There’s something especially fitting about the musical “Annie” being staged by a cast that spans generations of local families. That’s because this ageless musical is, at its heart, a story about chosen family, resilience, and adults showing up for children — themes that are echoed onstage at Edmonds College’s Black Box Theatre as parents, kids, teachers, and even a family dog perform together in a spirited and talent-packed show.
The production, a partnership of Seattle’s Performers and Ballyhoo Theatre, runs through Dec. 21 at Edmond College’s intimate Black Box Theatre.
The setting
Set during the Great Depression, “Annie” follows a determined orphan whose unyielding optimism leads her from a grim New York City orphanage into the unlikely care of billionaire Oliver Warbucks. With its familiar score — including “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” and “Tomorrow” — the musical continues to resonate as a story about hope, determination, generosity, and the belief that circumstances don’t get the final say.
The orphans sing about their dreary days in “Annie.” Here, Annie is played by Farah Halverson. (Image: Leila Wakefield)
Multigenerational performers
What distinguishes this production is the way life and art intertwine onstage. The cast includes more than 40 adult and child performers, including members of three local families performing together. Among them is Edmonds School Board Director Hawk Cramer who plays Oliver Warbucks. Beside him, in the title role of Annie, is his daughter, Beatrice Cramer. During the run, the role of Annie is split between Beatrice and Farah Halverson.
Beatrice, who belted out “Tomorrow” like there’s no tomorrow during the show I attended, is a seasoned performer with credits including 5th Avenue Theatre’s production of “White Christmas,” several Seattle Performers productions, and Village Theater’s Kidstage production of “Shrek.”
Her powerful voice and engaging performance and Cramer’s sweetly sentimental crooning would, alone, make for terrific show. But there’s a visible bond between this Annie and Warbucks that shines throughout and makes their eventual decision to be “Together Forever” shine like the top of the Chrysler Building. All I can say is what a cherished memory f0r audiences, and for this father and daughter.
For Cramer, the decision to step back on stage after several decades was simple. When Beatrice heard about the show she was determined to audition … “she also asked me if I would be willing to audition with her,” he said.”The last time I performed on stage was just a little over 40 years ago when I was in high school.” But Beatrice is in grade 8. Cramer is a teacher at Valleyview middle school in Snohomish.
“If your eighth grade daughter ask you to do something with her, especially if it is important to her, you do it,” Cramer said.
“To act in these particular roles with Beatrice is an incredible gift, and I’m so grateful to family, friends, and colleagues for their support,” Cramer said. “It’s been humbling and inspiring. Beatrice gets the credit, she roped me into it—like the lyric says, I’m wrapped around her finger. My wife Maggie, who teaches kindergarten in Shoreline, ran lines with us. Definitely a team Cramer affair!”
But the multigenerational dynamic extends beyond the Cramers.
Miss Hannigan, played by Rylynn Davis (Image: Leila Wakefield)
Children and youth in the cast—who all bring plenty of experience from past performances with 5th Avenue, Ballyhoo, and Seattle Performers—perform alongside parents, siblings, and even their own instructors from Seattle Performers. In another family pairing, Edmonds dad, Jason Aillaud (President Roosevelt) is making his musical debut, joining his children Elliott and Esme, both already seasoned young performers. Aimee Naughton and daughter Emersyn Kuykendal also share the stage, while young performer and Woodway resident Cleo Christophilis is joined by her canine co-star, Ruthie, as Sandy— a rescue dog making her theatrical debut.
Definitely for all ages (best for age 6 and up)
All this is to say, you really can’t get more family-friendly than this production performed by families, for families, and produced by a nonprofit theater organization that gets kids and families, and whose mission is to educate kids about theater. Seattle’s Performers has brought musical theatre programs to schools in Seattle, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Redmond, and Mill Creek for more than a decade.
I should add big kudos to another adult in this play. Rylynn Davis’ performance as Miss Hannigan is a delicious romp with all the rottenness the role requires and a knock-out voice to spew it.
If you’ve seen a Broadway-staged version of “Annie,” or enjoyed the multi-million-dollar film version, park big theater expectations at home. This is youth-focused community theater presented in the intimate Black Box Theatre. With it’s clean and spare use of probs and wonderful use of screen image backdrops to create the illusion of city streets, rooms and buildings in the small stage space, this “Annie” leans into connection over spectacle. The close quarters allow audiences to see the action up close and relationships — between characters and performers alike — with clarity and warmth.
For families looking to make theater part of their holiday tradition, Seattle Performers’ “Annie” offers something rare: a production where the message of chosen family is echoed not just in the script, but in the cast itself. The musical’s message isn’t just sung; it’s lived.
The end result is a family-friendly production that feels rooted not just in Broadway tradition, but in a world where real families, and kids in need, live.
Details
Age recommendation: Annie is generally recommended for ages 4-6 and up, with many theaters suggesting 5+ depending on a child’s ability to sit through the two-hour show.
How to prepare for “Annie:” In this show you see current issues in the past: A few rich (Warbucks would be in that golden 1%) and many more poor (orphans, people living in shanty towns). Invite your kids to ask questions about what they see in terms of this divide onstage for a teachable moment. Moreover, take a moment to explain the Great Depression to your kids, that is caused many kids to become orphans and that, eventually, Roosevelt’s “New Deal” helped the nation get back on its feet. Finally, in “Annie” you’ll hear a few “damns” and “hell” here, just a warning,
Dates/Times: Dec. 18, 19, 20 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 20 at 2 p.m.; Dec. 21 at 3 p.m.
Location: Edmond College’s Black Box Theatre, 20310 68th Ave W. in Lynnwood.
Cost: Adults $25, students $20. The theater also has a pay-what-you-can program.
Get tickets and information: seattlesperformers.com/buy-tickets
