Anne of Green Gables
November 10-12, 2011
The fall show, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES will premiere on the stage of NRCA November 10-12, 2011. In the early 1900s, elderly Matthew Cuthbert and his spinster sister Marilla Cuthbert live on a farmstead in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, the house on the property known as Green Gables. To assist with the farm work, they decide to adopt an orphan boy. Through an error, they instead receive a twelve year old orphan girl named Anne Shirley. Anne is outspoken, opinionated and stubborn, but she is also kind, good-hearted and bright. She has a vivid imagination tending toward fantasized romance and tragedy, this is a mechanism to escape the harsh life she's endured thus far. Upon meeting Anne, Matthew does not have the heart to send her back. Although the Cuthberts have no practical use for a girl, Matthew talks a begrudging Marilla into keeping Anne, if only on a trial basis. In addition to Marilla, Anne has to win over many of the people of Avonlea, who see an orphan as being nothing but trouble. But in Avonlea, Anne also has many kindred spirits as she calls her dearest friends, including Matthew, and classmate Diana Barry. Another colleague with whom she has a rocky beginning is classmate Gilbert Blythe, although Gilbert sees Anne in a different light. Anne falls into a series of scrapes, makes a bosom friend, searches (and finds) several kindred spirits, Matthew and Marilla discover that their lives have become a great deal richer, now that Anne is at Green Gables.
This time-honored comedy has endeared itself to the hearts of theater-goers for many, many years. Tickets for ANNE OF GREEN GABLES go on sale in August.
Annie
March 22-31, 2012
The Squire Theater of NRCA is excited to announce that the spring musical will be the award-winning musical ANNIE. This family musical makes its debut on our stage this coming March 22-31, 2012.
Annie is the lone cheery spirit at the Municipal Orphanage. Eleven years ago her parents left her there until they could afford to reclaim her. Around her neck she wears half a silver locket, longing for the day her parents will present the matching half and take her home. Now she decides it's time to look for them, and she escapes.
She befriends a mongrel dog and names him Sandy. However, the police pick her up and return her to the care of Miss Hannigan, the tyrannical spinster in charge of the orphanage. Before she can beat Annie, Grace Farrell, secretary to billionaire industrialist Oliver Warbucks, arrives to choose a child to spend Christmas at his home. Miss Hannigan is enraged as Annie is chosen and driven off to Warbucks' Fifth Avenue mansion.
Warbucks arrives and expresses his displeasure that Grace has not chosen a boy. However, Annie wins him over so completely that Warbucks wants to adopt her. Grace returns to the orphanage to inform a very distraught Miss Hannigan of the new developments. As Grace leaves, she bumps into Miss Hannigan's con-artist brother Rooster and his floozy girlfriend Lily. The shady trio reflect on how nice it would be to be on Easy Street like Annie.
Back at the mansion, Warbucks presents Annie with a new locket and tells her that he has arranged for adoption. Annie breaks into tears, explaining the old locket and that she wants to find her real mother and father. Disappointed, Warbucks vows to find them for her. He buys time on the most popular radio show to offer a $50,000 reward to anyone who can prove they are Annie's parents.
Warbucks takes Annie to meet the President. Upon arrival in Washington they find FDR and his cabinet as depressed as the nation. Annie cheers them up and tells them that everything will be all right tomorrow.
A telegram arrives, advising Warbucks that people are jamming the streets outside his house claiming to be Annie's parents. Returning to New York they find that all are imposters, for none knew of the locket. Alone, Annie and Warbucks joyfully conclude that adoption would be best. At the adoption party the next evening, high spirits are dashed when the Mudges arrive with conclusive evidence that Annie is their daughter. Warbuck tells them that the $50,000 will be ready in the morning and then asks if Annie can spend one more night at his home.
When they leave, Annie rushes up the stairs in tears just as FDR arrives for a surprise visit. Grace vaguely recalls Rooster from the orphanage and relays her suspicions to Warbucks. He asks Roosevelt for help from the FBI. When Annie awakes on Christmas morning, Warbucks is sad to inform her that her parents died many years ago. When the Mudges arrive to collect the money they are unmasked, and they implicate Miss Hannigan. As the police take them away, a large box arrives for Annie. Inside is Sandy. It's the most wonderful Christmas ever - and the beginning of a whole new life.
