It’s that time of the year: the school’s musical has come and gone. This year the Shipmates preformed Annie. Surprisingly, an underclassman was one of the leads this year.

The kids worked hard, according to director Leslee Mahon. They learned how to tap dance, a hard task. In past years it has been a challenge to recruit boys for the cast, but there was plenty of boys to fill the parts this season.

Mahon said, “There is always a worry that the play won’t be ready in time, but I had confidence in the kids.” The cast went to Tim Horton’s to practice. They also went there after shows. The cast is all close.

They have a group chat, they send funny photos and make jokes. There is always something going on in the group chat. The last week is where they got the closest.

“Just yesterday we were crying about the seniors leaving,” Mayce Kinney said. Kinney was the lead in the Orphanage cast. They have two separate casts so the kids wouldn’t tire out too quickly.

It’s stressful but fun being the lead. One of the hardest things for Kinney was having to fake cry. It took her about three weeks to not laugh at herself.

Jordan Bonville who played the male lead in the Orphanage cast said that they pulled the play together in a matter of two weeks. They all struggled with certain areas, whether it was songs, dancing or lines. Even though they fought and had their problems, they pulled it together and used their strengths and weaknesses.

“We all realize we are misfits,” Bonville said. “A bunch of different, weird, fun kids who stand together when its important and love each other as the misfits as we are.” He is homeschooled and he doesn’t get to see the other play kids as much. On his last show of Annie he stayed on the stage for a while. Soaking up his last time on the stage of his high school career.

The cast had a blast with this play and are still close with each other after the show closed. As Mahon says, “there isn’t a family like your play family.”