Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / July 11, 1991, edition 1 / Page 13
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under the sun THE BRUNSWKtf&ftKON THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1991 D D f HEATHER WILLIAMSON. /ANNIE/ HAVE QUALITIES IN COMMON Lead Role In Musical Whets Younqster's Appetite For Staae MY SUSAN USHKR Hcallicr Williamson isn'l stage-struck. bui the acung bug has bitten. Fueling her growing in terest in the stage: early success as the lead in the Opera House Theatre Company's current produc tion of the Broadway musical Annie. It s heady stuff being chosen for the lead in her first tryoui for the stage. The show opened last Wednesday night at Thalian Hall in Wilmington to an enthusiastic reception for the little orphan. Annie, and her cohorts as they sang and danced their way through the familiar talc. Briefly, here's the story line: Left on the doorstep of an orphanage, Annie's bright spirit is sustained by two items: half of a silver locket and a note left by her parents promising to return for her someday, bearing the missing half of the locket. It's enough to make Annie believe that she is differ ent from the other girls. That belief instills the opti mism expressed in the show's popular song. Tomorrow. Annie makes a break for freedom and soon after be friends a foundling of anoihor sort, a dog (ha! she names Sandy. Her real opportunity to cscapc comes shortly after her return in the custody of a policeman, when the sec retary to a wealthy industrialist chooses Annie to spend the Christmas holidays at the estate of Oliver Warbucks, orphan and self-made billionaire. What follows is an entertaining romp that includes collaboration with President Franklin D. Roosevelt in search of a "New Deal" to address the country's Depression-era economic woes, a hunt for Annie's par ents, attempted fraud, and of course, a happy ending for all but the conniving mistress of the orphanage, the mean-spirited Miss Hannigan. Still wet from a mid-day dip in the family pool at Ocean Isle Beach, Heather and her five-year-old sister. Love, discussed the show one day last week. They are the daughters of Jan and DeCaml Williamson. Love, who plays one of the other 10 orphans in the show, gets to sing and dance and has one line as an urchin in a street scene. As Annie, Heather appears in almost every scene, her buoyant spirit evident in each song and conversa tion. She and fellow cast members won a standing ova tion at final dress rehearsal last Tuesday night before an audicnce of about 450 children and senior citizens, guests of Federal Paperboard Co. "1 thought it was going to be a lot of hard work," said Heather. "But it's not. It's a lot of fun." A natural blonde. Heather has dyed her hair red for the show. It's a shade that she's having to get accus tomed to, but one Uiat goes well wiui her complexion and green eyes. In the final scenes, she dons a wig for Annie's trademark curls. With rehearsals seven days a week with only two days off since June 1, the musical has required a com mitment from the entire family. But Mrs. Williamson said no one's complaining; all arc supportive of the girls' involvement. While she's stayed for the 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. week-night rehearsals, Mrs. Williamson says she's strictly avoided offering advice. 'That's their job," she said, referring to the Opera House production staff for the show. "They are very professional and very good working with all the chil dren in the show. And the children have handled them selves very professionally too." Heather's 11, "the same age as Annie". And while she doesn't share little orphan Annie's "hard knocks" background, the two have some important qualities in common ? sclf-confidcncc, a bright spirit and an eye for the future. Both arc young charmers with winning smiles. Heather is unusuaiiy anicuiate, poised and level PHOTO BY OPERA HOUSE THEATRE CO AS ANNIE, Heather Williamson of Ocean Isle Reach shares the spotlight with another newcomer to the stage. Dick Davis, who plays industrialist Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks. They're shown with Sandy , the dog. headed for her age. She credits thai in pari to the effort she's already devoted to personal development. These have included workshops, voice training, dance lessons, "a whole lot of stuff," she said. Heather also was tapped by a Wilmington booking ageni to play a part in a pro motional video for Marsh Harbour golf resort at Calabash. Since age 6 she's traveled weekly to Wilmington for sessions with her voice coach, Sandra Bost, who escort ed Heather to tryouls for the musical. She vied for the role of Annie along with 40 to 50 other youngsters. She also takes dancing lessons in Wilmington, from Brad Moranz. He is director of Annie and with his wife, Jennifer, choreographer. "He knows how to work with kids. She's great too. They really arc good to work with," says Heather. Work in pageants has resulted in more than a crown for the former Little Miss Brunswick County 1990. It has also increased her self-confidence and poise. "I used to be really shy when performing in public," the former blusher admitted, "but not anymore." Lou Criscuolo, founder and artistic director for Want To See Annie? Want to see the show? AH performances begin at 8 p.m. at the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, 310 Chestnut Street, Wilmington. Tickets for Annie are S12 and S14, with weekday discounts available for students and seniors age 60 and older. Group discount rates arc available for all shows. Tickets are available at the Center Box Office. Reservations are available by calling 1-800-523-2820, 763-3398 or 343-3664. Remaining productions in the Opera House 1991 series include The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Aug. 7-11, 16-18 and 23-25; and A Chorus Line , SepL 4-8, 13-15 and 20-22. Opera House Theatre Company, said alter Tuesday's dress rehearsal that Heather is doing "a great job" as Annie. "I love her," he said. Those arc encouraging words for a little girl with big ideas. Tired of ihe pageant circuit, Heather says she wants to do more theater now. She plans to try out next year for the Opera House production of The Sound of Music. "I'd like to play one of the older girls, around 12," she said. Meanwhile she's enjoying her time on stage and is proud of having mastered the show's musical score, an upward stretch of several octaves for her mid-range voice. Heather likes working with Dick Davis, who shaved his white hair and mustache to play "Daddy" Warbucks. The feeling is mutual. "She's terrific to work with. She's a lot of fun," said Davis, who also makes his stage debut in Annie. His favorite scenes are those that include the two of them, he said. "There's something there that comes across." A true trooper, when friends and family see the show. Heather v ishes only one thing: "I don't want them to think that's Heather Williamson playing Annie. 1 want them to think that'; Annie." i Rust? Odor? Bad Taste?! 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The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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July 11, 1991, edition 1
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