Young Actress Fulfills a Dream in Surflight's 'Annie'

Young thespian Amelia Rose Allen's dreams are coming true as she stars as Annie in Surflight Theatre's production of the stage classic.

Amelia, of Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y., said she began dreaming of a starring role in the stage show after her first role in "Seusical."

"Someday I'm going to have red hair just like Andrew McArdle, someday I'm going to play Annie!," the 10-year-old recalled saying. 

Although the red hair isn't natural, Amelia Rose Allen is convincing as Andrea McArdle, the original Annie. 

"I like how optimistic she is, she's very spunky, a lot like me actually," said Amelia. 

Dying her ashy blond locks was of minimal issue for the fresh-faced actress, who gushed about how much she enjoys playing Annie and working with the cast in Beach Haven. 

"I love the cast and crew, my favorite is little Nina, she's just so cute I wanna hug her and squeeze her all the time!," Amelia said of Nina Randazzo, 8, of Cranford, who plays the role of Molly.  

There's no room for stage fright in Amelia's world, when things go wrong you just have to keep going. 

Amelia chronicled a mishap in the show where places were not called and she was still getting dressed. Rushing down the stairs with tears in her eyes she began belting out the lyrics of the next song. Ever concerned about putting on a bad show, Amelia didn't allow the stress of a slip-up to unnerve her.

"I'm just thinking I have to do my job, which is a very fun job," she said. "The show must go on!" 

Rose Allen, Amelia's mother, discussed the short time frame child actors have to work. 

"She's been doing this professionally for a year, in the business of musical theater for children, there's only a short period when they can work," she said, "They have to be 4'10" and under, so when we started doing all this she was about 4'3" a year ago and she's grown 3 inches since!" 

While inching along toward bigger roles, Amelia and her mother Rose are enjoying their stint on Long Beach Island.

"Getting here was tough, but we are so happy, we've fallen in love with LBI, love the theater, and I think if I'm going to have a house anywhere, it's going to be here," Allen said. 

"When this one came up, we were like wow, we have to do this, because it's a professional theater, really great staff," Allen said.

After the show wraps on July 21, they will return to Cornwall-on-Hudson. 

"She's just going to go to horse camp, you know, be a normal kid," she said. 

But Amelia has big dreams for her future. 

"Someday I'm going to be famous," she said. "Someday I'm going to be rich and famous, someday I'm going to work at a very big theater, TA-DA."

IF YOU GO: Click here for a full list of show times. Click here to order tickets, or call 609-492-9477.