Altamont student takes center stage as Annie
The sun will come out July 10 at the Virginia Samford Theatre’s opening performance of Annie.
This rendition of Annie stars Mountain Brook resident Surina Prabhu as the red-headed orphan determined to find her parents who left her on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage years ago.
“It’s exciting,” Prahbu said. “I’ve never really had such a big role. I have had smaller roles, but not the lead.”
She is also happy her first lead role is Annie because she said the first song she ever sang was “Tomorrow,” which is a classic song from the musical. Prubhu said she loves the movie Annie and has always wanted to play this role.
The 11-year-old, who attends The Altamont School, started singing when she was five, and said she started getting more into theater when she was in fourth grade.
She has performed in The Little Mermaid Junior at Virginia Samford Theatre and Cinderella Kids and Beauty and the Beast Junior at Red Mountain Theatre Company.
“[The best part is] just getting to do it because that is my love,” Prahbu said. “It is what I love to do, and I love getting to meet new people.”
Helping Annie along the way are her sidekicks and fellow orphans who share a hard knock life in depression-struck, 1930s New York City. Playing some of those orphans are other Mountain Brook residents CeCe Kelly as Duffy, Anna Bella Foster as Tessie (in one cast) and Clark Stewart as Tessie (in another cast).
Prahbu said she looks forward to working with the rest of the cast because it is like being a part of another family — one where you feel happy and welcome. Although she hadn’t met any of the adults in the show yet, she said she was sure she is going to like them because they also have a love for theatre like she does.
For her, being on the stage is natural. She loves singing all of Annie’s songs.
“I like to sing either ‘Maybe’ or ‘Tomorrow’ [the most] because they truly express Annie and her uniqueness and how optimistic she really is,” Prahbu said.
Prahbu said she never gets nervous either, which she thinks is because theatre is her passion. The only fear she has is messing up her lines, but even then she can call out for them.
With choreography and musical rehearsals continuing, Prahbu is excited to perform on VST’s stage in front of an audience with the rest of the cast and her four-legged friend, Sandy.
Opening night is July 10 at 7:30 p.m. with shows running Thursday through Sunday until July 27. Thursday through Saturday the show starts at 7:30 p.m., and matinee shows will be Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets for seats in the center section are $35, and seats stage left or right are $30. Students can purchase $15 tickets with an ID. To purchase tickets, call 251-1206 or visit virginiasamfordtheatre.org. The theatre is located at 1116 26th St. S in Birmingham.