Lucy Gill might just be Squamish’s favourite little orphan.
The nine-year-old Brackendale Elementary School student has wowed local crowds for two years with her performances at Broadway or Bust, the Howe Sound Music Festival and Squamish Idol, but the youngster recently scored her biggest role to date — a starring role as one of the orphans in the Royal City Musical Theatre’s production of Annie.
Director Bonnie Allan said more than 60 children came out for the eight orphan roles at the New Westminster-based company, but that Gill made an impression.
“We held auditions back in September and we saw some pretty talented kids, but she really stood out,” she said. “She’s a lovely singer and that’s exactly what we need for the orphans. She has such great enthusiasm and energy — we were quite taken with her.”
Gill’s mother, P.J. Gill, said her daughter has been belting out tunes for a long time.
“She’s been singing for as long as I can remember,” her mother said, laughing. “She genuinely loves the stage and is so comfortable and confident. I think it comes from her heart. She loves doing it and you really get the feeling she’s enjoying herself on the stage.”
P.J. said the opportunity for Annie came about through a recommendation from the Squamish Academy of Music’s Melissa Braun. According to Braun, Lucy’s talent was evident early on.
“She started attending our weekly musical theatre program about two years ago,” Braun said. “I usually advise people to start with group classes for children at that age, but it became obvious very quickly that she could excel as a soloist. She began taking private lessons as well as the group lessons shortly after that.”
Braun said Lucy brings great energy to group classes, but added she appreciates the fact that Lucy is interested in all aspects of performing.
“She has such an enthusiasm for performing and singing and the joy becomes apparent when she starts to sing,” she said. “She’s starting to develop more control over her big voice as she gets older and can use it in a variety of ways. I also like her willingness to develop her overall musicianship more. Some kids only want the spotlight but she’s interested in all aspects and is taking piano and violin lessons. She’s an intelligent musician and a talented performer.”
The Annie experience will be a new one for Lucy. The play runs from April 10 to 26, a total of 15 shows.
“She’s never done anything this intense,” P.J. said. “It’s a big run and a big commitment for a nine-year-old but she’s had a lot of support from herschool and I think this is a good learning experience for her.”
Annie will be Allan’s sixth show as a director for RCMT and Lucy has been busy with rehearsal two nights during the week and all day Sunday. Allan said Lucy has been fitting in well with the cast.
“I think she’s having a good time and she’s a really good little performer,” she said. “She’s playing Lizzie — one of the orphans — and participates in the Hard Knock Life number at the beginning and another number later on.”
Braun said she wasn’t shocked that Lucy caught on with Annie and added that she tells her students that auditioning in general is great experience.
“Her enthusiasm is so apparent on stage and I think any production team would be happy to have her,” she said. “I always try to keep a watch on what various companies are doing in Vancouver and let my students know — that’s one of the great things about living in Squamish, that we’re so close to Vancouver. I’d say just going for an audition is an experience and something you have to learn — the more you do it the better you get at it.”
P.J. said Braun and the work she’s done with SAM have been a big benefit for her daughter.
“I’m a huge supporter of SAM and what Melissa has done,” she said. “It was so needed in the community and it’s been a wonderful thing to watch grow. I can’t tell you the respect I have for Melissa for making it happen here.”
Allan and P.J. said they hope to see a number of Squamish residents make the drive to see Lucy on stage and noted that there is a family day special on April 13 where two adult tickets purchased receive two free children or senior tickets.
For more information on the production, visit www.royalcitymusicaltheatre.com.
