Let’s go to the musical! Let’s go see the stars! This weekend the community was treated to the classic musical Annie put on by the Cannon Falls High School Drama department. The show starred Kressin Hartl as the little orphan Annie and Matthew Breuer as the misunderstood millionaire (*billionaire) Daddy Warbucks. The show, running about two hours long with a ten minute intermission, kept viewers enthralled with fun songs and engaging actors. They kept the show rolling despite a few missed lines and a misplaced hat (both of which were artfully covered up), and all in all presented their audience with an unforgettable performance.  

As soon as the first note of “Maybe” left Kressin’s lips, I was hooked. The voices of the entire cast were great. They even persevered into the higher ranges called for in some songs. My personal favorite was “Easy Street” performed by the talented Melissa Franz, Rachel Hartman, and Bryson Felton. The trio played the evil Miss Hannigan, the ditzy Lily St. Regis, and the cunning Rooster. Felton’s rooster call had me laughing so hard I may have let a few tears slip out. Another highlight was the song “I don’t need anything but you,” performed by Kressin and Matthew.

The actors were backed up by high school band members turned pit band aficionados, who provided the musical accompaniment for the night. It’s impossible to put on a musical without music, and though a bit overpowering at times, the pit provided a soundtrack comparable to a recording of a professional group. A bouncing shadow cast by director Mr. Legvold was the only clue to the live nature of the performance.

Tania Legvold directed the multitude of actors, musicians, and crew through weeks of rehearsals culminating in their performances this past weekend. This was her third musical with our high school, and she, for lack of a better term, nailed it with Annie. The show was a great choice and suited the talented young cast. I can’t wait to see these young musical stars in shows to come.