It’s a thrill to be able to perform in the loop, where I’ve seen countless shows while growing up in the north suburb of Deerfield.
People ask, “Are you excited to see your family in the suburbs and have your mother cook for you all week?” Well, yes, and no; I love my mother and am certainly excited to have a handful of family attend the show. However, I’ve devoted this week to being a REAL Chicagoan by staying with my closest high school buddies in Wicker Park, where I’ve just settled in. I get to live with my three high school buddies this week – a psychologist, sports agent and an engineer.
Quite a change from the eccentric, dramatic personalities of a theatre company. (Although there is NOTHING wrong with eccentricities– chutzpah equals passion).
Martin Charnin, our director and lyricist, spoke with the cast yesterday in Atlanta via phone about how the origin of the Annie cartoon strip was in the Chicago Tribune, and that our performances in Chi-town were of special significance. Well, I didn’t need to hear that to know this was going to be a very special week. I get to eat some famous pie at Gino’s East, lounge at the famous ‘Violet Hour’ here in Wicker Park, and of course, RIDE THE EL TRAIN EVERY DAY.
SWEET HOME.
-Zander Meisner (Rooster Hannigan/ANNIE)
