CHARLESTON HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTS `ANNIE WARBUCKS'

CHARLESTON -- Annie, the red-haired orphan everyone loves, can be seen in the new Charleston High School musical "Annie Warbucks."

It is the first musical performed since the Charleston Junior High School, which housed the auditorium, was destroyed by fire. The new auditorium, which is the site of "Annie Warbucks," was recently added to the high school.

Charleston High School students will be performing "Annie Warbucks" Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the event are $3 for everyone.

The last musical performed in the old auditorium was "Annie," said Chris Starr, band director and co-director of "Annie Warbucks."

"So we are doing the sequel to 'Annie,' which is 'Annie Warbucks,'" Starr said. "We thought it was very fitting that the first musical performed in the new auditorium was a sequel to the last one performed in the old."

"Annie Warbucks" picks up exactly where "Annie" left off. Warbucks has adopted Annie, but he learns of a new city law that requires adoptive parents to be married. The musical then tells of the trials and tribulations Warbucks experiences while looking for a wife in order to keep Annie.

More than 50 students are involved in the production, which Starr believes will be successful.

"We have a brand-new auditorium, which has state-of-the-art lighting and sound features that we never dreamed of having," said Starr. "The students and casts are also really enthusiastic, so it should be a great performance."