Lower Macungie Middle School Theatre will perform “Annie” 7 p.m. March 23 and 24 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. March 25 in the middle school auditorium, 6299 Lower Macungie Road, Macungie.

The beloved musical “Annie” has been delighting audiences since its worldwide premiere in 1976. Based on Harold Gray’s popular 1924 comic strip “Orphan Annie,” the book was written by Thomas Meehan with lyrics by Martin Charmin and music by Charles Strouse.

Annie lives in an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan in New York City during the depression. Follow Annie’s escapades as she deals with her hard knock life while determined to find her parents.

Bridget McDonnell plays the part of Mr. Warbucks’ butler and says, “I really like to sing and the musical is a fun way to get on stage and I can sing. I love to do this and it’s a way to show off my talents.”

McDonnell is also involved in cadence choir and chorus and has been singing since elementary school where she participated in the “Annie Jr.” version of the musical. She likes to sing and act and really likes this musical. “I love the fun high notes,” McDonnell said. “The audience will have fun with the show with its fun choreography, dance ensemble numbers and fun stuff,” she concluded. She described the show as an amazing experience and learned a little history of the Great Depression and President Roosevelt.

Ethan Kister enjoys being part of the run crew; working backstage, helping with the set, costumes, fixing props and set if it breaks and just making sure everything runs smoothly. He has always chosen to be part of the crew and this year leads crew.

“I think it’s interesting how we have a lot of kids that are talented and just come together and bring that talent into one; bring it to be entertaining like this and it turns out great,” Kister said.

After seeing his first theater performance Kister shared, “Wow, this is really cool! Then I talked to some of the kids who were behind the stage and actors and thought wow, I would really enjoy that.” After talking to Mr. Campbell who thought he would be a good fit, Kister became involved in theater. “It’s something to do after school and a way to get to know people and definitely a lot of fun,” Kister said. He would like to continue in high school being part of crew in theater. He hopes the audience sees students in the middle school are capable of doing something great.

“While Mr. Campbell does a lot of things and directs them, the students are behind the stage, in the tech booth and doing the acting. We can really come together and accomplish something,” Kister said.

Ella Bloszinsky and Jocey Spengler have both been in previous shows. Bloszinsky plays the character Miss Hannigan who runs the orphanage who she describes as “mean and kind of crazy. Miss Hannigan is really interesting, kind of on the wackier side but she’s definitely fun to play, something different,” Bloszinsky said. She first became interested in theater at the age of nine. She grew up watching shows and her uncle’s performance in the Ice Capades. He suggested she try out at the Civic Theatre in Allentown where she became interested in theater.

Bloszinsky says being part of the “Annie” production, “is hard work but fun, learning chorography, we have our music, acting scenes, a little of everything. We chose to do the full version of Annie instead of the shorter version. The longer is more intense but worth it in the end.”

Bloszinsky hopes watching this performance, the audience “will leave with a greater sense of optimism than they come in with because that’s what the shows about – Oh tomorrow is going to be great! That they kind of feel that.”

Bloszinsky said there is a lot of history too and you see the effects of the depression and (people) living in shacks.

“We’re not much older than Annie was and it kind of shows the difference in how it is now, how it was then and how fortunate we are now,” Bloszinsky said.

From the time Jocey Spengler was a little girl she always wanted to be a pop star. Once her elementary school offered theater, she saw her opportunity to be on stage and thought “this is the closest I can get to being a pop star and then I just fell in love with theater.”

Spengler plays the part of Lily who she describes as “a villain.” Her character gave her the opportunity to learn a “Jersey City accent” and says her character was “super wacky and fun to play.” What does Spengler hopes the audience gets out of the show? “To get a laugh, it’s a really feel good show and for my character specifically, make people laugh.”

There are about 60 students in the cast and crew of “Annie” and tickets for assigned seating can be purchased at the door or the online form.