Hey hobo man, hey dapper Dan . . . here’s ‘Annie’

Young Chang

These days, Little Orphan Annie is spending time in places other than

Daddy Warbuck’s famous mansion and the equally famous shabby orphanage.

For the Newport Beach Theater Company’s current run of “Annie” through

Sunday at the Newport Theatre Arts Center, the curly-haired blond will be

hanging out inside the borders of the original comic strip that made her

famous.

The set is black and white. The surroundings are cartoonish, and the

props are one-dimensional.

“It’s as if you opened up the newspaper and you saw the play going on

inside the newspaper,” said Linda Safran, president of the theater

company. “We really wanted to do our ‘Annie’ to be a little different

from all the other ‘Annies’. We wanted to be known to do something with a

little bit of a twist.”

The company, which formed in January, also wants to make an entrance

with its first production. Safran says the company was started to give

children in the county an opportunity to be involved in the arts.

“All kids want to feel that they’re part of something,” she said. “And

they don’t necessarily have to be part of a sports team to feel that.”

Since the show opened last weekend, several young actors have been

noticed. One high school senior, after being spotted acting in the show,

was offered a full scholarship to a local university.

“You want to know why we do this? That’s why we do this!” Safran said.

“To showcase the kids and give them exposure to something that can help

them go on with their lives.”

But rehearsals were tough. With limited time to rehearse in the Cliff

Drive theater, the cast of about 30 had to make do with last-minute sets

and a fast-paced week of technical rehearsals.

“But our kids have been troopers, and they’re working through every

obstacle that comes their way,” director Alan Palmer said.

Jenny Powell, a 12-year-old from Costa Mesa, alternates the lead role

in “Annie” with actress Elizabeth Stefanko. Her favorite costume for the

role is the signature red dress with white collar.

“I had done a lot of plays, but I had never gotten a main part

before,” Jenny said. “And I thought I was ready for one.”

Elizabeth, also 12, enjoyed playing Annie because the character is so

“bubbly.”

“She’s always upbeat, and she always thinks of the positive side of

things,” Elizabeth said. “And I’ve always played sad roles, so I like

playing a part that’s upbeat.”

Safran said she was encouraged watching “Annie” come together for

reasons that had less to do with the dramatic arts and more to do with

how children interact.

“As you watch rehearsals unfold, everything falls into place,” she

said. “The shy ones become not so shy, and it’s so much fun to see the

support they give each other as they go along.”

FYI

WHAT: “Annie”

WHEN: 2 and 7:30 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Newport Theatre Arts Center, 2511 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach

COST: $8 or $10

CALL: (949) 759-1046