SUNNY SIDE UP IN PALM SPRINGS

A production that belts, dances, and tail-wags its way into the season

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Palm Canyon Theatre’s production of Annie delivers a sleigh-full of Christmas delights. All the elements of great musical theatre are here: talented performers, a terrific show and score, spirited direction, eye-catching design — and a thousand watts of energy.

The show opens in a 1933 orphanage, where Se Layne proves once again that she is the best director/choreographer in the Coachella Valley for eliciting amazing performances from young artists. Her years leading PCT’s annual Kids Camp — plus motherhood — give her unmatched skill in shaping these sooty-faced gamines into a cohesive, confident ensemble.

A single red-headed orphan, Annie (Sierra Petrilla), walks down the aisle singing “Maybe,” and from the first note — strong, confident, and fully on pitch — we know we’re in for something special. She soon joins the other orphan girls (Isla Gurnon, Karsyn Kemp, Bogdona Koltsova, Radmira Koltsova, Leilah Mendivil, Brenda Meza, Brooklyn Park, and Kaia Petrilla) for “It’s the Hard Knock Life.” Although Palm Canyon typically uses a live quartet, this production features recorded orchestration with live piano contributions from Linda Mack Berven. Nick Campbell’s sound design ensures that vocals and backing tracks are both vibrant and fully balanced — unapologetically loud in the best possible way.

The orphanage is run by Miss Hannigan, delightfully and devilishly played by Olga Morales. Having watched this actress rise from the ensemble to center stage, it’s a treat to see her command a role with such potent comic bitterness. Her darker take keeps the laughs grounded in truth.

Annie escapes the orphanage and winds up in a “Hooverville,” the show’s pointed reminder of Depression-era economic divide. She also meets an incredibly talented dog named Sandy (Gypsy Rose Lee Giboney) and delivers the show’s anthem “Tomorrow” with heartfelt gusto.

Grace Farrell (Tara Howard), personal secretary to billionaire Oliver Warbucks, arrives to select an orphan for Christmas companionship — and of course chooses Annie. (Howard is, in fact, Sierra Petrilla’s mother and Kaia Petrilla’s in-show orphan sister — a wonderful family affair.)

Miss Hannigan’s scheming brother Rooster (Anthony Nannini) and his moll-du-jour Lily St. Regis (Jessica Inserra) show up for the crowd-pleasing “Easy Street,” a genuine highlight thanks to Layne’s snappy choreography and the trio’s sharp timing.

At Warbucks’ mansion, green-uniformed butlers and maids swoop into “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here” with enthusiasm. Standouts include Drake (Donald Kelley), Mrs. Pugh (Kelly Bevel), and Mrs. Greer (Lisa Walters). Again, kudos to Berven and Campbell for the crisp ensemble sound.

Oliver Warbucks (Paul Grant) arrives from business travel, casually juggling meetings with decisions about whether works like The Mona Lisa are bathroom decor. Grant’s New York accent, commanding presence, and magnificent baritone make him a perfect fit. The addition of “Why Would I Change a Thing?” — written for a later revival — gives him a welcome showcase. No, Warbucks’s head isn’t shaved and Annie isn’t curly-topped, but Annie has long since transcended its comic-strip look.

Act II opens with a live radio broadcast hosted by Steve Giboney as Bert Healy: a delightful shoutout to 1930s broadcasting, complete with Foley, applause sign, and ventriloquist gag.

Then the national Cabinet Room, where President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Tom Warrick) rallies the room — including Warbucks and Annie — into a stirring reprise of “Tomorrow.” Warrick eerily channels the author of the New Deal.

J.W. Layne’s scenic and lighting designs work beautifully, enhanced by Nick Edwards’ astonishing projections — from Hooverville’s bridge and shanties assembling before our eyes to the seamless digital extension of Warbucks’s staircase. And once again, Derik Shopinski’s costumes impress. This one-man factory never misses.

Annie is a joyous way for families to kick off the season. This top-notch production will delight all ages and offers the chance to introduce young audiences to the magic of live theatre.

Note: Annie is double-cast. Sierra Petrilla plays weekends 1 & 3; Karsyn Kemp performs weekends 2 & 4, and plays an orphan on alternate weekends.

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photos by Maile Klein

Annie
Palm Canyon Theater, 538 North Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs
Thurs at 7; Fri and Sat at 7:30; Sun at 2
ends on December 21, 2025
for tickets ($20-$46), call 760.323.5123 or visit PCT

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