ALMOST 300 young Corkonians lined up to audition for a starring role in the musical Annie yesterday.
The children were trying to clinch a place in the Spotlight Productions show, which opens in Dublin in July before moving to Cork in August.
Queues of up to 500 people snaked around Cork Opera House as parents prepared children for their moment in the spotlight, in front of a judging panel that included producer Stuart O’Connor and musical director David Hayes.
Girls were invited to try out for the starring role, while 16 boys and girls will be plucked to play orphans. Of the 280 auditions seen yesterday at Cork Opera House, 70 were asked to return today for a second trial run.
“We had a massive response in Cork and while auditioning at that level usually draws varying results, the quality was fantastic, we were really surprised. And we are happy to say we might even have an Annie from Cork, there were definitely one or two that are firmly in the running,” Mr O’Connor said.
Orphans for the Cork show will be cast today, while three prospective Annies will go to Dublin to take part in a special Annie radio production on RTÉ Radio’s Mooney show on April 24th, where the winner will be chosen from a pool of 10.
Annie opens at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin on July 3rd and at Cork Opera House on August 4th.