'Annie' steps in as last-minute replacement at Geyer

Patrons of Geyer Performing Arts Center may have been surprised to find that “White Christmas” was removed from the performance schedule just weeks before it was set to open at the theater in Scottdale.

When the leadership team was unable to secure the rights to produce the classic holiday show, a replacement was needed and, in the optimistic spirit of the little orphan girl in “Annie,” they found that “the sun will come out tomorrow.”

“I wasn’t supposed to direct Annie; it was supposed to be ‘White Christmas,’ but the rights fell through,” said Tina Lepidi-Stewart of North Huntingdon, “so my team and I decided on ‘Annie.’”

Fortunately she had access to costumes for “Annie Junior” at a few area schools where she has directed productions. She also is the production manager for Johnny Appleseed Children’s Theater at Apple Hill Playhouse in Delmont.

Show goes on

Lepidi-Stewart’s willingness to tackle a show like “Annie,” with its large cast including a group of seven young actors playing the orphans in the show based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” is resulting in a holiday show after all at the Geyer.

Performances of the Broadway family-favorite musical will take place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12-14, and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 15.

The director said she didn’t find it difficult to teach the show to the “Annie” cast.

“The kids are great. I’ve directed kids most of my career,” she said. “I love working with the kids, they are eager to learn.”

Leading role

Julia Ptacek of Connellsville, 10, a fifth-grade student at West Crawford Elementary School, was selected to portray the title role of Annie, a young girl that lives a “hard-knock life” in an orphanage run by the miserable Miss Hannigan.

However, Annie’s luck changes dramatically when she is chosen to spend the holidays with wealthy industrialist Oliver Warbucks.

Ptacek said she’s enjoying being in her first “Annie” stage show – and even if she hadn’t won the leading role, “I still would have been excited to take part in the musical.”

“My favorite song in ‘Annie’ is probably ‘NYC’ because I love the dance and the song is so upbeat,” she said. “The hardest part of playing the role of Annie is probably working with Sandy (her dog in the show) because I’m scared they might mess up what I’m supposed to do.”

Ptacek has performed in several local theater productions, including “Mulan Jr.,” “Pirate Christmas,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Matilda,” “Lion King Jr.,” “Mary Poppins Jr.” and “Frozen Jr.”

“This musical is hilarious and very sweet and local families would enjoy every part of the musical because it is great!” she said.

Lepidi-Stewart, who last directed Apple Hill’s production of “The Taffetas,” added that “Annie” is “a happy holiday show and a feel-good type of show that features a stellar cast.”