FAMILY SHOW 'Annie' will play again

The company's co-founder and her niece are playing principal roles in the production.
By GARRY L. CLARK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
The first time was a charm. So was the second. So why not a third?
Maureen Collins and Todd Hancock will reprise their roles Friday through Oct. 13 as Miss Hannigan and Rooster, the ne'er-do-well siblings who cause no end of trouble in Easy Street Productions' performance of "Annie."
Collins and Hancock first met in 1983 when they were cast in those roles at the Youngstown Playhouse. That performance, and their show-stopping rendition of "Easy Street," became the basis of their long-term friendship and collaboration resulting in the formation of the production company that shares the song's title.
The pair played those roles -- again at the Playhouse -- in 1995, once again garnering high praise for their performances.
Current production
This time around, Easy Street is producing the show at the Edward W. Powers Auditorium. Starring in the title role is Collins' niece, Katy Collins.
"We've had her in mind for the part for several years, waiting for her to get old enough" Collins said in a recent interview.
"She's an awesome kid. I never have to yell at her," she said. "We have so much fun, we have to be careful not to bust each other up laughing."
Collins was already several years past the right age when "Annie" first played on Broadway, but when asked if she wishes she'd been young enough to play the part when it first came out, she instantly replied, "Oh, gosh, of course! What woman wouldn't?"
She's thrilled, too, to be playing one of her all-time favorite roles as Miss Hannigan.
Things have worked out well though, as this year marks the Broadway show's 25th anniversary.
"The timing was perfect," says Collins. With the show's anniversary, she said that the chances of obtaining the rights to do the show will be greatly reduced for the next year or so. That permission also turned out to be a bit of an early anniversary present for Easy Street, which turns 20 next year.
Collins and Hancock cast the part of Annie and her fellow orphans first from among the Easy Street "Little Rascals," and then held open auditions for the other parts. Among the 50-plus performers are brothers Eric and James McClellan, Tracy Schuler, Courtney Bartels, David Jendre and Tom O'Donnell.
When asked about the fact that she doesn't abide by the old theater adage of never working with children or animals, Collins scoffs. "I love it," she says exuberantly, "these kids are my future."
Title role
For her part, Katy Collins is excited about playing the red-haired moppet. The 12-year-old student at St. Christine School had to get special permission to have her dark brown hair colored red for the part since school rules prohibit students from coloring their hair.
She says she has rehearsals almost every day but is able to keep up with her school work by getting most of her homework done in study hall.
She also says she's interested in show business and hopes to continue in it. And she loves working with her aunt. "It's a lot of fun. She's so funny," she said.
As for the part of Sandy, the stray dog who befriends Annie, casting calls and auditions were held recently. It turns out that Katy's younger brother, Mickey, is credited with having "discovered" the perfect pooch, Diddy, who happens to belong to Tom and Jennifer Martinelli, neighbors of the two youngsters.'
Collins laughed as she remarked that they'd probably have to give Mickey credit in the program as the dog's agent. She says the canine auditions went great.
"There were four of them that were dead ringers for Sandy." Diddy is a 10-year-old that Collins says is a bit lethargic and less frisky than the younger dogs that they auditioned.
Advance ticket sales have gone so well that Easy Street has added another matinee performance for Saturday to the schedule, Collins said.