Swan song: Actor joins 'Annie' on musical trip to Erie

Feb. 12—The sun may not come out tomorrow, thanks to northwestern Pennsylvania's cloud-covered winter, but a touring company of a beloved musical hopes to bring a ray or two to the area this week.

Erie's Warner Theatre will adopt Broadway favorite "Annie" for shows at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. And if the theater veteran portraying Oliver Warbucks and his castmates have anything to do with it, audiences won't want to let America's favorite fictional orphan leave.

"It's been so well received," said Christopher Swan, taking a break from the national tour on Wednesday afternoon to share his love of the stage and of this particular show. "We're in Boston, Massachusetts. We opened (Tuesday) night and are here for the week," he explained. "It's cold, but the audiences so far are looking great and we're off to a good start."

That's a pretty upbeat assessment, considering this version of the family-friendly classic has been on the road since October and won't finish up until May in Portland, Oregon. The company will make a stop in New Philadelphia, Ohio, for one show today before putting the brakes on the buses for the two-night Erie stint.

With a schedule like that, it wouldn't be a surprise if Annie's benefactor Daddy Warbucks pulled out his remaining hair over the hectic pace. But as anyone who has ever seen the various incarnations of "Annie" — from the Little Orphan Annie comic strip of the 1920s, to the original stage version in the late 1970s, to the modern-day take on the silver screen — knows, it's a folically-challenging part, so the actor is taking it in stride.

"It's kind of the classic look," according to Swan. "Yeah, (Warbucks) does have to be bald. I wasn't terribly attached to my hair anyway," he added with a laugh, "so it saves me an extra step with the wig."

As for the months of hoofing it by plane or by car, "We're pretty much right in the middle of the tour," Swan said. "We generally do about eight shows a week, or six to seven if we're traveling." The longer stints in one city are called sit-downs, and the thespians definitely prefer them. "The more week-long, the more attractive it is. With a good share of the week sit-downs gives you a good chance to relax and enjoy the city."

And he should know. This Vermont native, Boston Conservatory graduate and New York City resident has seen a lot of cities over the years. In addition to regional-theater stints, Swan has been enjoying touring-company work for at least a decade now, including traveling productions of everything from "Hairspray" to "A Christmas Story."

"As an actor, you want to work. In regional theater, runs don't last that long now, maybe four to six weeks," he said. But with the extending runs, "You really get a chance to live in the art. You really get to watch it grow and (see) how it changes."

Change is all about a performer's life. In fact, "I'm relatively newly married," Swan shared. "We just had our fifth-month anniversary." In true "meet cute" fashion, Christopher and his wife, Laura, met on the tour of "A Christmas Story" and "we've been together ever since." They were together during the early days of "Annie," too, but she's now off doing her own stage projects. "With her blessing, I came back on the road 10 days after we married," he said, but added that a honeymoon to Italy in the summer is hopefully in the offing.

But for now his "family" is the cast and crew of "Annie."

Of course, that includes the red-headed bundle of spunk herself, Annie Bennett. She's portrayed by Rainier ("Rainey") Treviño, who at just 11 years old is making her national-tour debut. "These kids are amazing," Swan enthused. "They do all the shows like we do, plus they have schooling every day and do a lot of press as well. ... Everyone's very prepared and does what they have to do."

That includes Sandy, the little orphan's best bud. Seamus inhabits the role in this production. "Sandy is a mutt," Swan said with a laugh. The canine crew "look very appropriately Sandy. They're street-looking dogs who are so sweet and professional." While Seamus is paired with Rainey, Kevin gets to hit the stage when understudy Avery Hope takes on the part. "They're both great," he said of the mutts. "They're well loved and they get a lot of attention. They travel separately in a van with their handlers."

As for the younger set, "It's so funny watching them grow up," he said of his sprightly co-stars. "They start changing, they become 'tweeners.' It's interesting, but it's kind of bittersweet."

However, they're just part of the approximately 70-member ensemble.

"We support each other very much," Swan noted. "It's part of the profession we've chosen."

The Tony Award-winning musical penned by Thomas Meehan, with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, has been a stage juggernaut since it first hit the Great White Way in 1977. The current production, in fact, was directed by Jenn Thompson, who played the orphan Penny during its initial Broadway run, and features choreography by Patricia Wilcox. "Jenn is coming to town (Wednesday) to check it out, take notes, and see how the show has changed and progressed."

So how has it changed? "It's kind of fresh, in a strange way, because it goes back to the original script," Swan said. Thompson "said she wanted to reinstate some scenes and put an emphasis on certain things in the show."

And Swan is up to the challenge. "It's dancing and singing and running around and picking up kids," he said of the musical. "You try to get your rest and eat well and stay in shape. ... As an actor, it's a little more to chew on because (Warbucks) goes through more of a change; that's too interesting to pass up."

So how does he keep it fresh night after night? "The part is written so well, from beginning to end, the journey," Swan explained. "It's like any other role; you immerse yourself in it. ... You get to pretend and be somebody else, let it take you over."

Spoken like someone who has been in the trenches of life — and Swan has, of course. It's not something you readily think of when stereotyping theater kids, but he is a U.S. Army veteran as well.

"I wanted to go to college but didn't have the money. I was on the fence; I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do."

So the day after he graduated from high school he was off to processing (his father was pushing for it, but his mother was hesitant until she learned it would be just a two-year enlistment). He shipped out to join a combat engineer unit in Oklahoma, where he served as a cook and found his schedule allowed him to do ... you guessed it ... some community theater. "I kept my hand in it," Swan explained. After his tour of duty ended (although his battalion wanted him to re-up and join them in Germany), he thought, "Now I have some money and discipline. Within a month I was in school."

It's been a hard-knock life, in other words. Christopher Swan's journey has taken him from "Guys and Dolls" and "My Fair Lady" to "Annie" and a visit to Erie.

"It's a lot of work but it's worth it," he said.

YOU CAN GO

"Annie" will be presented Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. downtown at the Warner Theatre. Tickets are available by visiting BroadwayInErie.com; in person at the Erie Insurance Arena box office, 809 French St., weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 to 2; or by calling (814) 452-4857.

Now through Thursday, donations are being collected for The ANNA Shelter. With every donation, patrons can save $10 on select seats.

Donations are being accepted at the box office and at the shelter, 1555 E. 10th St. They also will be accepted at the theatre at each performance.

Ideal donation items include dog and cat food, blankets/towels, and gift cards.