GLENWOOD RESIDENT Hayley Brown, 12, is living her dream. This weekend, Hayley stars in the Cheverly Young Actors' Guild production of the musical "Annie." Hayley saw the movie a few years ago and has been a fan of the play ever since.
When Hayley's mom, Sara, saw an ad in the newspaper inviting actors to audition for the production, Hayley knew immediately that she wanted to try.
More than 120 girls auditioned for the part of Annie, and Hayley was chosen. "I was really excited when I got the part," she said. Another girl was chosen for the second cast of "Annie," which will be at the Cheverly Publick Playhouse. Each cast will present three performances.
Hayley has been preparing for this part for years, according to her mother.
"She watched the movie `Annie' over and over, until she knew all the songs by heart," Sara Brown said.
Singing and acting go hand-in-hand for Hayley. "I really love to sing," she said, "and I like to be on stage in front of an audience." She also enjoys singing in the Peabody Children's Chorus in Howard County.
Set in an orphanage during the Depression, the story of "Annie" revolves around an 11-year-old orphan who longs to be rescued. The musical requires more than 90 actors, ages 5 to 18, for its two casts. Hayley will star in three shows - at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
This is not Hayley's first venture into acting. She has participated in about seven plays in a children's acting group at school over the past several years. Last year, she performed at Liberty Showcase Theater in "The Music Man," playing Jane Squires, one of the children.
At Glenwood Middle School, Hayley is on the honor roll, taking a full program of four gifted-and-talented classes and two honors classes. She just finished a season of play with the Western Howard Basketball League.
Hayley hopes to continue acting and singing. "I'm just looking forward to when I get older, because there aren't very many children's parts," she said.
She recently began taking voice lessons to improve her chances. "My voice has somehow matured a lot faster than the rest of me," she said.
Hayley is not the only member of her family to be involved in the play. Besides being the chauffeur for her young star, Sara Brown organized the cast party for the actors of both casts. Hayley's brother, Cameron, 10, joined in as part of the backstage crew. Dad Duncan Brown's job is to be an enthusiastic member of the audience.
