Katelyn Adams  is an 8^th grader at Bear Lake School.  She was a flying monkey and a poppy in The Wizard of Oz and she is Annette, a French maid, in Annie.   She enjoys hanging out with her friends and family in her free time.

Yuki Babinec:  Yuki is in the 4th grade at Bear Lake.  She is making her stage debut as a member of our Orphan Ensemble.  She enjoys skiing, cycling and running when she is not busy reading and enjoying school.

Louise Barnard hopes you enjoy the show! She is in the seventh grade  at Onekama School. Her favorite activities include dancing,  acrobatics, art and acting. Her most memorable roles were Chip in  Beauty and the Beast, and the King of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland.  She has also been in Mulan, The Wizard of Oz, A Little Princess, and  Oliver. Save the naked mole rats!

Elizabeth Bergren is a freshman at Onekama High School.  She was in the production of the Wizard of Oz last year and she hopes to keep on performing in the school's future musicals. She loves to act and sing even if it is just minor roles. Her passion is writing and she loves to play volleyball.

Emily Bergren is 15 years old and a freshman at Onekama High School.  She enjoys volleyball and softball. This is her second play experience, having a role in The Wizard of Oz last year.  This year, she is stepping up and is our stage manager for the show.  This means she is in charge of the actors and actresses being on stage at the right time, as well as making sure her crew has all the props and set pieces on for each scene.

Alicia Berryhill is a senior at Onekama High School. She has been seen in plays at the Ramsdell Theater over the past few years along with being involved in the productions between the three schools; she is probably best known for her portrayal as Glinda the Good Witch in last year's The Wizard of Oz.  Her future plans involve attending Lake Superior State University this fall majoring in the fine arts.

Breann Buckner is a 6th grader at Bear Lake School.  She is part of the Ensemble and is enjoying her stage debut. In her free time Breann enjoys playing the piano and flute.  She also plays on the softball and basketball teams.  Breann is very active in the Manistee County 4-H, which this will be her 6th year.

Anna Brown is a 7^th grader at Onekama.  She is making her stage debut as July, an orphan in Annie.   In her spare time she enjoys playing volleyball, reading and drawing.

Natalie Brown is a 5^th grade student at Bear Lake.  She has been in previous cooperative drama productions and is playing a citizen of Hooverville.  In her spare time she likes to spend time with her friends and ride her bike.

Alyssan L. Clarke is 11 years old, and in the 6^th grade at Onekama Middle School. This is her first time in a school play. She has two older brothers and one younger brother.  She likes spending time with her family camping, fishing and all kinds of things.  She enjoys playing basketball, softball and just having fun.

Becky Cunningham is a freshman at Onekama.  She is making her stage debut in Annie. She plays the flute in the Onekama band. In her spare time she likes to hang out with friends. She hopes you enjoy the show.

Paul Cunningham  is a junior at Onekama.  He is serving as one of our lighting and sound technicians. He joins his mother Darlene, who was our rehearsal pianist, and sister Becky in this production. In his spare time, he enjoys mowing lawns.

Kayla Feil is a seventh grader at Onekama Middle School. This is Kayla’s first time in the Tri-School play, but not her first time on stage. She has taken dance and has been in the Young Americans, where she was honored to perform a solo. She has been in the Children’s Chorus for five years. She plays the saxophone in her school band and is first chair. She also had the opportunity to go to MSOBA Honor’s Band this year. Kayla attends youth group, when she can. She also is a Cadette Girl Scout. Kayla hangs out with her friends during her free time.

Katelynn Feil is 9 years old and goes to Onekama School. She is in the 4^th grade.  This is her first time being in a play. She has been in Children’s Chorus for two years. She is also in Girl Scouts. She enjoys playing with her dog and cat, camping, swimming, riding her bike, and also playing in the snow with her dog.

Katie Harrison is a 7^th grader at Onekama Middle School.   She has participated in prior cooperative drama productions and was recently in the Ramsdell’s Bridge to Terabithia. In her spare time she likes to play on the computer and listen to her ipod.

Claire Harvey is in 8th grade at Onekama Middle School. She is 13 years old and has participated in all of the other tri-school productions as a chorus member and, last year, as Hunk the farmhand. She also participated last year in the Ramsdell's production of Alice in Wonderland as the White Rabbit. She has attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp for choir for three years and will be returning this year for a fourth. She has also been a member of the Manistee Benzie Area Children’s Chorus for five years. This year she plays Annie. 

Madalyn Harvey is a 10^th grader at Onekama High School.  She has been in Beauty and the Beast, Mulan Jr., The Wizard of Oz, and Alice in Wonderland.  She enjoys reading and laughing with friends. She has been a member of the Manistee Benzie Area Children’s Chorus for several years and will be going to Europe this summer with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp’s International Program this summer. 

Meredith Hengy is a 7^th grader at Bear Lake.  No stranger to the stage, Meredith has been in many productions.  She is joining her father Ben, and dog, Jasper, in this year’s production.   Meredith is playing Cecille, a French maid, in Annie.  She hopes that you enjoy the show, and would like to thank her family and definitely her friends!

Dr. Ben Hengy  is joining us as a guest actor for this production of Annie, playing the role of Daddy Warbucks. He is an ears, nose, throat and orofacial plastic surgery specialist practicing in Manistee and Ludington.  He has been very active in community theater over the past several years at the Ramsdell Theater and is currently president of the Manistee Civic Players Board.  Recent productions include Barefoot in the Park, Little Shop of Horrors, A Little Princess and Arsenic and Old Lace.   He would like to thank his wonderful family for their support and also thank all members of this terrific group of talented actors and musicians who brought Annie to life.  Many thanks to Amanda Harthun, Jackie Karnisz, and Kathy Joseph for all their many hours of dedicated help in organizing this tri-school musical.

Jasper Hengy is a 4 year old Irish Wolfhound, owned by the Hengy family.  He is making his stage debut as Sandy the dog, but his photographs were used in the Ramsdell Theater’s production of Steel Magnolias.   His favorite pastimes include: sleeping, hanging out at the barn, trying on children’s clothing, and eating peanut butter sandwiches. 

Emily Hippensteel is in the 8^th grade at Onekama. She is in the middle school band and plays the flute. This is her fourth year playing her flute. She also enjoyed participating in Solo and ensemble activities twice so far, and really loved participating in the honors band. She has been in the Manistee Benzie Community Children’s choir for four years. Emily was in the lollipop guild in last year’s performance of Wizard of Oz. She hopes you enjoy the show! 

Kassie Hook is a 5^th grader at Onekama and enjoys reading, basketball, and art in her spare time. She is in her 4^th production and is playing an orphan. You may have seen her in Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, and The Wizard of Oz.

Mariah Hunt  is in 10^th grade at Onekama High School.   She has been in 7 previous plays including Mulan Jr., Beauty and the Beast, and A Little Princess.   Mariah enjoys bubble baths, taking moonlit walks, and being entranced by ceiling fans.  She is 15 and is also a Varsity Cheerleader for Onekama.

Byron Joseph is husband to Mrs. Joseph, our music director. He is joining us as a guest actor in Annie, playing the role of Bert Healy.  He is no stranger to musical theater and musical performances. He is a member of The Nephews with his cousin, Tim.   We appreciate his help in making our show possible!

Jordan Lovell is a 6^th grade student at Bear Lake.   She has been in previous cooperative drama productions and is playing a citizen of Hooverville. In her spare time she likes to spend time with friends. She also plays on a softball team. She hopes you enjoy the show.

Rachael Makowski is a 6^th grader at Bear Lake. She has been on stage 2 times for talent shows. She has played softball and basketball also. In her spare time she likes to hang out with her friends or play outside.  

Travis McKenney is a junior at Onekama High School.  He is a captain of the wrestling team, and skis whenever possible.  He is also a Youth Advisory Committee member, a NHS member and Student Council Representative.   He has two jobs at Portage Pointe Inn and at Paintball Extreme in Manistee.  After high school he wants to go to an art school and learn to be a film director.  So far, he has directed eight short films for school projects and has decided that is what he wants to do.  He decided to participate in Annie in order to expand his knowledge in the film industry in preparation for his future career. 

Molly Mansfield-Yaple is a senior at Bear Lake.   She has been in many plays and musicals at Bear Lake and the Ramsdell and has been in all of our co-operative drama productions.   You may recognize her as Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast, and the Lion from The Wizard of Oz.   Her comic presence will once again be showcased as she plays Rooster in Annie.  

Kaitlin Matesich is a senior at Bear Lake.   Kaitlin has been in numerous productions throughout her career at Bear Lake and the Ramsdell.  She has also been a familiar face in our cooperative drama programs.  You may remember her as Lefou in Beauty and the Beast, Mushu in Mulan Jr., and Mrs. Gultch in The Wizard of Oz.  Look for her as Lily St. Regis in Annie. Kaitlin plans to attend WarrenWilson College in North Carolina in the fall.

Aiden Mertes is in 6th grade at Bear Lake Elementary.  He enjoy sports and is on the basketball team.  His hobbies include: riding quads and snowmobiles, snowboarding, and nitro RC cars.  He is also very interested in Mixed Martial Arts and Tae Kwon Do and will be starting lessons soon.  This is his first stage experience and he is enjoying it.

Dane Mertes is in 4th grade at Bear Lake Elementary.  He enjoy playing sports and games.  He likes music and practicing the guitar and drums.  His hobbies include snowmobiling and riding quads and bikes.  He is active in boy scouts and is enjoying his first stage experience. 

Devin Newsom  is a senior at Bear Lake.   You may recognize him as the palace guard from The Wizard of Oz and will see him in many roles in Annie including  FDR, Bundles the laundry man,  Lt. Ward and Jimmy Johnson!  Previous productions include Mulan Jr.,  and  Out of the Frying Pan and Into The Oven.  He likes to go geocaching, swimming, playing video games and baking cakes. 

Taya  Piscopink is in the 6th grade at Onekama. This is her first play but she was in ballet last year and had a dance recital, so she feels pretty comfortable on stage. She has always wanted to be an actress or singer. 

Maci Podbilski  is a 5^th grader at KND.   She has been all of our previous co-operative drama productions and this year is playing the role of Molly, the orphan.  She enjoys playing sports, singing and playing the French Horn.     

Joey Simo is a 4^th grader at Bear Lake and is making his stage debut as a citizen of Hooverville.   He has spent many years watching his big sister, Danielle, on the stage and is enjoying his chance to be up there as well.  In his spare time, he enjoys playing video games.

Madeleine Smeltzer is a 7^th grader Bear Lake. This is her third production.  Madeleine is currently a member of the Onekama track team, and with extra curricular events like basketball, softball, quiz bowl, and science Olympiad, loves to spend what little free time with friends and family, and shooting squirrels.    

Dave Smeltzer  is joining us as a guest actor in this year’s show.  He is playing the part of Justice Brandeis.     He also was instrumental in helping secure props for the production.  He is father to Madeleine and Abigail (last year’s Wicked Witch) and husband to Jennifer.   We appreciate his help in making this production a success!   

Makayla Spearman is an 11 yr old student at Onekama School.  This is her second play through the school.  She was in Beauty and the Beast where she was a fork and townsperson.   She loves the outdoors and has a great passion for animals.   She also enjoys playing basketball for Onekama, where her team was undefeated this year.   She especially would like to thank her basketball coaches, Ms. Bromley and Ms. Bennett.

Kaydee Swanson  Kaydee has been in many shows during her career including The Wizard of Oz  in which she played the role of Dorothy. She is a senior at Bear Lake High School and plans to major in musical theatre/fine arts at Oakland University. Recently, she played the role of Charlotte Sowerberry/ensemble in Oliver  at the Ramsdell Theatre. In her spare time, Kaydee enjoys singing and riding horses.

Johnathon Wertheimer is a  5^th grade student at Bear Lake. He is making his stage debut as the dog catcher and as a citizen of Hooverville.   He is starting his third year in the Manistee Benzie Area Children’s Chorus. In his spare time he likes to snow ski, sail and tube.  He is learning to play the trumpet.

*** 

Director’s Notes

We made it!   This show has been unlike other shows we have done in the past, with the majority of our practice taking place in Brethren, and then moving into this wonderful new facility at Onekama the beginning of April.   There were lots of adaptations we had to make throughout the show from making some changes with props and our positioning on the new stage, to learning how to use the awesome new technologies that came with the new facility in a short period of time.   Though at times roadblocks popped up, the resolve of our students and parent supporters kept our vision of a successful show right on track.  

The story of Annie is set in the 1930s, when America was under The Great Depression, and the story itself mirrors the adversity of the era.   We have often commented that since the story is all about keeping a positive attitude in the face of adversity, that we too would overcome the adversity we encountered in producing the show…and I think it is evident that we indeed have.  

There are so many people to thank who are responsible for the success of this show…and who simply stepped up, stepped in and delivered in big ways when we needed them.    We have three adult guest actors who agreed to help us out by filling in some of the male roles.   Our high school actors simply could not be more personalities and in some cases multiple genders, throughout this show.   Students took on four or five roles, which make for fast costume changes and long hours studying lines and blocking.  Our technology coordinators from both Onekama and Bear Lake, Mr. Peabody and Mrs. Hilden have put in many hours helping us learn the new technologies and are in the booth today working with students to run the technical aspects of the show.   Mr. Smeltzer, Mr. Feil and Mr. Harvey all were instrumental in the props and set design and are back stage helping our student stage manager get our props and set on between each scene.   Mrs. Barnard and her crew of helpful parents coordinated the many costumes with the multiple costume changes, along with designated dressing rooms backstage.  Mrs. Cunningham stepped up at a moment’s notice and was our rehearsal pianist when our originally scheduled pianist could no longer play.   Mr. Barnard was once again our percussion.   Mrs. Bergren entirely took over ticket sales.  Mrs. Koon made the programs and marketing posters. Mrs. Hengy spent time bringing and training Jasper for the stage role of Sandy.    The list of people just stepping up and helping out goes on and on and it is a true testament of what makes each of our small schools so great:  we have people who care about our students so much that they give freely of themselves and their talents for the benefit of the children. 

 Without this great community and parental involvement, our show simply would not be what it is today, and on behalf of the students and directors, we whole-heartedly thank-you for making this a successful and memorable experience.   Enjoy the show!