The story of a young orphan is being brought to life by two Transcona residents.

Zoë Adam is playing the lead role in the Rainbow Stage musical production of Annie, which began Aug. 9 and will continue at the Kildonan Park theatre until Aug. 31.

Genessa Ruffeski plays an orphan and is also the Annie understudy, ready to step in to the lead role if the situation arises.

Annie takes place in New York during the Great Depression and is based on the Little Orphan Annie comic strip.

Adam said it was her mom who originally brought up the idea of auditioning for the part.

"I was sitting down playing on the computer and my mom asked me if I wanted to audition," said Adam, 9.

"My mom tricked me when she found out I got it. She said I didn’t get the part, and then told me I did."

Ruffeski, who knew she wanted to be a performer after seeing the Rainbow Stage production of  The Sound of Music, said it’s a dream come true to be on the stage.

"I like it a lot because when I left that show I said one day I wanted to be here," Ruffeski said.

Director Donna Fletcher, who was an actor the last time Annie was staged at the Kildonan Park theatre 25 years ago, said it has been a great experience directing the play in her hometown.

"It’s just wonderful. It’s a heartwarming show that talks about life and family, for me it’s an incredibly exciting show," said Fletcher, who teaches at the University of Winnipeg Theatre Department, and is an instructor of voice and director of the Musical Theatre Ensemble at the University of Manitoba Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music.

"It’s huge, I can’t even put it in words. It’s a dream quite frankly."

 Fletcher, the first Winnipeg-born female director at Rainbow Stage, said the girls have prepared well, and Ruffeski has an important role as understudy.

"The understudy is a vital part of professional theatre. We need to have someone ready to go in case something happens," she said.

The two young actors weren’t friends before taking part in Annie, but the experience has helped them develop a lasting bond.

"We’ve become really good friends. Before the show all the orphans get together and we say a prayer," said Ruffeski, 11.

"We both have a secret handshake," Adam added with a little smile.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the show visit http://www.rainbowstage.ca.

 facebook.com/TheHeraldWpg
Twitter: HeraldWPG

adrian.alleyne@canstarnews.com