I absolutely loved being part of this play and learning how to transform into another character. Just have fun with whatever you’re doing or else nothing good will come of it.”

Jada Banks, playing Lily

BIG PINEY — After more than three months of practice, set preparation, memorizing lines and choreography and dress rehearsals, students from Big Piney middle and high schools came together to put on three thrilling musical performances of the classic Broadway production “Annie” on Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23. Approximately 530 area residents attended the play to support the student thespians, along with members of the orchestra and stage crew. 

Elizabeth Wagstaff stars as Annie during the musical performance put on by the school’s theater department. Her character is a tough, streetwise …

Community members from throughout Sublette County were blown away by the performance, leaving reviews like, “Such a great bunch of talented young people. I had a smile on the whole time,” “Go see these amazing kids do their thing” and “This was the best musical I have ever seen!” 

The cast of the Big Piney High School’s production of the musical ‘Annie’ includes one teacher, one Labrador, eight high school students and 17 …

Director Angie Swanson said putting on this particular production “taps into every facet of the arts, teaching extreme dedication, hard work and community-building.”
She commended the “exceptional growth in these students over the last three months,” noting they have “gained confidence, maturity and a deep understanding of what music can be, helping prepare them for great academic challenges and more importantly, fostering personal growth for them to thrive in an ever-changing world.”

Swanson knows musical theatre is critical for a well-rounded education, with students overcoming fears of public speaking, learning instrumental and vocalist performance standards, music theory standards like notation and key signatures and scales, historical and social contexts, music critique and interpretation, critical listening and analysis and interdisciplinary connections with literature, history and social studies.
The student actors and choral members sang well-known songs from the musical such as “Tomorrow,” and “It’s a Hard Knock Life.” 

Maybrie Denison, who played the French maid Annette, said of the production, “Learning the choreography helped bring the music to life.” 

Jada Banks, who played Lily, Rooster’s “airhead” girlfriend known for her comedic timing, said she “absolutely loved being part of this play and learning how to transform into another character,” adding, “Just have fun with whatever you’re doing or else nothing good will come of it.” 

For Matazie Jones, who played 14-year-old Pepper, the toughest girl in the orphanage, “the bonds made with fellow actors and actresses” were a highlight of the three months of hard work. 

The stage crew, celebrated for “an outstanding job” was comprised primarily of middle school students, including Colleen Denison, Chaselin Hossack and Heidi Willoughby, Kolton Ward operating the curtains, Asa Cogburn and Hailey Hossack in charge of lighting and high schooler Lyric Peterson in charge of sound and microphones. Willoughby said her biggest takeaway from her time on the stage crew is that “people put a lot of hard work into performing for others.”

Big Piney High Schoolers are dressed as children in a 1912 orphanage as they perform the well-known and loved musical, ‘Annie.’

Members of the orchestra included Karla Montes and Sue Holz playing their flutes, Emma York on the clarinet, Mary Bowker on the saxophone, Justin Smith and Jacob Brown both playing the trumpet, Kadence Olsen on the horn, Luke Myszewski playing the tuba, Chandra Stough on violin, Amanda Scherbel plucking the cello, JJ Huntley playing piano, Avery Bell on the keyboard, Steve Bell playing percussion and Michael Hernandez in charge of sound effects. Attendees were quick to note the “orchestra was amazing too!!”

Adults who assisted with the production include Deidre Denison as choreographer, Megan Kershner in charge of audio, Scott Carpenter as stage crew manager, Travis Swanson as set designer and music director and Angie Swanson as the producer, costume designer and director.  

The cast of the Big Piney High School’s production of the musical ‘Annie’ includes one teacher, one Labrador, eight high school students and 17 …