‘Annie’ Hits the Stage

The scene backstage was managed chaos as the cast and crew of the Pied Piper Players’ “Annie” executed their last rehearsal before the curtain rises Friday. Jazz shoe-covered feet raced to the stage, parent volunteers put finishing touches on costumes and various crew members moved around props and sets.

“The technical week is a stressful time,” said director Leslie Stupple. “I’m looking forward to them having a great time on stage.”

Stupple has spent 20 years with Pied Piper Players, a nonprofit family community theater group composed of Peninsula performers. “Annie” boasts 13 participants from Burlingame.

Stupple said almost all of the participants are families, whether a daughter sings while her mother works on costumes or two siblings act together on stage.

In this production, musical Director Rick Reynolds’ daughter, Makena Reynolds, plays the role of Annie.

This family aspect, as well as a wide range of ages in the group — cast members in “Annie” range from five to 55 years old — helps develop the sense of community for Pied Piper.

“It’s a true collaboration,” said Stupple. “It’s also a way to express yourself … there’s not enough ways for people to express themselves properly.”

According to Pied Piper organizer Ashley Carlson, of the 75 youths taking the stage in this production, 30 are from San Mateo – with the rest hailing from neighboring towns. Key cast members from San Mateo include: Makena Reynolds as Annie, Jeff Green as Daddy Warbucks, Susan Melanson as Miss Hannigan, Sean Lawrence as Mr. Bundles and Saili Gosula as Lily St. Regis.

Although in it’s final stages now, this show did not come together without some roadblocks. Stupple said this production presented more complications than normal, mainly because of holidays like Easter, Passover and Spring Break falling during the 12-week rehearsal period and heavy rains while volunteers tried to paint sets outdoors.

It was during this stressful time that Stupple discussed with the cast the diametric characters of negative-thinking Miss Hannigan and positive-thinking Annie when something clicked.

“How do you take the lemons here and make them lemonade?” Stupple said. “(It’s something) Miss Hannigan doesn’t do and Annie does.”

Although not an optimist by nature, Stupple said this was an important lesson provided by Annie that was valuable to both herself and the cast.

Now that the bulk of the problems are behind them, Stupple has high expectations for the outcome of the production and the more than 75 cast members. She said she sets high standards so cast members continue to grow, and they produce a quality show because that’s their only frame of reference.

“(People say) how’d you get them to do it?” Stupple said, referring especially to the 5-through-7-year-old Clowning Orphans. “We asked them to do it and showed them how. That’s what sets us apart.”

She said she loves watching the teamwork as the group comes together and forms a respectful, helpful community, but her favorite part of directing is the moment when the kids “get it.”

“It’s that moment of (Stupple snaps) watching the kids when they get it,” she said. “It makes them appreciate the whole thing.”

Developing an appreciation of theater in the kids is a goal Stupple strives to achieve. She said there is a gap in how theatergoers participate nowadays, with most only seeing what already fits their ideas.

“In the 40s, you could have dialogue, you could have debate (in theater),” she said. “Now, you’re preaching to the choir.”

She hopes the kids continue to participate in or patronize the arts as they get older, and recreate the culture of having debate in society through art.

However, as Stupple walked onto the stage to gently yet authoritatively direct the cast through the closing number, she has three imminent goals for the company:

“You should have fun, learn something and have a product at the end that they’re proud of.”

“Annie” began Friday and runs Saturday, June 18 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, June 19 at 2 p.m.; Saturday, June 25 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 26 at 2 p.m. at the Theater, 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo. Reserved seating tickets are $16 for adults and $12 for seniors and children under 17. Tickets can be purchased by calling 650-992-7433 or visiting www.piedpiperplayers.org.