Annie, Puffs on tap for local high schools

If drama is your first love, you’re in luck.
Kasson-Mantorville High School and Triton High School are putting on captivating performances later this fall, with K-M launching “Annie” and Triton launching “Puffs, Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic” by Matt Cox.
“This show is sure to bring a smile to your face this November,” said Mel Ferris, director of “Annie.” “Annie has become a worldwide phenomenon and won seven Tony awards, including Best Musical. The beloved book and score by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse, and Martin Charnin features some of the greatest musical theatre hits ever written, including “Tomorrow,” “Easy Street” and “Little Girls.”
Jennifer Ryg, director of “Puffs, Seven Increasingly Eventful Years” said the play is “highly entertaining for all audiences. Those who have read the “Harry Potter” books or seen the films will be especially amused by the fun twists and turns that the story takes.”
“Annie” is the 2024 All-School Musical put on at Kasson-Mantorville High School. Ferris said the irrepressible cartoon heroine will take center stage in one of the world’s best-loved musicals based on Harold Gray’s popular Tribune Media Services, Inc., comic strip.
“Annie” will take the stage at the Kasson-Mantorville High School Minnesota Wi-Fi Performing Arts Center from Nov. 14-24. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors and $12 for adults. Tickets are available at the door or online at kmdramaboosterclub.org/tickets.
The cast for “Annie” is 57 strong, with lead performers Emmarie McNeil as Annie, Asher Hemann as Oliver Warbucks, Savannah Potter as Miss Hannigan, Noah Witty as Rooster Hannigan and Reese Hiatt as Lily St. Regis. The show’s talent, Ferris said, is “off the charts.”
“Annie” features new faces to K-M drama and, as such, 20 orphans will take the stage.
“It’s good,” Ferris said. “It’s super fun. We have a lot of new faces. It was nice to have a lot of new faces audition and obviously there are also some returning favorites.”
At Triton, “Puffs” runs from Nov. 14-16 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults. The talented cast includes Lily Dearborn, Miley Dostal, Naomi Lebak and Giavanna Lundi.