The Drama Club at Octorara Junior-Senior High School will present "Annie" as its spring musical. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 29, March 1 and March 2. There will also be a matinee at 2 p.m. on March 2.

This year, the play at Octorara will feature student actors of all ages. "Students in grades seven to 12 are the main characters, and we are actually have students from grades two through six who are guest starring," said Octorara music teacher Joe Lynch, assistant director. "It's been a lot of fun working with the little ones and engaging them with the big kids. We are using them to support the (cast of) older kids."

Auditions were held right after Thanskgiving, and rehearsals began soon after. "We had two days of rehearsals. They had to sing and dance and perform a cold read, (which is) reading a little bit from the script (as part) of their audition."

Lynch noted that the performance at Octorara is the actual Broadway version of the play. Based on the Depression-era comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" by Harold Gray, the musical follows the title character on her journey from an orphanage on the Lower East Side in New York to a mansion on Fifth Avenue. The musical, which includes the well-known songs "It's the Hard-Knock Life" and "Tomorrow," was brought to Broadway in 1977, where it won the Tony Award for Best Musical.

"It's so familiar. Everyone will be able to engage and enjoy the show," said Lynch.

He noted that he chose the play along with the director KC Testerman, an Octorara parent. "She has a strong theater background," said Lynch, adding, "Because we have a lot more females this year, we needed a musical where we could show off our female talent along with the male talent."

He said that most of the students have heard of the play and were familiar with some of the main musical numbers. "Right now, the most challenging part for them is putting together the singing and dancing. They have to do both at the same time," Lynch added. "We are working hard to get ready for the play."

The cast of "Annie" at Octorara includes the following students: Melanie Witte as Annie, Declan Lomboy as Oliver Warbucks, Menah Alkhabaz as Grace Farrell, Bella Delise as Miss Aggie Hannigan, Daniel Keane as Rooster Hannigan, Liz Murphy as Lily St. Regis, Evelyn Witte as Molly, Lauren Bierlein as July, Eva Elboubkri as Kate, Jona Linnenbaugh as Pepper, Julianna Wood as Duffy and Grace Eberhardt as Tessie.

Octorara Junior-Senior High School is located at 228 Highland Road, Atglen. Tickets for the show will be available at the door. There will be separate prices for adults and for students and senior citizens.