10-Year-Old Plays ‘Dream Role’ Alongside Hollywood Comic

The "sun came out tomorrow" for a 10-year-old girl from Boston who has the privilege of playing little orphan Annie in Media Theatre's production of Annie. But not only does Tori Heinlein get to play Annie in the full run of the show, she also gets to co-star with actress and comedian Wanda Sykes.

Sykes appeared as Miss Hannigan from Nov. 23 to Dec. 12, and she will return to Media Theatre from Jan. 12 to Jan. 23. The show has been such a success they extended the run until Jan. 23. The curtain was supposed to close on Jan. 16.

Heinlein, however, could never be out-shined by a Hollywood star. She's been waiting for this role her entire life.

"Annie was always my dream role from when I was a kid," Heinlein, 10, said.

Heinlein won an EMACT DASH award for best child actor for playing Molly in a Dover, Mass. production of Annie. It was her first performance.

She wasn't getting any younger and she knew time was ticking away at her chances to play the little orphan so Heinlein and her mother searched the Internet for Annie auditions.

"I knew that like my time for Annie was kinda soon and Annie was always my dream role so we searched online for it," she said.

She auditioned in New York and the next thing she knew she was standing on stage with Sykes.

"She is so amazing. Not only is it a great experience to work with Wanda Sykes but she's also just like a normal human being that's sweet from the inside out. When you see her backstage she's just like a normal adult walking around. But then like when I tell my mom and she's like, 'it's so awesome you get to work with Wanda Sykes' and it's just funny that people (say that) and I thought that before I did the show too. But she's just like a normal human being like you and I," Heinlein cooed.

One of Heinlein's co-stars, Teanna Rico, who plays orphan Pepper, chimed in as she sat next to her friend during the interview.

"Girl, you sound like you've been doing this for 50 years," Rico, 11, declared.  

This is Rico's first major production and she too was excited to be working with Sykes.

Both girls admitted they knew of Sykes prior to Annie but said they had to do a little research once they got the part.

"I'm actually really happy because this is my first major play ever and I got a pretty good role," Rico said.

Rico and Heinlein have become fast friends despite their on-stage tiffs.

"On-stage we're like 'Whoa,' but backstage we give each other hugs and stuff," Heinlein said.

Heinlein said her favorite scenes in the show take place when she's in the orphanage. She likes performing with the other orphans and belting out Annie's signature song, "Tomorrow."

Artistic Director Jesse Cline said it has been a joy working with the children and Sykes.

He said he chatted with Sykes after she saw his production of Rent at Media Theatre.

"And just in chatting I thought what a great role it would be for her to play Miss Hannigan and she thought about it and she decided to do it," Cline said. "It was brilliant casting because she's wonderful in the show."

He wasn't exactly sure how Sykes stumbled upon Media Theatre in the first place but he said she's been a pleasure to work with.

"Her instincts are amazing. She's very talented and her timing is extraordinary," he said, "she's been fabulous."

As soon as the house doors opened for a matinee performance the crowd flowed in. Children, young and old, entered with Playbills in hand, ready to see the "Hard Knock Life" of Annie.

Katie Komorowski, 7, of Montgomery County, was seeing Annie for the first time. She was familiar with the storyline but maybe not all of the terminology.

"Mommy told me that Annie's parents died and she needs to live in an orphanage?" she said as she looked to her mother, Sally, for confirmation on the word. "And she needs to get adopted."

Komorowski was excited to see the play because she herself sang the song, "Never Fully Dressed without a Smile" at camp.

As the lights dimmed and Heinlein made her way on stage, the thrill of playing her dream role could be seen all over her face. She belted out the words to "Tomorrow" and held the final note like a pro.

You "bet your bottom dollar" that Media Theatre's Annie is worth seeing.