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This weekend, Squamish is set to be the home to a stage full of orphans.听
Forty-two youth will be singing, dancing and filling up the Eagle Eye Theatre with one famous redheaded orphan鈥檚 infectious, positive attitude.
鈥淭his is our 10th year of summer camps,鈥� Broadway or Bust鈥檚 artistic director Melissa Braun said in a statement. 鈥淎nnie Jr. was our very first show, ever, so I thought it would be fun to return to that script this year.鈥�
The program has expanded a lot over the decade, Braun said. In its initial year, the theatre course had 25 participants. Today the Broadway or Bust head count is capped at 40 students.听
鈥淭he skills the kids have developed are also impressive,鈥� Braun said. 鈥淥ur job as teachers gets easier each year, because the kids really know what they鈥檙e doing.鈥�
Several of the program鈥檚 graduates have gone on to professional careers in the performing arts. Jamie Sweeney, who played Annie 10 years ago, will attend Simon Frasier University for theatre in the fall. Sweeney, along with two other former camp-goers, is now one of the Broadway or Bust teachers.听
Annie Jr. centres around a girl determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by a stern and embittered Miss Hannigan. Set in the depression-era in the 1930s, Annie鈥檚 enthusiasm and hopefulness warms everyone she meets in New York City. The one-hour version of the musical features the show鈥檚 hits, including 鈥淗ard Knock Life,鈥� 鈥淢aybe,鈥� and 鈥淭omorrow.鈥�
The show kicks off on Friday (July 25), at 7 p.m. at the Eagle Eye Theatre. There are two shows on Saturday (July 26) at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the Squamish Adventure Centre. Tickets for children and students cost $10 and adults鈥� tickets cost $20.听
Tickets may also be available at the door subject to availability.听
