Photo courtesy of Maria Cuff Ashley Vos plays the part of Annie in the T-Bird Community Arts production of Annie. The musical will be presented at 7 p.m. Aug. 1-3 and 2 p.m. Aug. 4 in the Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop (GFW) Middle/High School Auditorium in Winthrop. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TbirdCommunityArts.com or call 507-207-2226.

WINTHROP — A T-Bird Community Arts cast of 43, ages 8 to 67, present the musical “Annie” Aug. 1-4 in GFW (Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop) Middle/High School Auditorium.

Based on a popular comic strip by Harold Gray, “Annie” came a worldwide phenomenon, winning 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical after it was released in 1982.

The book and score by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin features some of the greatest musical theatre hits written including “Tomorrow.”

Little orphan Annie (Ashley Vos) charms hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City.

She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan (Gwen Ruff).

With help from other girls at the orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC, foiling Miss Hannigan’s evil schemes and even befriends President Franklin Roosevelt (Kent Menzel).

Annie finds a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks (Jeff Odegard), his personal secretary, Grace Farrell (Isabelle Vos), and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

Vos, a senior at GFW High School this fall, said she’s found playing Annie challenging at times.

“It’s kind of difficult playing an 11-year-old. I had to change my singing voice and mannerisms. I had to step back and make sure I come across child-like,” she said.

Another challenge is doing theater technological things while playing the lead.

“It’s been more challenging doing tech stuff this year, but I’ve received a lot of help from others with it,” said Vos.

She said she had a lot of lines but, surprisingly, she’s found it a lot easier to figure them out than she thought it would be.

She’s been in theater since first grade, except for when COVID stopped a production.

Vos’s father Joe Vos said Annie is the first musical he’s directed. He’s done set construction in the past.

“It’s been challenging, but everyone in the group has helping with all that’s going on. It’s been an exciting opportunity for me,” he added.

Why present Annie?

“The TCA (T-Bird Community Arts) board wanted to do a family-friendly musical. They created a list of the five most-suited production and Annie was the most popular,” said Vos.

Performances are 7 p.m. Aug. 1-3 and 2 p.m. Aug. 4. Tickets can be purchased online at TbirdCommunityArts.com or call 507-207-2226.

The musical is made possible by a Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council grant and legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

The cast: Ashley Vos, Annie. Jeff Odegard, Oliver Warbucks. Gwen Ruff, Miss Hannigan. Isabelle Vos, Grace Farrell. Brennan Glawe, Rooster Hannigan. Elissa Ries, Lily. Kent Menzel, FDR.

Cardyn Suess, Louis Howe. Claire Schmidt, orphan Molly. Miley Odegard, orphan Kate. Grasha Johnson, orphan Tessie. Kalli Aden, orphan Pepper. Maddie Meitner, orphan Duffy.

Quinn Schmidt, orphan July. Orphans Acelyn Harford, Ellieanna Isaac, Elora Larabee, Aubree Schwecke, Morgan Christensen, Zoie Delong, Sage Long. Derek Helget, Drake. Jen Isaac, Mrs. Pugh. Laura Sallstrom, Mrs. Greer. Rhonda Buerkle, Cecille. Alana Rieke, Annette.

Sam Gatton, Bundles McCloskey. Cooper Foss, Lt. Ward. Alex Vos, Al the apple seller. Tina Castillo, Sophie. Rob Gleason, Eddie. Joe Vos, Bert Healy. Yzaelyah Rendon, Ronnie Boylan. Savanna Sweely, Connie Boylan. Gabe Bakken, Fred McCracken. Tyler Aden, sound effects man. Kenny Duncan, NYC kid. Isaac Vos, dog catcher. Spot, Sandy the dog.

Crew: Keely Hlinsky, Kelston Larabee, James Slosson, Robby Lund, Mitchell Ibarra, Mike Burns, Amanda Rieke.

Production: Maria Cuff, Shanda Aden, Jennifer Thompson, Lynnae Grack, Jos Vos, Samarah Forster, Rob Gleason, Sheila Prax, Kevin Caldwell.