Theatre lovers and proud parents filled the Picayune Auditorium this week for Nicholson Elementary’s first musical performance.

The free event didn’t need fancy stage props or a professional costume designer to make the crowd laugh and applaud the genuine performance of Annie Kids.

Whether it was the student who played Sandy howling along with the music or Annie improvising by commenting on the taste of her apple while other students got ready backstage, the performance was a joy to witness.

It required members of the community coming together to put on this show for families, but more importantly, for the students.

Without the support of the community, these

students may not have realized their dream of standing under the spotlight.

As they took the stage not a single student seemed nervous about their looming debut on Picayune’s “Broadway.” The amount of preparation and dedication the students put into their performance was highly encouraging.

If they can accomplish this feat in just a few short months, and at such a young age, it will be amazing to see what they will present to the community as members of the Picayune Memorial High School drama department.

Because the production was so well-known, it seemed to make it that much more enjoyable for the performers and audience alike as the students put their own twist on the classic tale of orphan Annie.

The success of this show will hopefully inspire future performances from not just the students at Nicholson Elementary but all of the schools in our county.

With just a little bit of faith, trust, and fun, who knows, maybe the next local school production will take us away to another fantastical world.