Childhood nostalgia comes to life in this year’s Allegros production, Annie, which premiered last night.

The remaining opportunities to see Annie are today and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., and also tomorrow’s matinee at 3 p.m. Shows take place in the Performing Arts Center, and tickets are $6 for students and $13 for adults.

With the original Broadway production of 1977 having been such a hit (winning the Tony for Best Musical, among others), several movies and accompanying productions have been made to replicate that great success. Even Shores had to succumb to the attraction of this universally-known musical.

"We decided on Annie because of the powerhouse of girls we have this year… and Annie provides a lot of opportunity for them to shine," director Molly Lawton said. "Planning began pretty much at the tail end of last year’s production of Hairspray… I started to get a ‘feel’ for a show in watching my current cast, and Annie popped into my brain!"

Many, including senior Shea Wilcox, who will play the title role, are looking forward to covering the familiar tale.

"I’ve loved Annie since I was a little kid," Wilcox said. "And it was a childhood dream to play Annie, so this whole thing is a bit of a dream come true."

With a cast of 65, Annie is one of the largest Allegros productions in Shores’ history. The cast was decided in late October after a week of extensive auditions.

Cast size isn’t the only thing that has made this show different from other Allegros productions. While Lawton traditionally expands on show material, this show she has added even more – multiple dance breaks and additional chorus members to several musical numbers.

"Since Annie is such a well known classic, it is easy for people to stereotype the cast, songs, and storyline to what they have seen before," said senior Maddie Fox, who plays Miss Hannigan. "What the audience won’t be expecting is the level of authenticity we bring to each role and the ‘Allegro spin’ we have thrown on this show that will take it to another level."

Besides the numerous performers, there are plenty of behind-the-scenes contributors who normally don’t get recognized onstage. These include Molly Lawton; her husband Shawn Lawton, music director; Naglaa Yacoub, costume designer; Mike Reinhardt, set designer; and several others. All the efforts of these people have compiled into show week.

"There are the obvious things like the three months that the cast puts in at actual rehearsals every week, but there are also so many other things that people often don’t even think about," Wilcox said. "There’s props, making the program, lighting, the pit, and every one of those little pieces is absolutely essential to the show. When all of that work comes together tech week, it’s the greatest feeling ever."

For what many consider a traditional story, this production includes a new element that the Allegros have never worked with before: the canine element. Annie’s foundling dog, Sandy, is being played by an actual dog named Holly, who belongs to the Schrier family.

"I am really excited for the audiences to see the dog," Wilcox said. "Obviously, it’s an incredibly nerve-wracking thing to have to put my faith into a dog to hold its cues, but I think the audience will love it. Holly is adorable."

Along with the role of Sandy, there was another role that simply couldn’t be filled by a high school student: that of the littlest orphan, Molly. The Lawtons volunteered their youngest daughter, Jessie, for the role.

"Well, I think that Molly (Lawton) has found a lot of humor in places that people might not have seen it before," Wilcox said. "She has ‘milked’ so many scenes that the humor is everywhere, even in the smallest characters. So everyone should keep their eyes peeled for that."

Having premiered last night, the mystery of the final product of the show has been revealed to one fourth of the total audience this show will reach.

"My favorite thing about this show is the message of optimism behind it," Fox said. "During a time as horrible as the Depression, a little girl has the ability to inspire hope in those around her and together they are able to make a better future."

In lieu of the challenges the choir has faced this year with its former accompanist, Annie’s message of optimism, "the sun’ll come out tomorrow," is particularly poignant to all involved.

"This ended up being the perfect feel-good show to do this year, in light of the sad events of the new year," Molly Lawton said. "Quite the analogy can be drawn from the little orphan living in the depression with optimism, and our little choir family pushing forward in our own depression days."

And, if planning to see the show, keep one thing in mind: "You should never say ‘good luck’ before a show," Wilcox said. "Theatre people believe that that is terrible luck."

Instead, try "break a leg!"