Set in New York City during the Depression, "Annie" echoes the hard times of that era that still resound for many today. Based on the comic strip, "Lil’ Orphan Annie," the story takes us from the poverty-stricken world of orphanages and shanty-towns known as Hoovervilles to the opulent 5th Avenue mansion of Daddy Warbucks. 
Annie is brilliantly portrayed by Avery Heater. A very talented young lady who recently appeared in the Porthole’s spring musical production of "The Secret Garden." Heater is an accomplished singer and dancer and gives an impressive performance every time she appears. Annie was left on the doorstep of the orphanage at a very young age by parents who felt they could not adequately provide for her. Never giving up on finding her real parents, Annie possesses an optimism that will not be defeated. She performs "Maybe", a song about her hope of having a real family and then joins the other orphans in "It’s a Hard Knock Life." Following punishment from Miss Hannigan (Beth Mathewson), the mean-tempered spinster in charge of the orphanage, Annie hides away in a laundry bag to go in search of her parents.
Wandering alone through the wintry streets of New York, Annie meets a sad-faced mutt (obediently portrayed by Salsa) who has just missed being picked up by the city dog-catchers. She names him Sandy because of his color and they immediately adopt one another. To let the dog know that all will be fine, she sings "Tomorrow" to once again show her optimism. However, Annie is picked up by the police in a raid on Hooverville and returned to the orphanage, while Sandy escapes.
Back at the orphanage, Grace Farrell (Sara Coxen), the private secretary of the wealthy Oliver Warbucks, arrives to select an orphan to spend the holidays at the Warbucks’ mansion. Grace selects Annie and whisks her off to the mansion where she and the staff welcome Annie with a production of “I Think I’m Going To Like It Here.”
Although Warbucks (played by Ron Mahla) was hoping his secretary would retrieve a boy from the orphanage, he soon realizes that Annie has won his heart and he decides to adopt her. Still, Annie has not given up on finding her real parents, so Warbucks goes on national radio to offer a reward to anyone who can prove they are Annie’s parents.
As the mansion staff, headed by Drake the Butler (portrayed by the impeccable Carl Miller), prepares for Christmas and the addition of a new member to the household, Miss Hannigan, her con-artist brother, Rooster (Mike Eastman,) along with his floozy girlfriend Lily (Lisa Meissner,) plot to claim the reward and ditch Annie. Their dreams of better days culminates in the number, “Easy Street.” Hannigan provides Rooster and Lily with information they will need to pass themselves off as Annie’s parents. And so, claiming to be Annie’s parents, the Mudges, they arrive at the mansion on Christmas Eve to claim Annie and the reward. Suspicious of the Mudges, Warbucks asks them to return the next day, then turns to his friend, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, for help from the FBI to learn the truth.
The orphans and Miss Hannigan arrive to spend Christmas at the mansion and when the Mudges appear once again to collect Annie and the check, the villainous trio is arrested by the Secret Service and dragged away screaming. All agree that this Christmas is the beginning of a wonderful new life for all as the entire cast gathers to deliver “A New Deal For Christmas.”
“Annie” will be performed Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through December 7 at the Newport Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $15 or $12 for seniors and students and are available at the box office or by calling 265-ARTS.
