Albuquerque: Annie Jr. on Stage!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Broadway comes to the South Broadway Cultural Center

July 6th, 7th, and 8th 2007

ALBUQUERQUE CHILDREN TO LEARN IMPORTANT LESSONS:

'You're never fully dressed without a smile'

and 'The sun will come out tomorrow'

in their Broadway Junior Production

of ANNIEjr
Tickets are 12.00 per adult and 7.00 kids, seniors and students. If more than 6 adults tickets are 10.00 each.



Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 22, 2007 – Young actors from all around the city of Albuquerque will come together for three nights at the South Broadway Cultural Center to present the Broadway musical, ANNIEjr.

Based on the popular comic strip, "Little Orphan Annie," ANNIEjr tells of a spunky depression-era orphan determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Roosevelt and finds a new family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrel and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

This classic Broadway musical is abridged into a special edition for ages 4 to 12. To celebrate the accomplishments of these children, and to commend their hard work, performances are planned at the South Broadway Cultural Center on Friday, July 6 th at 7pm, Saturday, July 7 at 7pm, and Sunday, July 8 at 2pm. Through these performances, the goal is to embrace the dramatic arts for the many "tomorrows" yet to come.

From the first rehearsal the students have collaborated to explore how this musical touches on important events and issues in American history from the depression through the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt. The adults working on the show have witnessed positive changes in the young actors as they learned new life and relationship skills – through the wide-ranging experiences of participating in a musical theatre production.

This show is the result of impassioned children who had no outlet for dramatic expression until the director pulled a group together to give these kids the opportunity to experience the thrill of being on stage and being the star of the show. At first, the chances of putting on a show were bleak as there was no money, no rehearsal space and no theatre. Patricio Trujillo, a longtime actor and artist in Albuquerque, called on his friends and associates to help make the show happen. For example, Robert F Kennedy Charter High School donated the rehearsal space and the City of Albuquerque is co-sponsoring the event so it can be performed in a real theatre. Educator and youth advocate, Rhonda Stanfield donated her time and talents to design the program (four color, wow), and parents and friends will serve as tech crew and staff.

This is an all-children production with a cameo appearance by the show's director, Patricio Trujillo. Says Trujillo, "I think what makes this show work is that over the course of the rehearsals, these children have become impassioned; to see a 4-year-old child acting out her little heart is absolutely stunning."

For more information, please call Sandra Marroquín-Evans at (505) 268-1316