Canadian music icon jams with the Dreamcoat kids

Maria Falconi, who played Little Orphan Annie in Dreamcoat Fantasy Theatre's recent production of 'Annie', is all smiles Sunday as she shares a moment with Canadian music icon Jim Cuddy who dropped in on the cast party.

The post production party, a time-honoured theatre tradition, is the time when the cast, band and crew members come together for a few laughs as they share tales of missed cues, flubbed lines and dressing room nightmares, fresh off their block buster production of ‘Annie’ the Dreamcoat Fantasy Theatre kids held their party at West Ferris Secondary School Sunday.

The Annie cast party started out like any other with close to 90 kids enjoying pizza, pop and cake followed by singing a few show tunes while signing each other's programs, posters and cast pictures.

Led to believe they were reminiscing with their parents about the ground breaking year they had, the kids reprised their version of Blue Rodeo's song ‘Five Days in May’, the same tune they performed live on Canada AM in September with Canada AM host Jeff Hutcheson on stage at West Ferris Secondary School to help launch the third annual Aviva Community Fund competition.

In mid song the melodic voices turned into screams of delight as Jim Cuddy, who was in town for a concert at the Capitol Centre, surprised the kids by walking on stage.

The kids then surrounded the Canadian music icon taking pictures and asking for his autograph and then sat down for an impromptu question and answer period about the business of making music.

One sweet little voice piped up from the middle of the pack asking the Juno Award winner if he would sing for them which turned into a moment they will never forget -- their own a private concert.

"I don't have a guitar or anything," he tells the girl.

No worries ... Jesse Beam clears his throat holding up his guitar and the gracious Cuddy waves him in for the guitar.



Cuddy, in awe of the kids’ dedication, says he was happy to be in the presence of people who share his love of music.

“I know what it’s like, I know that whole team feeling and I can see that this will be something they will always remember regardless of how many of them go on to music. They’ll always remember what they did together.”

“I’m glad that they know who I am and that they know the music that’s really nice and that’s gratifying, but I’m happy to be in the presence of people for whom music means something.”

“I’m just witnessing their joy.”

The best part of the visit for Cuddy -- hearing the kids sing.

“Just hearing them sing … just beautiful. That little girl who was Annie has a nice voice, really nice voice.”