the play has been an excellent history lesson for the students, who have been able to relate Annie’s time to their own.

“It takes place right at the transition from Hoover to Roosevelt policies,” she said. “The kids are looking at that and seeing all of the changes in history and how that relates to today’s political situation.

Other key roles include junior Mallory Gantenberg as Grace, Warbucks’ assistant; junior Kristen Collier as Miss Hannigan, the mean supervisor of the orphanage; senior Patrick Listermann as Hannigan’s brother, Rooster; and junior Morgan Gattermeyer as Lilly St. Regis, Rooster’s girlfriend.

The Badin production also includes students from Sacred Heart, St. Peter in Chains, Queen of Peace and St. Joseph elementary schools as orphans, two live dogs and a full volunteer orchestra.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 25, through Saturday, March 25-27, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 27 and 28.

Tickets are $10 apiece or six for $48.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.

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