‘Annie’ Coming to Chevalier Stage Sept. 18-19

Ashley Stamegna of North Reading rehearses with “Sandy” for her title role in Seaside Productions’ upcoming performance of “Annie” at Chevalier Theatre in Medford. Courtesy photo.

A third-generation actress will be center stage when the best in local community theater returns to Medford’s Chevalier Theatre with Seaside Productions’ performance of the popular musical “Annie” on Sept. 18-19.

Eleven-year-old Ashley Stamegna of North Reading will play her first leading role as Annie, the spunky, redheaded orphan determined to find her parents. She is following in the footsteps of her mother, Kim Maher, and grandmother, Kathy Maher, who performed with the Mystic Players community theater group.

“The entire cast and chorus is very strong, but Ashley is just tremendous. She is extremely talented,” said Sandy Strate, the show’s producer. “Annie’s performance is very endearing from the minute she starts her first song, ‘Maybe.’ You fall in love with her.”

Co-starring with Stamegna will be veteran actor Bobby Lee of Dorchester as billionaire Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks. Lee is a 20-year performer with the Hot Spot Cabaret series produced by Medford’s Robert Bezubka, who is the director, music director and choreographer of “Annie.” Lee played the Warbucks role with the Everett theater group Stage One.

Strate, who co-founded Seaside Productions in 2008, will play the role of Miss Hannigan, the cruel orphanage matron. Another long-time Hot Spot Cabaret performer, the Revere resident has twice played the Hannigan role as well as other leading characters such as Maggie in “42nd Street,” Momma Morton in “Chicago” and the title role in “Golda.”

Joey Toppan of Burlington, another former Mystic Players performer, plays the role of Grace Farrell, Warbucks’ faithful secretary.

Other notables in the cast of 35 are Trish McLaughlin of Saugus (Lily St. Regis) and Greg Warwick of Beverly (Rooster Hannigan), and Janine Strate (Revere), Linda Lee (Stoneham) and Kathleen O’Connell (Winthrop) as the Boylan Sisters. Janine Strate, Sandy’s daughter, also plays the role of Star-to-Be. Medford residents Patty Costas, Guilia Fabrizio, and Steve Bertorelli also are in the cast.

Sandy Strate formed the nonprofit Seaside Productions with Bezubka. With the Mystic Players on hiatus, they wanted to continue the tradition of presenting “road show” performances that bring theater to local senior citizen centers.

“I look forward to doing those shows every year because it’s a way to give something back,” said Strate, who performed with the Mystic Players road shows for 25 years. “The seniors get so excited to hear live music and see the costumes. It’s a wonderful thing to do.”

“Annie” is Seaside’s first stage show and will be the first community theater production at Chevalier since 2007. Over the last three years, the theater has undergone several hundred thousand dollars worth of renovations, including 1,200 new cushioned seats on the orchestra level, a new lighting configuration and control board, aisle carpeting, and this summer, a stage floor resurfacing that also improved audience sight lines.

“It’s a beautiful theater and we’re excited about performing there,” said Strate.

Showtimes for “Annie” are 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19.

General admission tickets are priced at $22.50 for adults and $18.50 for students and senior citizens. They will be sold at the door or may be purchased in advance at Medford TV and Electronics, 25 Salem St., or by calling 781-424-4284.

Chevalier Theatre (www.chevaliertheatre.com) is located at 30 Forest St. in Medford Square (next to the Medford post office).

– Submitted by Ken Krause, Friends of Chevalier Auditorium