Youtheatre
The mission of Youtheatre is to create an inclusive environment in which to inspire and enrich the lives of all youth, regardless of income or ability, by providing educational opportunities and promoting appreciation of the arts. Youtheatre is open to all area youth in grades 1-12!

Annie
Grades 6-12
Performances: October 3 and 4, 2025
Auditions: August 4 and 5, 2025
Audition Workshop: Saturday, July 26 10 AM-12 PM
Samantha Henry, Director • Jordan Gottschalk, Assistant Director • Zachary Thomas, Music Director • Timothy Frost, Choreographer
Annie is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations... and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! She finds a new home and family in billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
Saturday, July 26 from 10 AM-12 PM
Join us to learn how to bring your A-game to the casting process. A strong knowledge about the audition process, positive self-image, and a positive attitude are just a few crucial lessons students will learn through the workshop to leave powerful impressions at auditions. Participants will walk through a mock audition process and receive guidance, advice, and notes on standing out from the crowd and making the most of each audition opportunity. This workshop is to prep students for their actual auditions but is not mandatory.
Audition registration opens soon.
Auditions for the on-stage cast will begin promptly at 6 p.m. Monday, August 4 and Tuesday, August 5 at Marathon Center for the Performing Arts located at 200 W. Main Cross Street in Findlay. Check-in will begin 20 mins before auditions begin.
Students only need to attend one day of auditions. Those auditioning for the on-stage cast need to come prepared for movement.
Youth interested in technical crew will only need to register online.
All youth participating in the production (as an on-stage cast member or technical crew member) and their parents must attend a mandatory meeting on Monday, August 11, at 6:00 p.m. at MCPA. Informational packets will be handed out and questions will be answered. All on-stage cast members will be measured for costumes. A read-through of the script will continue for the on-stage cast members until 7:30 p.m.
Youtheatre strives to teach the importance of commitment, therefore, attendance and punctuality are documented and may affect future Youtheatre participation.
6 – 7:30 pm Monday - Thursday beginning Monday, August 18. We will also practice on select Sundays in February and March. Dress rehearsals will be held nightly during the week of the show and are mandatory for all cast/crew members. Students may not be needed at every rehearsal. A detailed rehearsal schedule will be released after casting which will attempt to comply with any listed conflicts.
Attendance by each participant is expected at the rehearsals when they are scheduled. Please fill out the following form, regardless of if you have any conflicts.
Please list all school functions, music lessons, sports, church, and community activities, family vacations, etc. that will take place during rehearsal time. After the list has been approved, additional conflicts may not be added. Any unexcused absence may result in a change in the participant's role in the production.
Be honest and upfront with us, and if cast we will do our best to work around expected absences.
Please note that all on-stage cast members MUST attend ALL rehearsals during the last 2 weeks of rehearsals. NO CONFLICTS will be accepted from September 21-October 4
If you miss more than three (3) rehearsals that are unexcused, you will be released from the cast.
All youth participating in the production must pay the following participation fee according to their role in the production: $75 for on-stage cast members and $40 for technical crew members.
Youtheatre is a family affair! At the parent meeting on Monday, August 11 at 6 pm, parents will be asked to volunteer on pre-show and show-week parent committees. Committees cover every aspect of producing a show, including building and painting sets, costumes, backstage supervisors, dressing room supervisors, cast party and many more. Our shows would not be possible without the dedication and investment of each family!
- ANNIE - A complex, tough, streetwise urchin who is surprisingly vulnerable when she thinks she might lose what has become most important to her: her newfound "family."
- MOLLY - The Orphans are gritty girls that are neglected and vulnerable, yet basically honest and lovable. Molly is the littlest at age 6.
- KATE - Kate is the next-to-youngest at age 7.
- TESSIE - Tessie is the cry baby at age 11.
- PEPPER - Pepper is the toughest at age 12.
- JULY - July is the quietest at age 13.
- DUFFY - Duffy is the oldest at age 13.
- MISS HANNIGAN - A definite "has-been." Her distaste for her job oozes from her. She is a character that is larger than life.
- GRACE FARRELL - Grace Farrell is Oliver Warbucks's calm, cool and classy secretary. She appears businesslike when dealing with Miss Hannigan and Warbucks, yet maternal toward Annie.
- ROOSTER HANNIGAN - Rooster Hannigan and Lily St. Regis claim to be Annie's parents but are revealed to be Miss Hannigan's swindling brother and his sleazy girlfriend in disguise. The flashy, self-assured smooth gambler.
- LILY ST. REGIS - Rooster Hannigan and Lily St. Regis claim to be Annie's parents but are revealed to be Miss Hannigan's swindling brother and his sleazy girlfriend in disguise. Naturally funny, airhead accomplice.
- Oliver Warbucks - Oliver Warbucks is the daunting millionaire who made his fortune during World War I as an industrialist. In the beginning, Warbucks is awkwardly affectionate toward Annie and then finds himself completely charmed by her.
- SANDY - Sandy is the stray dog that Annie adopts.
- DRAKE AND SERVANTS - Drake and the Servants are the loyal domestic help of Oliver Warbucks.
- APPLE SELLER - The Apple Seller speaks to Annie and gives her an apple.
- LT. WARD - The policeman who questions Annie about Sandy, the stray dog.
- BERT HEALY - The classic announcer on a radio show of the era.
- BUNDLES - Bundles is the laundryman for the orphanage.
- PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT - President Franklin D. Roosevelt is enlisted by Oliver Warbucks to help locate Annie's parents.
- LOUIS HOWE - President Roosevelt's trustworthy aide.
- STAR-TO-BE - A glamorous diva in the number "N.Y.C."
- USHERETTE - The Usherette ushers Warbucks, Annie and Grace to their seats in the Roxy at the end of "N.Y.C."
- NEW YORKERS - The New Yorkers are comprised of a wonderfully colorful collection of characters, usually identified by their occupation. Street vendors, tourists, taxi drivers, newsboys, street cleaners, mothers and children, additional stars-to-be, and news reporters.

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Jr.
Grades 3-5 • More information coming soon!
Performances: March 13 and 14, 2026
Auditions: January 19 and 20, 2026
Audition Workshop: Saturday, January 10 from 10-11:30 AM
Kristina Rowe, Director/Choreographer • Erica Bickhart, Music Director
The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Jr. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.