AMANDA BALON. COM
AMANDA BALON. COM
AMANDA BALON. COM
AMANDA
BALON.
COM
BALON.
COM
'Annie', 8 p.m. Tuesday, The Classic Center
It might be hard to imagine a 3-year-old begging to audition for
a musical.
But when you listen to the passion in Amanda Balon's
10-year-old voice as she recalls that memory, and as she
describes the joy of currently starring in her dream role as
Annie in a national tour - stopping in Athens on Tuesday - it's not
so difficult to picture such a career-minded toddler.
"It's so exciting when something happens - if someone gets a
new costume, if someone new is in the show," she says of life
on tour. "There's something new every day. I always have to be
on my toes."
As a toddler, she worshiped musicals, and "Annie," the story of
a plucky Depression-era orphan who finds happiness when
adopted by Daddy Warbucks (played here by David Barton),
captivated her.
Cartoonist Harold Gray created "Little Orphan Annie" in 1924,
inspired by a James Whitcomb Riley poem. It has since been
re-imagined time and again, in radio in 1930, on Broadway in
1977, and on film and television several times, though most
remember the 1982 film starring Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney,
Carol Burnett, Tim Curry and Bernadette Peters.
It might be hard to imagine a 3-year-old begging to audition for
a musical.
But when you listen to the passion in Amanda Balon's
10-year-old voice as she recalls that memory, and as she
describes the joy of currently starring in her dream role as
Annie in a national tour - stopping in Athens on Tuesday - it's not
so difficult to picture such a career-minded toddler.
"It's so exciting when something happens - if someone gets a
new costume, if someone new is in the show," she says of life
on tour. "There's something new every day. I always have to be
on my toes."
As a toddler, she worshiped musicals, and "Annie," the story of
a plucky Depression-era orphan who finds happiness when
adopted by Daddy Warbucks (played here by David Barton),
captivated her.
Cartoonist Harold Gray created "Little Orphan Annie" in 1924,
inspired by a James Whitcomb Riley poem. It has since been
re-imagined time and again, in radio in 1930, on Broadway in
1977, and on film and television several times, though most
remember the 1982 film starring Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney,
Carol Burnett, Tim Curry and Bernadette Peters.
By Mary Jessica Hammes
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
A string of young actresses, including Sarah Jessica Parker, acted as Annie on Broadway, but not all went on to have
such enduring careers. This is made abundantly clear in the 2006 documentary, "Life After Tomorrow" (co-directed by
Julie Stevens, who played an orphan in the Broadway cast and national tour; it's available on DVD next month).
Several women in the film talk about their "Annie" days with far-off looks, lamenting. How did "Annie" not lead to bigger
and better things? Why did their luck run out? How could their careers peak before puberty?
Balon is not concerned. She wants to continue acting post-"Annie," but "if that doesn't work, I want to be an astronaut,"
she says matter-of-factly.
Though she's an Orlando, Fla., resident now, she was raised in Zimbabwe for a few years, and remembers that time with
clarity: "It was very hot, and there was a lot of grass and animals around," she says. "We had a chicken farm, and a swing
set."
Once in Florida, she saw a flyer for a local production of "Annie," and insisted on auditioning, even though at 3, she was
too young for any role.
Buoyed by an enthusiastic reception to her rendition of "Tomorrow," Balon started taking dance lessons and began acting
in Orlando-area shows. In 2005, she represented the U.S. at the Performing Arts Olympics in Los Angeles, where she won
16 medals and was named Acting Champion of the World.
In 2005, she was cast as orphan Molly for the 30th anniversary tour of "Annie," produced by Networks Tours and directed
by Martin Charnin, the lyricist and director of the original Broadway show. The next year, she was another orphan, Duffy,
as well as understudy to the title role. Last year, she became the one girl she wanted so badly to be at age 3: Annie.
Working with Charnin is "so cool to me and excellent," says Balon. "He's so great at what he does. It's really an honor
working with him."
For the interview, she's chatting by phone in her hotel room in St. Louis, the morning after another successful show. One
might think that a nine-month tour of almost nightly performances might become tedious, but Balon has youth and
enthusiasm on her side. "The audience was great!" she says chirpily.
Her days are structured: up by 9:30 a.m.; school with a tutor from 10:30 to 4 p.m. (with a break for lunch); dinner; show;
bedtime.
"But sometimes I go over to one of the orphans' rooms and play" after the show, she adds. The cast of orphans might all
be professionals, but they're also kids: sleepovers among the young girls are common, as are plenty of in-jokes and
backstage chatter, she says.
"We all get along really well, like one big family - we have the adults, the kids and the dog," she says, referring to Sandy,
played by a dog named Mikey.
"I love the stage so much," she says. "It's like my home. I feel so free up there, like I can do anything I need to. It's such a
great thing."
'Annie'
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday
Where: The Classic Center, 300 N. Thomas St.
such enduring careers. This is made abundantly clear in the 2006 documentary, "Life After Tomorrow" (co-directed by
Julie Stevens, who played an orphan in the Broadway cast and national tour; it's available on DVD next month).
Several women in the film talk about their "Annie" days with far-off looks, lamenting. How did "Annie" not lead to bigger
and better things? Why did their luck run out? How could their careers peak before puberty?
Balon is not concerned. She wants to continue acting post-"Annie," but "if that doesn't work, I want to be an astronaut,"
she says matter-of-factly.
Though she's an Orlando, Fla., resident now, she was raised in Zimbabwe for a few years, and remembers that time with
clarity: "It was very hot, and there was a lot of grass and animals around," she says. "We had a chicken farm, and a swing
set."
Once in Florida, she saw a flyer for a local production of "Annie," and insisted on auditioning, even though at 3, she was
too young for any role.
Buoyed by an enthusiastic reception to her rendition of "Tomorrow," Balon started taking dance lessons and began acting
in Orlando-area shows. In 2005, she represented the U.S. at the Performing Arts Olympics in Los Angeles, where she won
16 medals and was named Acting Champion of the World.
In 2005, she was cast as orphan Molly for the 30th anniversary tour of "Annie," produced by Networks Tours and directed
by Martin Charnin, the lyricist and director of the original Broadway show. The next year, she was another orphan, Duffy,
as well as understudy to the title role. Last year, she became the one girl she wanted so badly to be at age 3: Annie.
Working with Charnin is "so cool to me and excellent," says Balon. "He's so great at what he does. It's really an honor
working with him."
For the interview, she's chatting by phone in her hotel room in St. Louis, the morning after another successful show. One
might think that a nine-month tour of almost nightly performances might become tedious, but Balon has youth and
enthusiasm on her side. "The audience was great!" she says chirpily.
Her days are structured: up by 9:30 a.m.; school with a tutor from 10:30 to 4 p.m. (with a break for lunch); dinner; show;
bedtime.
"But sometimes I go over to one of the orphans' rooms and play" after the show, she adds. The cast of orphans might all
be professionals, but they're also kids: sleepovers among the young girls are common, as are plenty of in-jokes and
backstage chatter, she says.
"We all get along really well, like one big family - we have the adults, the kids and the dog," she says, referring to Sandy,
played by a dog named Mikey.
"I love the stage so much," she says. "It's like my home. I feel so free up there, like I can do anything I need to. It's such a
great thing."
'Annie'
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday
Where: The Classic Center, 300 N. Thomas St.
| photo by Joan Marcus |
| 'Annie' actress shares her hopes, dreams |
Amanda Balon "Annie" and David Barton
"Oliver Warbucks" with Mikey who plays
"Sandy"
"Oliver Warbucks" with Mikey who plays
"Sandy"
| photo by Joan Marcus |