The Broadway musical “Annie” premieres at the Porthouse Theatre Saturday, July 20. 

Located in the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, the Porthouse Theatre is partnered with the Kent State School of Theatre and Dance.

Director Terri Kent said her favorite part about “Annie” is its strong storytelling as a musical.

“I remember reading the comic strip as a young girl, and I thought that the story of Annie being adopted is such a great thing,” she said. “That stuck in my head all of my life. I have three sons, and I wanted a daughter, and I always thought I would adopt a child, and I did.”

Inspired by the 1924 comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” the musical takes place in 1933 amid the Great Depression when an orphan named Annie is invited to stay with the billionaire Mr. Warbucks.

Kent, who is also a Kent State alumna, has served as the producing artistic director at the Porthouse Theatre for 24 years.

“It’s the first time I’ve directed the show,” Kent said. “I’ve wanted to for a long time, but it’s been difficult securing the rights. We got lucky this year. Even though the national tour came through Cleveland, they allowed us to still do the show.”

Kent State students make up the entirety of the play’s ensemble cast.

“We bring in students from across the country, but I’ll brag a little bit and say that the best people who auditioned were the Kent State musical theater students,” Kent said.

“Annie” opens Saturday, July 20, at 8 p.m. and runs through August 4. Tickets can be purchased here.

Michael Neenan is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].