Laois school musical Annie packed with talented students

A Laois secondary school is on the verge of staging its first school musical in three years, with excitement and music filling the air.

About 75 students as well as many staff at Heywood Community School are involved in bringing Annie The Musical to the Ballinakill and Abbeyleix communities this week, both on and off-stage.

Many of the performers have stage training and experience but the pandemic meant that they had not had the chance to shine in school.

They include the lead playing orphan Annie, Transition Year student Colleen Lalor who is lead vocalist in the school choir, Saoirse Murphy, playing orphan July, a member of the Gaiety Theatre and Young Musical Society Theatre Company, and Leona O'Neill, playing Duffy, who has performed in the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny and trains with Dancewise. 

Miss Hannigan is played by Ciara Brown in 5th year, who along with Katelyn Cummins in TY (playing Pepper) performed in the last musical staged at Heywood CS, Greece back in 2019.

They are just some of the many talents involved, says teacher Mary Harrington.

"To get all of our students back on stage, and to look at that talent and showcase it, has created a great buzz around the school. 

"They are loving the stage and they have all shown a lot of commitment outside school. They gave up all their free time and now we are all ready to put on a great show" she said.

Other cast members are; Orphan Mollie - Jessica O'Shaughnessy 3rd year, Kate - Sophie Lalor TY, Tessie - Rachel Dunne, Daddy Warbucks - Darragh Kelly TY, Drake - Adam Maher 5th year, Lily - Caoimhe Moynihan 6th year, and Rooster - Rody McEvoy TY. 

"We are also lucky to have such fantastic co-directors, teachers Julianne Woods and Afra O'Malley, with Julianna also the musical director and Afra the choreographer. Up to this week everyone was giving their time up in the evenings and weekends, outside school hours. 

The planning began back in May with auditions. Many other students are involved off the stage. The Transition Year art class has designed and made the set under the direction of art teacher Sharon Webster. Costumes and props were created by Home Economics students and teachers Fiona Barry and Denis Carrigan.

"Our stage manager and backbone is our maths teacher Bronagh Walsh. We are lucky to have a new teacher Eric Healy who plays the violin, with Miss Woods who plays piano, past pupil Rachel Bonham on guitar, and Jack Rabbitte on drums," Ms Harrington said.

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They will go on stage in the school gym, this Wednesday and Thursday, November 23 and 24.

Starting with a Wednesday Matinee for some 670 local primary school children.

Then evening shows are at 7.30pm, with ticket selling fast but still available from the school and on the door, priced at €12 Adults, €10 students/OAPs, or family (2 adults, 2 children) €35.