Wednesday and Thursday nights shows are much more than a song and dance story about adoption with a happy ending. It's a personal story for the cast, and hits home for the audience, as the need for foster parents in Chemung County is a growing issue.
"I firmly believe adoption is life. I firmly believe that foster care is necessary." On the stage Gilgamesh Taggett plays Oliver Warbucks, the millionaire man who adopts little orphan Annie. However, for Gilagamesh this story is all too familiar.
"I'm a rescue myself, my parents adopted me. So this story is very personal to me," said Taggett. In Thursday night's production of Annie, you can bet your bottom dollar that the sun will come out tomorrow. However, Annie's fairytale adoption story is what nearly 100 kids in Chemung County dream of. The Department of Social Services took the opportunity to tell theater goers about the benefits of adoption. …show more content…
Working with them and seeing a good outcome, and you are building a life long connection for these kids and these families," said Karen Fitspatrick, Supervisor of Home Finding and Adoption. As for Gilgamesh, and the rest of the Annie Cast, they hope the audience takes away the musical's most important message.
"Oliver Warbucks isn't looking for a child. He's looking to show some generosity and spirit at the holidays. Even in his limited sense and capacity, in doing so, he ends up discovering something he didn't know he needed all his life, which is the love and connection of family," said