Alanna Stein, 11, is currently performing in the Walnut Street Theatre’s production of “Annie.”
When the next round of the Walnut Street Theatre’s “A Christmas Story” auditions required tapping experience, fourth grader Alanna Stein scheduled an “emergency tap lesson” the very next day.
Two years later, Alanna continues her commitment to the Walnut and to her craft, clinching her first named role as orphan Tessie in the Philadelphia theater’s production of “Annie,” the story of a spunky orphan determined to find her parents amid the Great Depression. The show is running through Jan. 7.
The 11 year old, who attends Voorhees Middle School, was initially captivated by America’s oldest theater after seeing “Elf” in 2013.
“I wanted to be on that stage,” Alanna said.
Tessie, the runt of the orphan pack known for her pesky and repetitive “oh my goodness” line, required a more slaken attitude than the proper munchkins Alanna played in the Walnut’s 2016–2017 production of “The Wizard of Oz.”
But, she had to balance that down-and-dirty demeanor with Tessie’s nerve-wracking tendencies, which was a headspace Alanna strived to reach.
“I’ve really taken Tessie and made her my own,” Alanna said.
She attributes her learning of this skill to the professional actors at the Walnut whom she intently watches during rehearsals as they experiment with their roles, such as those playing adult roles of Daddy Warbucks or Ms. Hannigan.
“(The adult actors) try different techniques with their character to see what they like best,” Alanna said. “They’re playing with their character, and I think that’s really cool.”
With rigorous rehearsals running since the fall, Alanna still managed to make the principal’s honor roll for the first marking period.
She seeks inspiration from a scope of thespians, encompassing Broadway stars such as Ben Platt in the smash hit “Dear Evan Hansen” to her best friend in a community theater’s production of “Beauty and the Beast.”
Along with the Walnut, she has acted with the Voorhees Middle School drama club, the Broadway Theatre of Pitman, the Music Training Center in Marlton, the Voorhees Theatre Company and the Mandell Theatre in Philadelphia.
In the spring, she will participate in Voorhees Middle School’s production of “The Little Mermaid.”
Alanna’s résumé also includes screen work, as she has starred in a short film, music video, short documentary and public service announcement.
Dabbling in both professional and amateur productions, the short film “Roundabout” was created by a Drexel University student, and the short documentary “Breaking The Cycle” was produced for Shawnee TV.
One of her biggest challenges is transposing her theatrics depending upon the medium.
“For stage, I speak so much louder and everything is exaggerated, while for film, the camera can catch anything, so you can tone it down more,” Alanna said.
But, she says her heart still belongs to the stage, not only as an actor but also as an audience member, as she’s seen numerous musicals on Broadway, including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “School of Rock,” in which she discovered her dream role of Summer.
Alanna plans to continue acting throughout her life, but she also aspires to be an occupational therapist and writer, applying a theme she learned from “Annie” to keep her motivated.
“A lesson from the show is to always have hope and to never give up,” Alanna said. “There’s always a chance.”
For more information about Walnut Street Theatre’s production of “Annie,” now running through early January, visit www.walnutstreettheatre.org.
