'Annie' opens March 18

OTHELLO — When 11-year-old Madison Stakkeland found out she was to play the lead role for the Othello Theater Guild's production of "Annie," she was speechless.

"It was shocking when I first found out," Stakkeland said, who has been acting since as long as she can remember.

Having performed in a school production of "Honk" when she was in third grade and in the play "Joseph" a few years ago, this is the first time Stakkeland has taken a lead role.

"It's fun," said Stakkeland, whose character, Annie, is a runaway orphan trying to leave the orphanage run by the mean Miss Hannigan, played by Joanne Keele.

A twist of the poor girl's fate comes in the form of billionaire Daddy Warbucks, played by Othello High School drama coach Tom Christensen.

In a production Christensen describes as a romantic comedy, where the music helps tell the story just as much as the characters, the delightful Annie brings out the softer side of Daddy Warbucks and convinces him to help her find her real parents.

"I'm a much more soft spoken person than Daddy Warbucks," Christensen said of his character. "So to be gruff and rough (at times can be a challenge)," he said.

Daddy Warbucks offers a $50,000 reward to find Annie's parents, which Miss Hannigan's brother Rooster (Toby Black) and Rooster's less than better half, Lily (Shanna Stakkeland), try and get for themselves by playing the part of Annie's real parents.

Of being able to act in a production with her daughter who plays the part of Annie, Shanna Stakkeland said sometimes she forgets that she's not supposed to try and be her mother for the play. "I'm pretending to be her mother and I'm not," she said laughing.

Shanna Stakkeland's other daughter Macey (Pepper), son Kalvin (bass guitarist) and husband Parrish (on drums) are also involved in the production.

"When I need them they're always there," Madison Stakkeland said of her family's support.

With 49 cast members and numerous practices which have been going on since January, with a variety of acting backgrounds, director John Kwak said his cast and crew have been fun to work with.

"They bring a lot of energy and a lot of cooperation … a little of this with a little of that," Kwak said.

"Annie" opens at 7 p.m. March 18 at Lutacaga Elementary School with performances following March 19, 25 and 26. A dinner theater will be held March 25 at 6 p.m. with a matinee show March 26 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available for purchase at the City Girls and The Old Hotel. Prices are $9 for reserved seating, $8 for adults, $6 for children and $25 for the dinner theater. The matinee is $1 off the regular price.