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PA I DPERMIT NO. 32St. JOSEPH, MO

Vol 95 | Issue 34 griffonnews.com Special Insert

when

comes to Western

when

“Annie”comes to Western

Nov. 29 - Dec. 9

“Annie” stars 13 children from the St. Joseph community. Check out the cast list. See Page 4

Who needs height when you have talent? Check out these two little stars.

See Page 3

Youth reigns on the stage as the show revolves around two children who star as Annie.

Cast ListCast List

Tevin Harris | Asst. Photo Editor

See Page 2

T

h

e su

n will come out

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PA I DPERMIT NO. 32St. JOSEPH, MO

Vol 95 | Issue 34 griffonnews.com Special Insert

when

comes to Western“Annie”

comes to WesternNov. 29 - Dec. 9

when

Tevin Harris | Asst. Photo Editor

“Annie” stars 13 children from the St. Joseph community. Check out the cast list. See Page 4

Who needs height when you have talent? Check out these two little stars.

See Page 3

Youth reigns on the stage as the show revolves around two children who star as Annie.

Cast ListCast ListSee Page 2

Greg Williams

“ANNIE” The Griffon NewsPage 4

Cast ListCast List

Ensemble

Cecilia TackettUsherette-Dancer, Boylan Sister,

Ensemble

Lauren BergmanBoylan Sister, Ensemble

Will CorsoMan Servant 3, Ensemble

Colton ConnorsKid 1, Ensemble

Sean ConnorsPerkins, Lt. Ward, Ensemble

Jackson ConnersKid 2, Ensemble

Josh PearsonRiley BayerMan Servant 4, Bundles,

Eddie, Ensemble

Megan SpraguePepper

Isabel ScamurraRosie

Sebastian SmithDrake, Hull, Ensemble

Derek Thompson

Annaka KelloggAnnie

Ashtyn GriffinAnnie

Erik Burns-SprungOliver Warbucks

Ashley Wood Whitnee AllenMrs. Greer, Boylan Sister, Ensemble Usherette-Dancer, Ensemble

Lauryn RobertsGrace Farrell

Rooster

Risa JohnstonMiss Hannigan

Robin UssherSophie, Ensemble

Larry CliftonMorganthau, Man 1, Ensemble

Derek Caswell Asst. Dog Catcher, Ensemble

Makayla ToveyMolly

Bobbie Joe ToveyOrphan Ensemble

Olivia TewellTessie

Anna BraccianoDuffy

Kyle MinxMan Servant 2, Bert Healy,

President Roosevelt, Ensemble

Hailey MeyerOrphan Ensemble

Paige DekaOrphan Ensemble

Lindsey HartleyWoman 2, Ensemble

Amy LawrenceAsst. Stage Manager

Harley and Jamie DancerSandy Dog, Stage Manager

Dallas HenryDirector

Kaltenborn, Dog Catcher, Man 3, EnsembleCecille, Star To Be

Moriah PoetUsherette-Dancer, Ensemble

Madeline FullerOrphan Ensemble

Nerissa Lee Megan RenderAnnette, Woman 1, Ensemble

Sofie StewartKate

Joseph KelloggAsst. Dog Catcher, Ensemble

Maria Nabors Alex Nabors Xan Kellogg Jennifer CobbJuly Orphan Ensemble Lily St. Regis, Usherette-Dancer,

EnsembleUsherette-Dancer, Ensemble

Danny KelloggIckes, Judge Brandeis,

Man 2, Ensemble

Andy TyhurstFred McCracken, Howe, Officer Ward, Ensemble

Gabriel BartonMan Servant 1, Sound Effects Man,

Man 4, Ensemble

*Not Pictured: Morgan Robinson, Alex Richards and Kiefer Martin *All Photos Taken By Jason Brown | Photo Contributor

“ANNIE” “ANNIE”The Griffon NewsThe Griffon NewsPage 3Page 2

Eboni Lacey | Editor-in-Chiefelacey@missouriwestern.edu

We all remember the story of “Annie” -- a little fiery redhead that made us all hope for tomorrow through her charm, charisma, and her can-do-it attitude. However, the show’s director, Dallas Henry, had a special memory of “Annie,” which is why he jumped at the chance to have this play on Missouri West-ern’s campus.

“My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about a year and a half ago, and this was a show where when I was a young kid my mom used to wake me up and come in singing ‘tomorrow, tomorrow,’” Henry said. “That was kind of always her theme song.”

The “Tomorrow” song stuck with Henry for years as he performed it at his third grade talent show, played in the production in college and now is directing the whole musical.

Henry also got the idea to use this show to spread awareness about Alzheimer’s disease to increase knowl-edge on the campus and com-munity.

“I thought for the students it’d be a fun challenge to dance and to have a fun, nice bright musical,” Henry said. “I figured we can tie in my mom as far as Alzheimer’s awareness … and kind of bring everyone together. It’s kind of like doing this one for my mom.”

The cast will include many young new faces, yet some familiar faces as well. The show will star two Annies, 9-year-old Ashtyn Griffin and 13-year-old Annaka Kellogg. Some returning actors in-clude Risa Johnston, who will play Miss Hannigan, Kyle Minx, who plays President Roosevelt and Bert Heal-ey and a servant and Erik Burns-Sprung, who plays Oliver Warbucks, an uptight, bald-headed billionaire who, over time, finds joy through spending time with Annie. For Burns-Sprung, preparing

for this role involved giving something very unexpected.

“I had to shave off all my hair and my beard,” Burns-Sprung said. “I’ve never had hair this short. I had hoped they were going to get me a bald cap, but that didn’t end up coming through. I defi-nitely feel a lot colder out-side,” he said jokingly.

Another returning actor, Sebastian Smith, who plays three roles in the show – a hobo, a cabinet member and Drake -- Warbucks’ butler, also had an interesting time getting in touch with his many parts.

“It makes my life very busy but I really enjoy being able to play three different char-acters on stage,” Smith said. “I’m in every chorus number in the show because of it. I have to learn every song.”

Henry noted that he want-ed this play to be very big and really give the audience a great “wow-factor.” The play includes a number of new stage techniques such as roll-on-roll-out sets, back drops, big dance and singing numbers and costumes that reflect the era of the Great De-pression. The show will also include commercials that are spin-offs of some of the old commercials of the 1930s.

Lead costume designer Kelly Vogel, who has been in-volved in nine Western play productions and the head costume designer for eight of them, explained some of the work that is involved behind the scenes during a produc-tion, as many people don’t realize what all goes on, she said.

“It gets really crazy because people come in and out and we don’t have a full time costume staff because I don’t live here,” said Vogel, who commutes from Lawrence, Kan. “It’s fun otherwise, I wouldn’t do it. I read the script, I meet with the direc-tor and I have to understand who they are as people once I know the director’s vision and find out who they look like. A lot of times an actor may not be sure of what di-

rection to take until they see their costume.”

“Annie” opens Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. and the show will run for two week-ends concluding on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. in the Potter Hall Theatre. Both matinee and evening shows are avail-able for purchase online at

www.mwsutix.com, in per-son at the Potter Hall Box Of-fice or by phone at 816-271-4452. For more information about the play visit http://www.missouriwestern.edu/theatrecinema/annie.asp.

Donations will be accepted with proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association. For

every $10 donated, the donor will receive a small stuffed Sandy dog, Annie’s best friend.

Both Henry and the cast and crew are truly hoping this play will leave the audi-ence with joy, motivation and a glimpse into a “hard knock life” of a tough little girl.

“People are down and out and need that whole inspi-ration,” Henry said. “That’s what “Annie” does -- every scene you see that she brings life to that scene. She’s the op-timism.”

Theatre to host play to raise Alzheimer’s awareness

Seven members of the 27-person ensemble belt one of the various songs during “Annie.” Most singers play other roles as well. TevinHarris|Asst.PhotoEditor

Big things comein small packages Two scene stealers prove that size doesn’t matter

“It’s OK, I’m a midget” is a saying many cast members have heard while on the set of Missouri Western’s produc-tion of “Annie.”

Ten-year-old Makayla and 8-year-old Bobbie Joe Tovey are small and embrace their height, but they are anything but small when it comes to being on stage. Bobbie Joe is a part of the orphan ensemble while Makayla will be playing the role of the mischievous or-phan Molly.

The actresses are taking af-ter their father when it comes to being entertaining. He is a midget wrestler who ap-peared in the hit movie “Jack-ass 3D,” and also has a show called “Half Pint Brawlers.” Although most of his children want to follow in his footsteps and become midget wrestlers, Makayla has decided that wrestling isn’t for her.

“I never fight back,” Makay-la said. “I either want to be a singer or a gymnast.”

The love of gymnastics was what first got the girls inter-ested in performing on stage. They’ve participated in annual recitals for dance and acrobat-ics that have helped prepare them with a good stage pres-ence. Because of their experi-

ence with tumbling, they may or may not (hint hint) do a flip or trick in a scene.

Though their interests are similar when it comes to being on stage and performing, their personalities couldn’t be more opposite of each other. Lauryn Roberts, who plays Grace Far-rell, is one of the adult actors who is around the two sisters often. She finds their differ-ent personalities to be helpful when working on “Annie.”

“Makayla is a diva, but Bob-bie Joe is silent but deadly,” Roberts said. “She has a look, and sometimes Makayla gets too out of control, and Bob-bie Joe shoots her a look. They kind of even each other out because Makayla can be very over-the-top, which is really funny, but when we have to get work done Bobbie Joe kind of brings her back.”

Andy Tyhurst, who plays multiple roles in “Annie,” be-lieves that it’s the kids who are the stars of this play, and Makayla could be the differ-ence maker who bumps this play up another notch.

“She’s going to be the show stealer,” Tyhurst said. “She’s just so cute and loves attention that audience is just going to

fall in love with her, like we all have.”

The girls are both local to St. Joseph and attend Lind-bergh Elementary School. Even though this is their first time acting in a play, this likely won’t be their last. Makayla’s favorite part about it so far has been seeing the audience and meeting new friends. Her mind is already set on trying out for roles here at Western in the future.

“I’m going to try,” Makayla said. “I know if I do it now then it will get me a better chance of doing it next time.”

Roberts went on to say “An-nie” wouldn’t be the last time we will see Makayla and Bob-bie Joe.

Makayla has found some challenges though, but noth-ing to big for her to handle.

“Trying to remember the lines was iffy in the begin-ning, but now I got everything down,” Makayla said. “Most of the time it’s pretty easy as long you’re in your spot and you’re not goofing around.”

Makayla insists that neither her nor her sister goof around.

“I’m a sweet angel,” she said. “[Bobbie Joe’s] an angel but I’m a sweet angel.”

Christian Mengel | Asst. Sports Editorcmengel@missouriwestern.edu

“There is a Kellogg on stage at all times. We get the whole show.”

Those words by Xan Kel-log exemplify the Kellogg family’s involvement with Missouri Western’s upcom-ing production of “Annie.”

Danny Kellogg holds down several roles, along with his son, Joseph, and his two daughters Xan and Annaka, the latter playing the title role.

This is not the first time the Kellogg family has worked together in a show. They have done many shows together through community theater.

Xan recalls doing sev-eral shows with her family while she was in elementa-ry school and high school, but this is the first occasion that she has been on stage with her family while at Western and only her sec-ond show at Western, over-all, after transferring from the University of Missouri.

Her current role is as Lily St. Regis and presents a unique challenge for her.

“It’s definitely been a different role for me to play because it’s the ditzy, air-headed blonde -- very sensual, which is weird for me,” Xan said.

It wasn’t a personality that came natural to her so it brought some unique challenges for her while on stage. “I’ve definitely taken a lot from parties -- watch-ing drunk girls being, you know, crazy. I get my in-spiration from them,” she added.

Of course, the main fo-cus of the show is going to be thrown toward Annaka, who is playing one of the most recognized roles for young girls in theater, be-hind probably Juliet.

Thirteen-year-old An-

naka is presented with the opportunity, but also chal-lenge, of portraying the young red-haired Annie. However, most of her ob-stacles are being dealt with off stage.

“Some challenges are just the late nights and trying to get my homework done, get my lines memorized and go to rehearsal and somehow fit everything in and making it interlock,” Kellogg said.

It’s almost poetic to a sense that this entire family is coming together on stage and the youngest of kin is the one leading the show -- and it is also her first time ever with a lead in a show.

One of the benefits of working with each other is the understanding and working environment that comes within a family. With all of the stresses that come with doing a musical, they are able to understand it because they have all been there and been through it. They are also capable of helping each other in spots that may be new to them or struggles that can be both-ersome.

But we all know how families can get.

“It’s a huge blessing, but it’s also sometimes kind of hard because sometimes you just want to kill them. Because they are your fam-ily,” Xan said.

The contrast between

their real lives and their theater lives provides a whole new aspect to the experience as well. There is a moment within the show when Annie walks in and asks if any of the people on the streets were her parents, to which her dad’s charac-ter coincidentally says “She ain’t my kid.” There’s also a point when Xan’s character acts as Annie’s mother. The experience was fun and new for the two.

“It was kind of funny at first, then I thought it was kind of fun,” Annaka said. “At first I thought ‘That’s odd,’ but then it was fun pretending that she’s my mom.”

Xan seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.

“I get to totally ham it up and mess with her. It’s great,” she added.

The Kelloggs are clearly a very jubilant family and strive in working together.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve all been in a show together … so it’s been real fun to spend the time with my family,” An-naka said.

They find the experience as a way to not only be with family, but to grow with each other as well.

Xan seemed to sum the process up the best, as she said, “We all love theater, so it’s great to share some-thing you love with the people that you love.”

(Left) Annaka Kellogg, 13, and (Right) Ashtyn Griffin, 9, will switch off each night playing Annie. This will mark their first lead role at Missouri Western. TevinHarris|Asst.PhotoEditor

Sometimes she forgets she is wearing her round, curly redheaded wig.

“I’ll look out of the top of my eye, and I’m like ‘Oh, what’s this big fuzzy thing on my head?’” the eighth grader said jokingly.

When searching for the perfect Annies for Missouri Western’s production of “Annie,” theatre and cinema professor and director Dal-las Henry had a specific cri-

terion.He said it’s about their

charm, charisma, attitude and personality and how they matched up with Oliver Warbucks and Grace. Plus, since it is based in the 1930s, they need to bring life to the scenes, i.e. be the inspiration and optimism.

After calling back seven Annies, he said he had a hard decision to make; after a week of casting, he knew which two were going to take the stage for pretty much the whole play.

Thirteen-year-old An-naka Kellogg and 9-year-old Ashtyn Griffin were going to be stars.

“With An-nie, you have to fall in love with her right away,” Hen-ry said. “It has to be an instant con-nection and I think both of them have that quality. I think it’s i m p o r t a n t because oth-erwise you don’t have a show -- it’s called ‘An-nie’ for a rea-son, so those two are it.”

Being cast as Annie will mark Kellogg and Griffin’s first lead role at Western.

“I was

very surprised when I got my callback,” Kellogg said. “I was waiting the whole week-end, and I kept thinking ‘Am I going to get it? Am I going to get it? Am I going to get it?’ and ‘When’s he going to post it?’ When I saw my name was first, I was really, really ex-cited.”

Kellogg, who has also acted in Western’s “A Christmas Carol, will start at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29, and Griffin, who has played the character July in “Annie Jr.,” will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1. They will switch off each performance after that.

So why two Annies you ask?

“We need two Annies [in case of] sickness because she carries the show,” Henry said. “Usually adults can plunge through it, but with Annie, she’s in the entire show, and it’s also about not getting them overwhelmed.”

For the role, they must memorize several pages of lines, songs and dance moves and plenty more – and for a 13- and 9-year-old, Henry said that’s a lot to ask for. Griffin said the dance memo-rization has been the hardest to learn, while Kellogg said the time consumption has been somewhat stressful as she juggles memorizing lines, finishing homework and and getting enough sleep.

However, musical director Shaun Agnew, who has been working with the Annies on the side, said they have risen to the challenge.

“They always go for it ev-ery single time (during re-hearsals); they don’t hold anything back,” Agnew said. “They just picked up things from my end so quickly, I think far quicker than most

college students and adults.”Agnew has been work-

ing with Kellogg and Griffin on delivering text clearly on stage, blocking, being aware of the stage, knowing what to do when something goes wrong and the “belting men-tality” that goes along with Broadway shows such as “Annie.”

Agnew has already met with Kellogg in the past as he has known her pretty much her whole life, and he believes she brings a lot of experience and is mature for her age. He said the process is easier for Kellogg because she has been involved in the-ater before, whereas Griffin hasn’t had any experience in a Western play. However, he said he thinks Griffin has learned a lot from watching Kellogg during rehearsals.

Kellogg and Griffin have been switching off at rehears-als, which means they have had to watch and focus on what the other is doing so they know what to do when it’s their turn on stage. So es-sentially, they are only getting half the rehearsal time as op-posed to the rest of the cast, which can be challenging.

But as for Griffin, Agnew

said she really surprised her.“I told her she has a gift,”

Agnew said. “After of all the auditions I heard of anybody -- kids and adults -- she’s the one that really blew me away. She opened her mouth and the sound that came out was that belting, typical Broad-way sound. [As a 9-year-old], she has never had a voice les-son in her life.”

Henry said each actress brings something different to the table, and he’s curious as to what people will say of each performance. Agnew also said they have complete-ly different strengths.

“Someone asked me the other night, ‘Who’s Annie 1 and Annie 2?’” Agnew said. “I said I didn’t think there was an Annie 1 and Annie

2 because they totally come right to an even keel in terms of what they do and their per-formances.”

Griffin said she is kind of nervous for the performances coming up, but she has confi-dence in her voice.

“I feel pretty good about it, I think I have a pretty good voice for it being my first show that’s big,” Griffin said.

Kellogg is also having some butterflies, but she thinks ev-erything will work out.

“Sometimes I’m afraid that I’m not going to be able to do it, but then I’ll have nights where I’m spot on and I’m like ‘Yay, I can do this -- I’m going to be able to pull it off.’”

1. Director Dallas Henry chose this play in honor of his mom, who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

2. The story “Annie” is based on the comic strip “Little orphan Annie” created by Harold Gray in 1924.

3. Hot chocolate, hot apple cider and cookies will be served during intermission.

4. Audience members are encouraged to wear purple.

5. Donations will be accepted with proceeds going toward the Alzheimer’s association for every $10 do-nated. Donors will receive a small stu�ed Sandy ( the dog in “Annie”).

6. 77 children auditioned for the show.

7. The Kellogg family -- Western student Xan Kellogg, Buchanan County Judge Dan Kellogg, 13-year-old Annaka Kellogg and Joseph Kellogg all play in show. There is one Kellogg member in every scene.

8. The two girls starring as Annie are 9 and 13. This is their �rst lead role at Western.

9. The show has numerous new stage techniques, such as big dance numbers, acrobatic moves, front curtains, drops and roll on, roll out, set changes.

10. The whole stage crew -- lighting, sound, stage managing are all freshman or �rst timers doing a Western production.

10 �n facts about “Annie”

13-, 9-year-old to star as Annie in musicalBlair Stalder | Managing Editorbstalder@missouriwestern.edu

Theater: A family affair Kelloggs bond through performing, singingBrian Duskey |Multimedia Editorbduskey@missouriwestern.edu

(Left) Xan, (Center) Annaka and (Right) Danny Kellogg all perform together on stage. TevinHarris|Asst.PhotoEditor

(Left) Bobbie Joe, 8, and (Right) Makayla Tovey sing and dance to “Hard-Knock Life.” Makayla, who is performing as the orphan Molly and her sister, who is a part of the orphan ensemble, attend Lind-bergh Elementary School in St Joseph. “Annie” marks their first time on stage at Missouri Western. TevinHarris|Asst.PhotoEditor

(Above) Bobbie Joe Tovey holds a bucket that her sister, Makayla “gets stuck in” later in the play, “Annie.” TevinHarris|Asst.PhotoEditor