'Annie' ushers in Cultural Center Theater era
CANTON − More than a dozen children joyously rehearsed "Annie" the musical in a mostly empty theater at the Cultural Center for the Arts on a recent weeknight.
Feet shuffled and stomped to choregraphed numbers before kids got on their knees and pretended to scrub the floor. Buckets were clanged in harmony as the youngsters joined in the classic song, "It's the Hard Knock Life." Roughly a week before opening night, the atmosphere was infectiously cheerful.
And it was also a full circle moment for some of those involved with the production of "Annie," which is being presented by New Direction Performing Arts Academy. The director and assistant directors and some of the actors had presented "Annie" when the stage was used by the Players Guild Theatre.
Now they are back starting a new chapter with the rebranded Cultural Center Theater in downtown Canton, following the voluntary relocation of the Players Guild Theatre to Kent State University at Stark in Jackson Township.
More:Players Guild move to KSU Stark opens with 'Million Dollar Quartet' and jukebox musical
The second act for the theatrical space commences on Friday with the opening of "Annie," which features a cast of nearly 50 children representing public school districts and Catholic schools across Stark County, as well as students from Tuscarawas County.
"We couldn't think of a better way to kick off the space," said David Whitehill, president and CEO of ArtsinStark.
The show is at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday before a second run at those same weekend times on Nov. 18, 19 and 20. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to https://www.newdirectionperformingartsacademy.com/. New Direction Performing Arts Academy also can be reached at 330-391-1604.
The Cultural Center is at 1001 Market Ave. N next to the Memorial Civic Center.
'I grew up in this building'
Lisa Knight, director of communications for New Direction Performing Arts Academy, is among those for whom "Annie" holds special meaning at the new Cultural Center Theater.
Watching the children practice, her eyes moistened with emotion as she recalled her days as a youth with the Players Guild.
"I actually started my theater journey when I was 11 years old," said Knight, who also serves as an assistant director and music director with New Direction for "Annie." "I grew up here in this building, and this is where my closest friends were, and this was where I learned the art of theatre and made memories."
Knight recalled helping out with "Annie" in 2006 at the Players Guild Theatre as part of a summer camp. Knight, 40, also gave voice lessons, and one of her students ended up performing in an "Annie" production at the Cultural Center. The two are now close friends.
Of the upcoming performance of "Annie," Knight said, "I think it's going to be one of my most emotional and proudest moments."
"Being in this building is very nostalgic," she said. "It's fun that you remember all the memories from all over the years, but also to make new memories with our new students."
New Direction will now call the Cultural Center home for year-round performances, and for summer camps, which previously were at Umstattd Hall in Canton.
Taylor Bond, 31, also traces her passion for theater to the Players Guild stage.
She was 17 when playing the role of Molly for the Players Guild production of "Annie" directed by Carrie Alexander Spina, who now heads New Direction.
"It's just so special to be in this space," said Bond, who teaches drama in local schools. "And it gives the community and the kids a place to perform."
Bond is now working with Spina as an assistant director for "Annie."
"If it wasn't for this space, who knows what I'd be doing," she said while watching the rehearsal.
Fresh start for New Direction Performing Arts Academy
Spina also cherishes the Cultural Center stage.
"I think the most exciting thing for us is we have not had a theatrical home since I was here," she said of New Direction, a theatrical outreach program for schools.
Spina was the director of education and outreach for the Players Guild Theatre before moving on to start New Direction in 2013.
Spina said both New Direction and the Players Guild are benefitting from the new arrangements.
"We a have a good relationship," she said. "I support the guild and they support the kids."
"A lot of the community was sad the Players Guild was (leaving downtown Canton), but they were not closing down," Spina added. "They were starting a whole fresh theater at Kent Stark, and for us, we had a fresh start, too."
Cultural Center Theater plans to feature touring acts
Whitehill, of ArtsinStark, said other uses are planned for the Cultural Center performance spaces.
ArtsinStark, a 52-year-old nonprofit agency that promotes the arts in Stark County, oversees the Cultural Center for the Arts, which also houses the Canton Museum of Art and the offices of Sing Stark! and Canton Ballet.
The Cultural Center Theater includes both the Main Stage with 416 seats and the W.G. Fry Theater with 139 seats. There's also a lobby and green room.
Vox Audio, part of Sing Stark!, will be performing at the Cultural Center for the first time, moving its performances from GlenOak High School. Vox Audio will present "BELIEVE" concerts at 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 17 and at 3 p.m. Dec. 18. Ticket information is available online at https://www.singstark.org/projects or by calling the box office at 330-452-4098.
Local theatre group Avenue Arts is now based at the Cultural Center, and already has performed "Spring Awakening" and "Beauty and the Beast Jr." at its new site.
Future plans for the Main Stage include regional and national performers in dance, comedy, spoken word, music and theater, Whitehill said.
"You shouldn't have to go north," he said of traveling for entertainment in Akron and Cleveland.
"We will look to fall of (2023) to really launch a signature series of performances," he said.
Whitehill, however, said the idea isn't to compete with entertainment already available in downtown Canton, but to enhance the overall opportunities while boosting the local economy. The idea is to "fill the gap," he said.
"So the more days and nights this space is active the better it will be for downtown," he said.
"We want multiple stages downtown to be lit up."
'They'll blow you away, I promise. They're phenomenal.'
Spina promises theatergoers a professional-quality production of "Annie." Many students have appeared previously in several plays and musicals through the Players Guild and New Direction.
"Don't come just because you think they're children," Spina said of the public. "They're highly trained children (actors), and this is their life and their passion already, and you'll see that when you watch these kids. They'll blow you away, I promise. They're phenomenal."
Dan Armstrong III, 16, of Dover is among the students who will bring the iconic musical to life for audiences.
"The enjoyable thing is every single song has its own story and its own feeling," he said.
Of performing at the former home of the Players Guild, Armstrong said, "It's amazing I can be here on this stage with a big role."
Katie Dever, 15, of North Canton, has been acting in plays since first grade − "Annie" was her first show. She's been in nearly 30 productions total.
"I feel like it's timeless, it never gets old," Dever said. "It's just something everyone can enjoy."
Caroline Harold, 17, of Plain Township, said "Annie" is sentimental to audiences.
"It's a show that's based in such a dark time, but brings some light and good things that have happened," the Central Catholic High School student said of the story set in the Great Depression.
Playing the role of Annie is 11-year-old Jackson Township resident Athena Paxos.
Paxos has acted in around a dozen productions, including Players Guild shows.
She said it's an honor to help open the renamed theater space.
"It's going to be lots of energy," Paxos said of the popular musical. "And I think (audience members) will have smiles on their faces."
Reach Ed at 300-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com. On Twitter: @ebalintREP.
On Twitter @ebalintREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Sun will come out on new era for Cultural Center Theater with 'Annie'
