It won’t be a hard knock life for Riley DeLuca, who was chosen out of hundreds of applicants across the province for the lead role in Drayton Entertainment’s production of Annie.
The 12-year-old Kilworth, Ontario native will be taking on the role of the beloved red-headed orphan in the upcoming musical. The search for Annie has spanned since the beginning of 2019, when young actors submitted videos of themselves singing “Tomorrow,” a hallmark song from the play.
A lucky few were selected for in-person auditions with artistic director Alex Mustakas and director/choreographer David Connolly. DeLuca made the cut after performing songs and scenes from the show during a series of callbacks. She was then asked to participate in a final audition video call with Connolly, who surprised her with the news that she had won the coveted role.
“I’m just so grateful for this opportunity,” said DeLuca. “It’s a really exciting play, the cast is amazing. … It is cast very well. Everything is just so fun; it’s just such an amazing experience to be a part of.”
“Riley has the loveable stage presence and feisty spirit that are essential for the role of Annie,” added Mustakas. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a young performer, and we are thrilled to give Riley the chance to spend the next few months working with some of the finest actors and creative professionals in the country.”
The history of the play Annie went back nearly a century ago. Multiple interpretations were based off Harold Gray’s “Little Orphan Annie,” a 1920s comic strip. The comedy-drama version follows the story of a young orphan living in New York City and her journey to find her parents.
In the Drayton Entertainment version, Thom Marriott will take on the role of billionaire businessman Oliver (Daddy) Warbucks, Glynis Ranney as the cruel orphanage matron Miss Hannigan, Cynthia Smithers as Grace Farrell, Mr. Warbucks’ secretary, Wade Lynch as Miss Hannigan’s manipulative brother Rooster, and Jacquelyn French as his partner Lily St. Regis.
Jeremy Carver-James, Vanessa Cobham, Eric Da Costa, Kalie Hunter, Jacob James, Dani Jazzar, Susan Johnston Collins, Sandrine Lessard-Blais, Dan Payne and Robin Warwick round out this stellar cast. The cockapoo Charlie will take on the role of Annie’s faithful furry sidekick, Sandy.
DeLuca has been working tirelessly to prepare for the upcoming performance, rehearsing singing classic songs, dancing numbers and acting scenes out six days of the week. She said she has looked to other portrayals of Annie, all varieties, for inspiration.
“I’ve been on YouTube a lot watching different videos of a bunch of different people, from Broadway to school plays,” said DeLuca. “And just getting ideas from those videos.”
The young actors is a Grade 6 student at Parkview Public School in Komoka. She has performed in several previous productions in the children’s choruses for Drayton Entertainment’s productions of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat and Cinderella: The Panto. She has also been on stage in plenty of community theatre productions including but not limited to Anne of Green Gables and Willy Wonka.
“This is my first main role, so it’s very exciting,” said DeLuca. “There is a lot more to do – it has a whole other level of excitement.”
Annie will open the season at the Drayton Festival Theatre, playing for four weeks from June 5 until June 30. The show will then return in the fall running at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge from October 2 through October 27.
Tickets are $48 for adults and $29 for youth under 20 years of age, available online at www.draytonentertainment.com, in person at any Drayton Entertainment box office, or by calling toll free 1-855-372-9866.
