Annie Jr musical urges support for Townsville production

An upcoming musical featuring talented young performers from Townsville is warning that slow ticket sales could threaten future productions.

Annie actors Zara Boldery and Annabelle De Hoog. Picture: Dania Lauren from Lauren + Douglas Photography,

An upcoming musical featuring talented young performers from Townsville is warning that slow ticket sales could threaten future productions.

Annie Jr director Alyssa Oliveri-Kelly said that in a case of life imitating art, the musical set in the Great Depression in the 1920s had felt a “pinch on ticket sales” less than a week before curtains opened on the first of six scheduled shows.

“After bringing to the stage Aladdin Jr in 2022 and Frozen Jr in 2023, I can feel it with this one because it’s been a slow start for ticket sales while our costs have skyrocketed,” Ms Oliveri-Kelly said.

“But the show must go on thanks to our own generous sponsors like Townsville Grammar School and I hope the community gets behind our production and the entire local arts sector, which is suffering right now.”

Libretto School of the Arts owner and Annie Jr Director Alyssa Oliveri-Kelly.

Ms Oliver-Kelly, owner of the Libretto School of the Arts, said Townsville community theatre productions were facing hardships, in a trend reflected worldwide.

“It’s sad but if audiences don’t come, we could see shows, concerts and festivals cancelled like we’re seeing globally.”

She said the young cast, meanwhile, were gaining a valuable insight on the current financial crisis due to the renowned musical’s setting in the 1920s.

“I’ve had some interesting conversations with the kids who believe it’s a fairy-tale when it was just life back then — children were left at orphanages, people turned to crime and poverty was everywhere,” she said.

“It’s ironic that 100 years on the economy is now bleak again, which makes our production a real eye-opener not just for the junior cast but also for young audiences who can see what being on the breadline really meant.”

Ms Oliver-Kelly said a percentage of ticket sales were earmarked toward sponsoring Fuel for Schools, “a charity that provides Townsville children with school supplies, lunches and uniforms for families doing it tough”.

Annie Jr will be hosted over two weekends at Calvary Christian Church Performing Arts Space on Saturday, August 10, and Saturday, August 17, with shows at 12.30pm, 3.30pm and 6.30pm.

To book tickets ($37 for adults, $27 for concessions, $20 students and $15 for children under 7) please visit trybooking.com.

Originally published as Annie Jr musical urges support for Townsville production