Broadway Star to Appear in Easton Middle School’s Production of Annie

This year Easton Middle School will be presenting the musical Annie. This is also the 10th Anniversary of Director Richard A. Vitanovec’s first musical at Easton Middle School, which was also a production of Annie. Vitanovec, who has a BA in Acting, a BA in Directing, and his teaching certificate from Lycoming College and his Master’s Degree in Theatre Production from Central Washington University, has always strived to give the students at Easton Middle School the most professional, top-notch theatre experience possible. He has created a theatre community where not only middle school students can participate, but also elementary and high school students. This production of Annie includes over 50 students in grades 3-12 and also some Easton Middle School faculty.

Wanting the students to have a professional experience, Vitanovec contacted Broadway and Hollywood dog trainer William Berloni in hopes that he could help him with “Sandy” for their production. William Berloni has trained dogs for years for Broadway and Hollywood. All of the “Sandys” on Broadway have been trained by Mr. Berloni. He is the 2011 Tony Honoree for Excellence in Theatre and 2014 Outer Critics Circle award for Special Achievement. His work currently on Broadway: Bullets Over Broadway, Lady Day at the Emerson Bar and Grill; Broadway: Annie (original and all revivals), A Christmas Story the Musical, Legally Blonde, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Camelot, Frankenstein, The First, Alice in Wonderland, Oliver!, Anything Goes, Nick and Nora, The Wiz, (20th Anniversary revival and City Center 2009) The Wizard of OZ, Dinner at Eight, Double Feature (NYCB), The Woman in White, Awake and Sing and The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Mr. Berloni is the Animal Director of the new musical Because of Winn Dixie opening at the Delaware Theater Company April 2015 with music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin. Mr. Berloni is thrilled to once again have his animals appear at the CLO. He has trained animals for hundreds of Off-Broadway, regional theatre, tours, television and movies. Look for his newly trained Sandy in the new movie of Annie starring Quvenzhane Wallis, Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz. He is the published author of BROADWAY TAILS. He currently serves as director of Animal Behavior at the Humane Society of New York.

Mr. Berloni agreed to be a part of Easton Middle School’s production by bringing his dog Mikey to play “Sandy” in the their production. Mikey was discovered by his guardian and trainer, William Berloni in the spring 2005 when he was three years old. Mikey was seized from a family who neglected him for the first three years of his life. When Mr. Berloni first adopted him, he had to be treated for Heartworm disease, which could have been fatal. Later in 2005 Mikey hit the road in the 30th Anniversary tour of Annie and has been starring in productions of Annie all over the country for last seven years. In 2012, Mikey made his Broadway debut as the understudy in the 35th Anniversary revival of Annie. In the proud tradition of all the dogs Mr. Berloni has rescued and trained, Mikey carries on his mission to help the plight of unwanted animals by proving they all can be stars.

Mr. Berloni will be bringing Mikey and he will be working with the students and cast of Easton Middle School’s Annie later this month. It is an amazing opportunity and experience these students will have working with someone so highly accredited in the professional theatrical world. Sharing the stage with a Broadway star is something these students won’t forget for a long time.

Come see Broadway Star Mikey as “Sandy” alongside Sarah Daly who plays the title role. Performances are January 23, 24, 30, 31 at 7:00 pm and January 25 at 2:00 pm.

“Sandy’s Pantry”- Bring 4+ cans of cat/ dog food or a bag of cat/ dog food to the show and you will be entered in a raffle for a special prize. The cat and dog food will be donated to Talbot Humane to help all the “Sandys” that find their way there.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at Easton Middle School, Crackerjacks, Little Rascals, Reesers’ Pharmacy, and Rise Up Coffee Roasters on Dover St. For more information call 410-829-5836.

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