Annie takes the stage at ANC

Annie was performed May 3-5 at the by Studio 42 & Co in partnership with Arkansas Northeastern College. The performance was held at the Adams/Vines Recital Hall on the Blytheville campus. Kaitlyn Rose Vacco Woodall, of Mountain Home, now of Manila, made her directorial debut. She is the president of Studio 42 & Co. The cast of Annie included Adam Porter who made his theatrical debut playing Oliver Warbucks. Seventeen-year-old Manila High School junior Analee Griffin played Grace Farrell. Griffin has been in countless shows, including community shows and school performances. She is also president of her Thespian Troupe at school. Miss Hannigan was performed by Sarah Poe, of Caraway. Sarah Poe is the vice president of Studio 42 & Co. and has directed and been assistant director on several plays. Chris Vanbrook played Rooster Hannigan. Vanbrook has performed as Lucas Wright in Missed Directions and is preparing to play as Emmett Forrest in an upcoming production of Legally Blonde the Musical. Lily St. Regis/Star-to-Be was played by Alex Dunn, a native of Russellville. Dunn has made Jonesboro her home for the past four years. She has performed in Carrie the Musical, Little Shop of Horrors and Memphis the Musical with Center Stage Productions. Her most recent role was Lucinda in The Link Theatre’s Into the Woods. Eleven-year-old Alexia Porter played Molly. Porter celebrated her birthday on opening night of the play. Performing in Annie was Porter’s third production. She has performed in Seussical Jr. and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr. Playing Pepper was Evangelina Mashaal. Mashaal is 16 years old and attends Manila High School. Her performances include High School Musical, Seussical Jr., The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, School House Roc and MacBeth. Mashaal also works as a Disney Princess, Moana, for Touch of Magic and is a lifeguard at Manila’s water park. Janie Kate Middleton played orphan Kate. She is a first grade student at Manila Elementary School. Annie was Middleton’s second play. She performed in Suessical. Etowah native, Lilly Stankiewicz played Tessie. She has performed in Bye Bye Birdie. Eden Poe, of Black Oak, performed as Duggy. Eden Poe is a student at Jonesboro High School. This performance was Eden’s eighth show. She has been in Cinderella Jr., Charlie Brown Christmas, Descendants Jr., Wizard of Oz Jr, High School Musical Jr., Suessical Jr., and A Christmas Carol. Maggie Elizabeth Hazelwood, of Blytheville, played July. Hazelwood has performed in Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella. Playing orphans and making the debuts were Josie LaRose, of Manila, Addilyn Nicholson, a second grader at Armorel Elementary School and Mckenna Clapp, of Manila. Jovon Barnes, of Blytheville played Drake and was a member of the ensemble. This was his debut with Studio 42 & Co. He has engaged in many musical events. He has previously been in Once on This Island and Memphis the Musical. The ensemble included: Mandee Griffin who has not performed in a show since junior high school. Julie LaRose, of Manila, making this her second production she has been part of. Holly Bugos, of Blytheville, is an teacher at Armorel Elementary. Her acting roles include Wizard of Oz, Jolly Roger, My Son the Rock and Little Women. Monte Middleton, of Manila, is co-owner of Towell & Sons Auto Sales. He is a member of the Manila School Board and the Manila City Council. Colton Evans, of Kennett, Mo., has acted in, written, and directed multiple dramas for Easter and Christmas at his church. He is currently serving as the youth, children’s, and music minister at North Tenth Street Baptist Church in Blytheville. Annie made the second performance for sixth grade student Rico Porter. He performed in Seussical Jr. Performing as President Roosevelt was Carson Middleton. He has performed in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Radium Girls, West Side Story, Suessical, Bye Bye Birdie, and The Outsiders. Playing Sandy was KitKat Carter.