By Mara Lorena Lopez

"Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya, Tomorrow! You're always a day away!" These heart warming lyrics will soon soothe the ears of many as the youth of Laredo unite to present a production of the well known musical, Annie Jr.
Lamar middle school instructor Peggy Phelps is directing the show, which will open Friday, July 19, at 7:00 p.m., at the Lamar Middle School auditorium. She is assisted by Mara López and technical director Truman Phelps.
Ms. Phelps is a board member of L.I.T.E. Productions, which is dedicated to education and theater in the Laredo area. L.I.T.E. is an acronym for the Laredo Institute for Theatrical Education.
More than 50 children from the ages of 4 thru 14 auditioned for Annie Jr. The final cast consists of more than 40 talented children. Annie is played by Cassandra Vara and Daddy Warbucks is played by Alex X. López. Also in the cast are Tally Stock, who plays Miss Hannigan, and Marla Perez, who plays Grace. Molly, the youngest orphan, is played by 5-year-old Amy Nicole Reilly. Aneesh Raghunandan, who will be playing piano, is 12 years old and will be accompanying the singers. These are just a few of the performers in this play.
Theater veteran Phelps is no stranger to working with children. "I think it's fun," she said. "I think it's a challenge. It's a challenge to keep the kids entertained. It's a challenge to teach kids to love theater."
This play is entitled Annie Jr. because by contract, no child older than 14 is permitted on stage, said Phelps. It is an adaptation of the original Broadway musical Annie. The book is written by Thomas Meehan, the music is written by Charles Strouse, and the lyrics are written by Martin Charnin. Ms. Phelps chose to put on Annie Jr. because "it is a well known play that it allows many roles for children."
Annie Jr. is the story of a poor but cheerful orphan and her adventures. It all takes place in New York City in the middle of the Great Depression. Annie lives in a orphanage owned by the cruel and eccentric Miss Hannigan. Annie is eventually adopted by the billionaire Oliver Warbucks, but the adoption is not a smooth one. Rooster, Miss Hannigan's sly brother, and his accomplice, Lily, almost pull off a scheme to kidnap Annie.
"L.I.T.E. Productions thanks Lamar Middle School principal Blas Martinez for allowing us to use the auditorium and for all the support he has shown us in our production," said Phelps. "We would also like to thank LISD for all of their support as well. Last, but certainly not least, the Annie Jr. family would like to thank all of the parents who drive them to and from practice and for all of their dedication."
Although the play is only in the first weeks of rehearsal, performance dates have been announced. Opening night is Friday, July 19, at 7:00. Other performance dates are Saturday July 20, at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, July 21, at 1:30 p.m., Friday July 26, at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, July 27, at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday July 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Tickets will be sold at the door and from parents of cast members. The donation is $5.00. All performances will be held in the Lamar Middle School Auditorium.