Annie (as told by Nana)

I'd been holding three tickets to ANNIE for what seemed like a year (9 months...). I thought this would be a perfect play for Zoey's sixth birthday and that she would find it really exciting. After I ordered two tickets, I suddenly thought, "Gee, my grown up little girl never got to go to a play likeAnnie. Tammy used to love Annie. Why don't I see if she can come, too." I got lucky and was able to get Tammy a ticket sitting right with us row three center stage. Perfect!

Auntie Tammy and I picked up our little ball of energy all ready to go. She was dressed in her red and white ladybug dress with her hair curled - a Zoey first - just to celebrate Annie. She seems like a miniature adult sometimes with her insightful conversation, though.

The play was done strictly sticking to the original. The staging was done extremely well. The acting, singing and dancing was thoroughly entertaining. I recognized my favorite actors in new roles. Zoey was mesmerized and applauded exuberantly. She is becoming so accustomed to the theatre that she knows her way around. The souvenir area always draws her but even though I was tempted to buy her something like a t-shirt or cap, I only bought her a $1.00 button that says "I love Annie" I didn't want to start a habit of her expecting a toy or something every time we went some place. She held on to the button all through the play even when she was sitting in my lap toward the end. Unfortunately, this may be the last year she will sit in laps. She is growing so much.

Zoey can read so well that she was able to sift through the program and find next years listing of plays. "Nana, can we go to this one too?" (pointing to Pippi Longstocking). "Nana, can we go to all of them? Can we bring Zander with us?" Looking at where she was pointing I noticed "TheWizard of Oz" ohhh! "Yes, Zoey, we have to go to some of these. How about The Wizard of Oz! That is Auntie Tammy's favorite movie!"

We started home in the car and Zoey was still perusing the program. "Nana, Madagascar is also coming. Can we go to that one, too?" "Oh, that would be a good one!" I said.

"Nana, I want to do that. I want to be an actress like them."

"You,d be good at it, Zoey."