Marysville students will be featured in the Lyric Opera Northwest production of "Oliver!" at the Moore Theatre on October 17. The girls are (from left) Brianna and Lexi Jason and Mandy Henrichsen; the boys are (from left) Caden and Nathan Weier and Jordan Harris.

 

Six youngsters from Marysville will sing and dance their way into the audience's heart as lovable orphans and pickpockets in Lyric Opera Northwest's production of "Oliver!" on Sunday, October 17, at the Moore Theatre in Seattle. More than 200 first and fifth-grade students from Liberty Elementary School will be in the audience to cheer them on.

The local student actors represent one-quarter of the street urchins in Fagin's gang in the musical, based on Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist."

Mandy Henrichsen, Jordan Harris, Brianna and Lexi Jason, and Caden and Nathan Weier also join the show's ensemble in various song and dance numbers throughout the performance. Despite their youth, many of the students already have impressive performance resumes.

15-year-old Mandy Henrichsen, a sophomore at Lake Stevens High School, has appeared in four Lyric Opera Northwest operas, and is a frequent soloist at concert fundraisers, festivals and competitions. Jordan Harris has held feature roles with Seattle Musical Theatre, the Seattle Symphony and 5th Avenue Theatre.

Sisters Brianna and Lexi Jason are regular performers with the Northwest Savoyards, and they were both featured in Marysville-Pilchuck High School's 2010 production of "The Sound of Music."

Caden and Nathan Weier are brothers who attend Liberty Elementary School in Marysville. The boys are new to the world of theatre, but they're enjoying their debut immensely. Their classmates will be taking buses to Seattle for a very special field trip to the Oct. 17 show.

"The students are really thrilled about the opportunity to go to Seattle," said vice principal Tami Taylor. "It's a much bigger field trip than we normally get to do, so the teachers are excited as well."

The Moore Theatre is helping to facilitate the student group, but Taylor said the school is hoping for some donations to help cover the cost of the four buses required for the special event.

The public is invited to the 4 p.m. performance at the Moore Theatre. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for students (with mandatory fees), and may be ordered online at www.stgpresents.org or toll-free at 1-877-784-4849.



Names from right to left: Brianna and Lexi Jason, Mandy Hendrichsen, Caden and Nathan Weier and Jordan Harris. Ages 6 to 14.