LAFAYETTE, LA – May 6, 2024 – Have you ever wondered, “Whatever happened to Annie?” Ms. Warbucks, an original musical adapted from Harold Gray’s “Little Orphan Annie” cartoon from the 1920’s, answers that very question. This delightful and thought-provoking musical about forgiveness, aging, and coming home is as much about Annie as it is about all of us and our relationship with our past and the meaning we attach to family and belonging.
Beginning as a seed of desire and inspiration, this production has been nurtured, grown, and born from pure creative collaboration and love. On June 6th, 7th, and 8th you can see this homegrown musical at Acadiana Center for the Arts, as part of the Spotlight Theater & Dance series, presented by Standard Title.
Ms. Warbucks takes place in 1961. Annie is all grown up, 39 years old, alone again, living in New York City, and has begun to visit her former, hardened Orphanage Director in a nursing home. This “orphanage for the elders” and its lively cast of characters become the backdrop for Annie’s next search for Home.
In this setting, Annie recognizes the same struggles she faced as a child: institutionalization, abandonment, and above all, a longing for family. The old folks are the orphans now. An activist trying to care for the elderly, Annie faces a corrupt system. To succeed, she must face her own need for love and belonging.
This original script was written right here in Acadiana by Caroline Helm Huval and Dr. Bonny McDonald. The musical score was written by Johanna Divine & Chas Justus, and the play will be directed by Christy Leichty.
Caroline Helm Huval describes how this project came to be, “Have you ever been obsessed with a character for your whole life and not really known why? Well that is me and Little orphan Annie. Embarrassingly so. People used to say… Do what you love! And inside, I would think, all I love is Annie, what in the heck am I gonna do with that?! I even auditioned in high school. I did not get Annie, but was proud to be Pepper in the production. So… I have now, alongside Dr. Bonny McDonald, co-written a musical where…I finally get to be Annie!”
Cast:
Caroline Helm Huval, as Annie
Peggy Dersch, as Ms. Agatha
Eugene Kwarteng, as Leo
Trevor Chapman, as Joshua/Auditor
Daniel Ladmirault, as Dr. Ralph
Alyson Shexnayder, as Mae
Logan Domingue, as Patricia
Amanda Newbery, as Ms. T
Carmen Nicholson, as Barbra
Cissy Whipp, as Mabel
Jane “Scooter” Yerow, as
Ruth Roger Peak, as Tom
Duncan Thistlethwaite, as Mr. Newton
Alice Basden, as Auditor
Caroline Ancelet, as Aunt Sister
Media & Links:
Ms. Warbucks ticket link
Ms. Warbucks poster
Ms. Warbucks GoFundMe
