Junior Arts League production of “Annie Jr.” is only 11 tomorrows away
By David L. Coddon
Tomorrow may be more than a day away, but the sun will come out May 25 and 26 when the Coronado Junior Arts League presents its second-ever production, “Annie Jr.,” at Coronado Playhouse. Theater artist Wilfred Paloma, who directed the nonprofit organization’s inaugural show “The Wizard of Oz,” last November, returns to the helm.
“In terms of attitude and energy and vibe, this ecosystem is quite thrilling,” Paloma said of the kids who are performing in this junior production of the beloved Broadway musical by Thomas Meehan (book), Charles Strouse (music) and Martin Charnin (lyrics). “The wonderful thing about the Coronado Junior Arts League is that these kids who’ve come forward, they are hungry. They want to do this.”
The nonprofit, which is less than a year old, is designed for children ages 8 to 14. Its founder and chair Catherine Baker was motivated by her daughter’s love of musical theater. Baker herself has an entertainment background. Besides having done commercial acting in the U.S., she was a member of the vocal group A.S.A.P or As Soon As Possible based partly in Japan during the ’90s.
Baker recalled “putting together an idea with other parents who were excited about having a junior theater” in Coronado. “The city thought it was a great idea, and we got to partner with them.”
Then the idea went further. “We were introduced to the Coronado Playhouse,” Baker said. “They loved the idea of youth theater, and they offered us their theater for productions.”
Production staff includes professionals such as Paloma, a professor at both the University of San Diego and San Diego State University who has directed and choreographed more than 45 junior musicals.
As for the young performers, “Everybody who signs up gets a role,” Baker explained. “The audition process is purely for casting, to know where that person fits.” The cast of “Annie Jr.” numbers 30 kids.
“We have about five or six older-age students who are in the Coronado School of the Arts,” Paloma said. “That core group are role models and mentors for the youngsters and come in with formidable skills.”
Production assistants are primarily students Paloma works with at the universities where she teaches. “I’ve built out a way to bring new to beginning to middle-career choreographers, assistant directors and others to be on the artistic team,” she said. These volunteers receive class credit or a stipend for helping.
“I make it very clear that this is about process, and part of that is these kids need to feel and learn what it’s like to convey who they are and what that might be in conversations with an adult and certainly with their peers. My intention for production is that it’s beneficial for students to work with other artists who have different processes and styles and approaches.”
Pre-opening rehearsals last 10 to 12 weeks, with students rehearsing twice a week for about two hours each day. A Monday-through-Friday schedule will kick in with a more traditional “tech” rehearsal schedule the week of the show’s premiere.
The 30-member cast of “Annie Jr.” is nearly the double number from “The Wizard of Oz,” in which 17 kids performed. “They were absolutely amazing,” Baker said. “The city was thrilled with what we were doing and loved the way the creative team together approached it — very loving and trying to draw the creativity out of the children.”
The Coronado Junior Arts League also began offering classes for Coronado kids early this year in musical theater vocals and dance as well as acting.
“What the League has become is sort of this family of talent that comes in and out depending on what the need is for that particular class,” Baker said.
Plans for future shows include “Alice in Wonderland” and junior-theater versions of “Into the Woods,” “Oliver!” and “The Little Mermaid.”
“The dream is to get these kids ready for CoSA (the Coronado School of the Arts),” Baker said. “Get them exposed to all the amazing opportunities there are out there. It’s nice to have something on the island.”
“That’s the beauty of Coronado. Everyone loves children. There’s so much opportunity to support and grow what we do.”
“Annie Jr.” will be staged at 6 p.m. on May 25 and 2 p.m. on May 26 at Coronado Playhouse. Tickets are $10.
David L. Coddon is a freelance writer.