希望垂青勇者｜年度音乐剧《安妮》圆满落幕

青少年版音乐剧《安妮》的制作无疑是今年最令人难忘而意义非凡的一段旅程。在才华横溢的学生和敬业奉献的教职员工的通力合作下，这出关于坚韧、决心和社群力量的故事被搬上了舞台。

从开场到落幕，这部作品不只是一场演出，更是一次变革性的经历，在每个参与者心中留下深刻的印记。

《安妮》的故事发生在困苦与希望并存的大萧条时期，讲述了性格活泼的孤儿安妮以耀眼的开朗个性与坚定的乐观精神度过艰难岁月的故事。

故事发生在孤儿院里，那里的院长悍妮甘小姐凶悍暴躁，却也有可怜之处。有一天，安妮有幸被选中与亿万富翁奥利弗·沃巴克斯共度一天，命运的转折便随之而来——一场欢乐、忧虑与希望交织的探险就此展开。安妮的乐观进取永无止境，伴随着那首名曲《明天》，我们仿佛认识到，无论前路有多崎岖，美好的未来永远值得期待。

要将这则备受喜爱的故事搬上舞台，既是一项挑战，也是一种荣幸。最初，我们满怀信心地筹备了这部剧的制作，但由于近来不可预见的情况，制作组面前突然出现了许多困难。不论面临着怎样的挑战，学生们始终精神可嘉：他们充满热情与活力，愿意全力一搏，这些无不来自对戏剧演出的热爱。

由于面临着诸多挑战，我们曾激烈地讨论过是否要上演这部剧。但同学们下定了决心，也渴望进行表演，于是我们再次坚定了信念，毕竟艺术的本质就是希望、韧性和继续前进的勇气。

为让故事栩栩如生地展开，舞台设计团队付出了关键性的贡献。为了让孤儿院、城市街道和宏伟的宅邸逼真地出现在观众面前，他们乐此不疲地开展头脑风暴，还曾熬夜拼搏。最终，他们发挥创造力，打造充满活力的场景，让故事以更加引人注目的方式展开，营造出身临其境的观感。这些辛勤的付出奠定了这场演出的风格和观感，是赋予这场演出以魔力的关键。

排练考验的是大家的奉献精神。日常的校园生活中充满了体育、考试和其他活动，要找到让大家聚在一起练习的时间实属不易。

在首场正式演出的三天前，我们才找到机会完成整场演出的排练。在那些练习强度很大的日子里，学生们牺牲了午休时间，放学后仍留在学校练习，展现出了不起的毅力。每一次排练中都交织着紧张与兴奋的情绪，有泪水，也有欢笑，全程还需要学习大量知识。每个学生都竭尽全力，建立起队友情谊，就像一支紧密团结在一起的队伍，昂首克服所有障碍。

《安妮》的音乐和编舞难度都不小。剧中许多歌曲都要求演员具备强大的演唱能力，尤其是标志性歌曲《明天》，它反映了安妮坚定不移的希望，以乐观的精神紧紧抓住了观众的心。舞蹈动作活泼生动且充满活力，需要演员们具备扎实的协调能力和信心。

学生们坚持不懈地努力掌握各种严格的要求，投入无数小时的练习，始终互相扶持。每一场排练之后，大家的信心都更加坚定，紧张的情绪逐渐转化为信心，令人备受鼓舞。

最后一场演出中，大家真情流露，所有人都感动不已。当帷幕徐徐落下，许多学生的眼泪夺眶而出。孩子们建立起深刻的情谊，谁都不愿与这段旅程挥手告别。他们说自己学到了团队合作的意义，培养起坚定的毅力，树立起对自己的信心。

这座舞台见证了学生之间的深刻友谊和美好回忆，这些真诚的情谊和共同的经历是整个音乐剧制作过程中最宝贵的回报。

回顾这段旅程，我感到无比自豪。《安妮》的故事讲的是希望，是韧性，是深信更美好的日子即将到来，这些价值观也完美地体现在了学生身上。他们积极进取，心怀热忱，建立联系，在舞台上留下耀眼的表现，也在内心中留下了值得纪念的篇章。

这部音乐剧的制作让我们看到，即使是在困难时期，人类的精神也终将闪耀光芒。

衷心感谢所有教职员工及惠灵顿之友（FOW）对这场音乐剧坚定不移的支持。感谢大家不辞辛劳，奉献出自己的时间，帮助学生将梦想落地生花，这种奉献精神是助力这部音乐剧大获成功的关键。

舞台上学生们自信的表演带给大家无比的快乐与自豪，胜过一路上所面临的种种挑战与困难。这部音乐剧是一场精彩的活动，更是对希望、社群力量和勇敢追梦的喝彩。

那些拼搏、欢笑、泪水和胜利的时光编织的回忆将永远与我们同在，让我们知道，团结和毅力能帮助我们克服任何挑战，就像安妮以坚定不移的乐观精神迎击逆境一样。

《安妮》的故事是一盏希望的明灯，设定在一个充满艰难困苦，但总有坚定不移的希望的时代。安妮，一个充满活力且心地善良的小孤女，一刻不曾失去“明天会更好”的信念。当她唱起那首标志性的歌曲时，那份坚韧迸发出最灿烂的光芒，激励着身边的人继续梦想、努力奋斗。她走出阴郁的孤儿院，来到温暖的家庭，找到了归属感，这正反映了学生们在希望和决心的驱动下克服重重挑战的旅程。

将这样一则鼓舞人心的故事搬上舞台，展现的是学校社群的力量和艺术的变革力量。共同的经历、团队合作和对卓越的不懈追求，体现了安妮身上的那些价值观，即希望、善良和坚毅。

今年的音乐剧再次让我们看到，即使面临着不确定性，人类的精神和团结的力量仍能创造出独一无二的价值。那些共同的回忆将持续激励我们以勇气和乐观迎接未来的挑战。

This year, producing Annie JR has been one of the most memorable and meaningful journeys we have ever undertaken. It's a story filled with resilience, determination and the incredible power of community, all brought to life by our talented pupils and dedicated staff. From start to finish, this production has been about more than just putting on a show — it has been a transformative experience that left lasting impressions on everyone involved.

The story of Annie is set during the Great Depression, a time of hardship but also hope. It follows a spirited young orphan girl named Annie, whose bright personality and unwavering optimism shone through despite her tough circumstances. Annie's journey begins in the orphanage run by Miss Hannigan, a grumpy but ultimately sympathetic woman. Annie's story takes a turn when she is selected to spend a day with billionaire Oliver Warbucks, and from there, a series of adventures unfold - each filled with moments of joy, concern and hope. Annie's relentless optimism and her famous song, 'Tomorrow', remind everyone that no matter how difficult life may seem, there is always hope for a better future.

Bringing this beloved story to life on stage was both a challenge and a privilege. Originally scheduled and planned with confidence, the production suddenly faced many hardships, mainly due to the unforeseen circumstances of recent times. Despite these obstacles, the spirit of the pupils shone through. Their enthusiasm, energy and willingness to give their best showcased their passion for theatre. There was significant debate about whether to put on the show at all, given the challenges. But seeing their determination and eagerness to perform reaffirmed our belief—this is what the arts are all about: hope, resilience and the courage to keep going.

Our set design team was instrumental in creating a stage that truly brought the story to life. They brainstormed tirelessly, often staying late into the evening, imagining how to make the orphanage, the city streets and the grand mansion come alive visually. Their creativity produced a vibrant setting that made the story more engaging and immersive. Their hard work truly defined the look and feel of our production - without their contributions, the magic of the show would not have been possible.

Rehearsals were a real test of dedication. School schedules were packed with sports, exams and other events, leaving little time to gather for practice. We only managed to do a full run of the show three days before the debut. During those intensive days, pupils sacrificed lunch breaks, stayed late after school and showed incredible perseverance. Every rehearsal was filled with a mix of nerves and excitement, with tears, laughter and a lot of learning along the way. Each pupil giving their best created a sense of camaraderie, like a close-knit team overcoming all obstacles together.

The music and choreography of Annie is no small feat. The songs demand powerful singing, especially the iconic ‘Tomorrow’, which reflects Annie’s unwavering hope and optimistically captures the hearts of audiences. The dance routines are lively and energetic, requiring solid coordination and confidence. Our pupils worked relentlessly to master these demanding elements, pouring in countless hours of practice and supporting each other along the way. It was inspiring to see their dedication grow with each rehearsal, turning nerves into confidence.

But what touched us all most deeply was the emotional response during the final performance. On the last day, as the curtains drew to a close, many pupils could not hold back tears. They had formed genuine bonds with their castmates, and they did not want the journey to end. They expressed how much they had learned about teamwork, perseverance and believing in themselves. For them, the stage became a space to forge lasting friendships and memories. These genuine relationships and shared experiences were the most valuable rewards of this entire process.

Looking back on this journey fills me with pride. The story of Annie is about hope, resilience and the belief that brighter days lie ahead - values embodied perfectly by our pupils this year. The effort, passion and connection they showed have left an indelible mark, not just on the stage but in their hearts. The production has demonstrated that, even in challenging times, the human spirit can shine brightly.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the teachers, staff and Friends of Wellington (FOW), whose unwavering support made this possible. Many worked tirelessly, sacrificing their own time day and night, to help our pupils bring their dreams to life. Their dedication was essential to the success of this musical.

Although staging this production was challenging, the joy and pride we feel watching our pupils perform with confidence outweigh any difficulties. This musical was more than an event; it was a celebration of hope, community and the courage to keepdreaming. The memories created in these moments - filled with effort, laughter, tears and triumph - will stay with us forever, reminding us that through unity and perseverance, we can overcome any challenge, just like Annie's unwavering optimism in the face of adversity.  

The story of Annie is a beacon of hope, set during a time of great hardship but also of unwavering hope. Annie, an energetic and kind-hearted orphan girl, never loses her belief that ‘Tomorrow’ will bring better days. Her resilience shines brightest when she sings that iconic song, inspiring everyone around her to keep dreaming and striving. Her journey from the bleak orphanage to the warmth of family and belonging mirrors our pupils’ own journey - full of obstacles but powered by hope and determination.

Bringing such an inspiring story to life on stage has been a testament to the strength of our community and the transformative power of the arts. The shared experiences, the teamwork and the relentless pursuit of excellence exemplify the very values Annie represents - hope, kindness and perseverance.  

This year's production has proven once again that, even amidst uncertainties, the human spirit and community support can create something truly special. The memories we have made together will continue to inspire us all to face future challenges with courage and optimism.