FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary High School
CONTACT: Raul Melendez
329 N. Garfield Avenue
Montebello, CA. 90640
Phone: (323) 887-2066 Ext. 517
“Annie” is School’s First Production of the Year!
MONTEBELLO,CA. (DECEMBER 12, 2011) As family and friends waited with anticipation, the lights came up and the curtain was raised and student actors took to the stage at Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary High School in Montebello for their rendition of the musical “Annie.”
According to drama teacher Lucie Zuniga, “Annie” was selected “because it deals with the depression and hard economic times that we can relate to today.”
“I know a lot of women who were once little girls that never understood the word defeat,” said Zuniga. “This show is dedicated to all the strong women in my life, especially our Vice Principal Mrs. Sergi.”
When asked what students learn by being involved in a stage production, Zuniga responds, “The question is, what don’t they learn?” citing teamwork, confidence and self esteem as just some of the benefits. “Most importantly, they learn that we as a community love them and they learn to love each other.”
“I was really shy when I first came to Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary,” said student Lauren Respicio. “I got into the drama program and met so many more people, it really helped me open up.”
“The drama department here is the best,” said student Vanessa Hernandez. “It’s where I got a big confidence boost and developed my sense of identity.”
A total of 40 actors and crew members participated in the school’s first production of the year.
“I had fun and the whole technical aspect really interested me,” said student Jonathan Aguilar. “Being a techie is different than being an actor because you don’t really have to know lines, but it’s fun to be part of the production.”
“This gives everyone an opportunity to express themselves,” said student Jake Beltran. “They get to be someone they aren’t in real life.”
“The ideal I try to instill in my students is the thespian motto, ‘Act well your part, there all honor lies,’” said Zuniga. “I also tell them to do their best because at the end of the day we only perform for God.”
“Annie” is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The songs “Tomorrow” and “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” are among its most popular musical numbers.