Smiles, Songs , Shenanigans

The biggest production yet of the classic Broadway musical Annie is set to be performed in Bengaluru this weekend
Members of The Bangalore Chorus rehearse for the show
Members of The Bangalore Chorus rehearse for the show
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BENGALURU: With its infectious tunes and spunky red-headed heroine, Annie has long been a staple of school musical productions across the country. Now, The Bangalore Chorus, a choir group, is set to premiere its mega-production of the classic Broadway musical this weekend, featuring performance material acquired from the original Broadway production and a cast of 130 children from across Bengaluru, with the youngest being just four years old.

“It will lift their hearts and send the audience singing out of the theatre!” says co-director Judith Roby Bidapa. “It’s a very joyful production. All the older generations know about orphan Annie and will be singing along to iconic songs like Hard Knock Life, NYC, and You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile. I hope lots of kids come and see what they can do too while learning about the great musicals of the past.”

Set in the United States during the Great Depression, Annie follows the titular character, an orphan girl, who is tormented by a cruel caretaker, Miss Hannigan, and has dreams of being reunited with her parents. Her life takes a turn when eccentric billionaire Daddy Warbucks takes her in for Christmas and decides to help her find her parents. The musical first premiered on Broadway in 1977, has seven Tony awards and has been adapted into film several times.

Judith Roby Bidapa 
and Maya Mascarenhas
Judith Roby Bidapa and Maya Mascarenhas

The production has been in the works for three months, with the children rehearsing after school and on the weekends to bring the musical to life. “The message of Annie is that of hope and optimism; that anything can happen and it’s just tomorrow that you need to wait for. It’s such an important message for our children today because even now I see in my kids the post-COVID effect on their mental health and their stress level,” says Bidapa.

All proceeds from the show will go to Jyothi Seva Society School for the Blind in Venkateshpura. Some of the visually impaired children will take the stage with The Bangalore Chorus to open the musical with a medley of songs from the show. “They learnt the songs overnight! I sent the sisters (at the school) the lyrics and they printed it out in Braille. Then, my kids all wanted to know how to read Braille. So it’s a lot of learning for them along with the musical,” says Maya Mascarenhas, co-director of the show.

(Annie will be performed on October 26 and 27 at Chowdiah Memorial Hall. For more details, visit instagram.com/bangalorechorus)

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