Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and book by Thomas Meehan opens Thursday, July 10 and runs till Sunday, July 13, with five performances. Hamilton-Gibson Productions brings a cast of over 50 to the Straughn Auditorium stage at Commonwealth University-Mansfield’s campus. Evening shows are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 pm and matinees are Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 pm. 

Jessie Thompson, who directed Anne of Green Gables for HG, is directing this summer’s large musical, with help from HG artistic director Thomas Putnam as musical director and Taylor Nickerson of First Position Dance Studio as choreographer. Gary Citro on the piano will be joined by more musicians in the pit. 

The story takes place during the Great Depression in NYC, where Annie (Sylvia Duterte) is a resilient 11-year-old girl who lives in an orphanage with the unlikely matron Miss Hannigan (Lilace Guignard). Grace Farrell (Julie Huels), assistant to the wealthy Oliver Warbucks (Jason Gehman), picks Annie from Hannigan’s brood and brings her to the Warbucks’ home for Christmas as a publicity stunt framed as an act of charity. Surprised that he’s starting to care for Annie, Warbucks decides to adopt the child, until two con artists (Tim Wilbourn and Kacy Hagan) come along claiming to be Annie’s real parents. This classic story also features President FDR (David Kenner Boley) and his cabinet of advisors, the hungry and homeless of depression-era NYC, performers in a radio show, the many colorful characters of the orphanage, and the attentive staff of the Warbucks household. 

For more information go to Hamiltongibson.org or see photos on their Facebook page. Tickets are available online at hgp.booktix.com. Purchasing tickets in advance saves time in line, and they cost less than at the door. All seating is general admission and early arrival is encouraged. Due to roadwork, parking is slightly farther than usual. This is a family-friendly show. Straughn Auditorium is located at 35 Straughn Dr. in Mansfield. For questions, call the HG office at 570-724-2079.