Fremont, CA 14-17 Feb -- Annie the "CSDWay" Musical Public Performance Dates

From: CSDF - Dec 22, 2006

For Release 12/22/06
Contact: Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, Outreach Division
Phone: 510 794 3707
Email: bfirl@csdf-cde.ca.gov
Fax: 510 794 2577

Fremont, California – Feb 14-17, 2007 – High School and Elementary School Students will present Annie the “CSDWay” Musical

The California School for the Deaf will open its annual play to the public in February 2007 at 39350 Gallaudet Drive, Fremont CA 94538. ANNIE the “CSDWay” Musical includes a cast of high school students and two Elementary School performers playing Annie.

THE PLAY
Due to the cruel orphanage matron, Miss Hannigan, Annie, a spunky, redheaded orphan, decides to run away and find her parents. After, eventually managing to escape the orphanage, she ends up being sent back by Officer Ward of the NYPD. Soon though, her luck improves. Billionaire Oliver Warbucks decides to invite an orphan over to his house for Christmas and Annie is chosen. The two quickly hit it off and he agrees to help Annie find her parents by putting up a $50,000 reward. Miss Hannigan's brother, Rooster, and his girlfriend, Lily, pretend to be Annie's parents by using information provided by Miss Hannigan. At the last minute, President Roosevelt intervenes to announce that the FBI has discovered that Annie's parents are in fact, dead. However, there is a happy ending to this story.

THE CAST
The cast includes a number of high school students and two elementary students. High school student Liz Jarashow will play Servant Drake and be director Megg Davis’ assistant. High school student Christopher Joseph will be Jimmy Johnson/Bert naming after a popular radio host. In the play, this character will be a "Deaf Time" television host. Elementary students, Chrisitina Call and Brianna Dike will act as Annie.

The rest of the cast are high school students: Clara Baldwin of Oakland, Amelia Bernstein of Fremont, Chelsea Brown of Pinole, Moni Brown of Vallejo, Lucas Gosselin ofHayward, Leila Hanaumi of Elk Grove, Haley Lawrence of Fair Oaks, Mark Montalette of Fremont, Logan Powner-Bowers of Pleasanton, Rachelle Richardson of Woodland, Janel Schmidt of Fremont, Erika Schwehr of Fresno, and Shara Winesbug of Morro Bay.

2007 PERFORMANCE DATES
Thursday, February 15 at 7:00 PM
Friday, February 16 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, February 17 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM

THE DIRECTOR
This year’s play will be directed by California School for the Deaf (CSD) parent, Megg Davis who directed the Cinderella Waltz last year. She just directed the Silent Salzburg, a play written by another CSD parent. Ms. Davis has the combined experience of an actress currently performing on stage and teaching acting to children. She began her work with the renowned National Theater of the Deaf, Deaf West Theater for 10 years, in children’s theater and is a member of the Screen Actor Guild. She has performed in a variety of shows; most recently, she starred in “Twelfth Night” in San Francisco.

BEHIND THE SCENES
The director has enlisted help from professionals including choreographers Ronnie Bradly who worked for a professional dancing company, The Wild Zappers and Doralynn Folse, CSD's dance team choreographer. Farrah Nolan will be in charge of music and act as sound coach/technician. Michael Davis who also used to work with the Wild Zappers is the American Sign Language coach.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Tickets can be bought in person or through the mail from Outreach at the California School for the Deaf at 39350 Gallaudet Drive, Fremont, CA 94538 or purchase tickets at $12 each on line at http://www.csdf.k12.ca.us/outreach/annie/

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
The California School for the Deaf has an international reputation for its high quality educational program. CSD is a fully accredited, state-funded program for students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing living in Northern California. The school also provides services to the families with deaf children. Please contact the school at 510 794 3707 for futher information or visit the student-produced website: www.csdf.k12.ca.us