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18 + WATERLOO CHRONICLE « Wednesday, January 16, 2008 Local children will bring beloved ragsâ€"toâ€"riches story to life th unforgettable songs Wike Tomorrow and It‘s A Hard Knock Life, local kids are bringing the story of little orphan Annie to the Registry Theâ€" atre this year. ‘Annie Jr. "We‘re doing a full Broadway show," said Leslieâ€"Gail Hill, the artistic director for the Kâ€"W Chilâ€" dren‘s Drama Workshop Theatre. "It‘s great entertainment, mainâ€" ly for children, but we always pick shows that have got lines in them that parents will enjoy too." About 35 kids, aged eight to 16, will take part in the production, called Annie Jr., which will be perâ€" formed at the end of May. Based on the wellâ€"known comic strip, the story is about a Depresâ€" By Jennirer OrMmsTON Chronicle Staff Actor with the Kâ€"W Children‘s Drama Workshop Theatre Lee Poichuk sionâ€"era orphan named Annie. The girl â€" who longs to find her parâ€" ents â€" runs away from her orphanage, and finds a loveable dog named Sandy. ‘She‘s soon caught, and returned to the home, which is run by a mean woman, Miss. Hannigan. . As punishment, Annie is choâ€" sen to spend time with a wealthy man, Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks, who, along with his personal secreâ€" tary Grace Farrell, tries to help her find her birth parents. This classic tale of ragsâ€"toâ€"richâ€" es has a happy ending, of course. Hill said the group chose to put on Annie Jr. for one reason: the music. Some of the numbers from the film version of Annie â€" such as Let‘s Go to the Movies â€" will be missing in this rendition. ARTS FOCUS But the audience can expect to hear favourites like Tomorrow, Maybe and Easy Street. Auditions for the show are now over, and rehearsals begin today at RIM Park. Hill, however, is still looking for older boys who can sing and a live dog that looks like "We did The Wizard of Oz three years ago, and had a live Toto and he was wonderful," Hill said, adding the dog must be well trained and know he has to do his business outside, not in the theâ€" "We just make sure we have lots of goodies for him to eat." About half the cast have particiâ€" pated in other Kâ€"W Children‘s Drama Workshop Theatre producâ€" tions in the past. The rest are firstâ€"timers, and Hill said she‘s impressed with the talent she‘s seen, including that of Lee Poichuk, 14, who hopes to play the role of Rooster, Miss. Hanniâ€" gan‘s sleazy brother. He‘s been acting with the Kâ€"W Children‘s Drama Workshop Theâ€" atre for the past three years, and chose to take part in Annie Jr. after seeing the movie, and realizing what he could do with this characâ€" ter. He admits the role of Rooster isn‘t the biggest part, but it is the most colourful. "And that‘s what I‘d rather do because I like all the comedy in that role," said the Kitchener colleâ€" giate institute Grade 9 student. Annie Jr. begins with a corpoâ€" rate night on May 29 at 7 p.m., and then runs May 30 at 7 p.m., May 31 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and June 1 at 2 Teachers can sign their class up for school performances on May 28 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., May 29 at 10 a.m. and May 30 at 1 p.m. Tickets will g on sale at the Gospel Lighthouse in uptown Waterloo and the Kâ€"W Bookstore in Kitchener in April. _ Kitchener collegiate institute student Lee Poichuk, 14, auditions for the Kâ€" W Children‘s Drama Workshop Theatre‘s production of Annie Jr. last week at RIM Park. Prior to Annie Jr., the troupe will put on the drama Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, based on the famous book by Roald Dahl. _ Showtimes are Feb. 28â€"29 at.7 p.m., March 1 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m and March 2 at 2 p.m. s All shows are at the Registry Theatre, 122 Frederick St., Kitchenâ€" en â€" 8 e Fog,infogffition about the shows or the theatre group, call 519â€"725â€"3586. . ~*~ JENNIFER ORMSTON PHOTO