New stars from Annie, at Salón Varietés « Euro Weekly News

It’s been eleven years since ‘Annie’ last graced the stage of the iconic Salón Varietés Theater in Fuengirola. That production, directed by the legendary Peter Mitchell and choreographed by the ever-talented Peter Height, wowed audiences with its spectacular performances and lived up to the high standard of theater at the Salón, a hallmark that continues today.

Looking back at 2013: The excitement was palpable as children and adults alike lined up for the audition, hearts pounding as they faced the nerve-wracking task of impressing the production team. And few could forget the shining star of that production, none other than 10-year-old Melissa Carver, who stole the show in the lead role.

Melissa Carver reflects on a career that began at Salón Variétés

Reflecting on her big break, Melissa said: “Annie was my first show in theater in March 2013. The audition process was tough. I don’t think there were nearly as many kids, but there were a few callbacks, and that felt quite scary and grueling to me at the time. Every time the phone rang I was so nervous. Peter Mitchell had a lot of confidence in me because I was comfortable as a singer but hadn’t explored acting that much.”

Melissa Carver said: “It was so cool to work with adults, and I especially looked up to Simone Kennedy, who played Grace Farrell. I was well taken care of and there were so many people to look up to who inspired me.”

Now, at the age of 23, Melissa has become a fixture on the Costa del Sol entertainment scene, dazzling audiences at multiple shows at the Salón, including standout performances in Cinderella, Aladdin and Carousel, to name just a few. to mention.

New shining star in the role of Annie

But the story doesn’t end there; she continues to shine in the Salón Varietés, this time taking over the role of Grace Farrell and sharing the stage with the Costa del Sol’s latest big talent, with the rising star playing 10-year-old Dottie-Mae Cadden in the lead role .

Dottie-Mae, a student at Stagecoach Performing Arts who is no stranger to the Salón spotlight. She delighted the audience in Oklahoma last year as part of the chorus. Now she steps into the role of her life, Annie. And this year’s audition process was nothing short of intense for director Owain Griffiths and choreographer Alexandra Avery. With more than 50 girls vying for the coveted role of Annie, the competition was fierce and the production team had their hands full with numerous recall auditions.

Ultimately, after weeks of heated discussions and some tough choices, the team has put together a shortlist of 18 incredibly talented young people who have worked tirelessly through the scorching summer heat to bring this much-loved show to life. The casting of the orphan roles proved especially challenging, because so many gifted children gave everything. But rest assured, the final cast is top notch, and they did a good job.

Dottie-Mae Cadden crowned the new Annie.

Dottie-Mae tells us, “I auditioned for Annie because I loved the first show, Oklahoma, which I did at the Salón last October, which was amazing and I loved every detail of it.” After almost a month of nerve-wracking auditions, the choice was made and Dottie-Mae Cadden was crowned the new Annie. Don’t miss your chance to witness this magical production, and keep an eye out for the future stars who could be next in line to light up the Salón Varietés stage.

The show premieres on October 2 and runs until October 13. Times can be checked and bookings can be made at salonvarietes.com or by calling 952 474 542. The ticket price is €25, and they are selling fast.