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Michelle Anderson
Michelle is a freshman who just moved to Charlotte from Atlanta. Although she has had no previous experience in a musical, she enjoys being a part of Annie because it helps build her confidence and gives her the opportunity to sing in front of people. Michelle is the middle child of seven children and wants to be an obstetrician when she grows up. In her free time she enjoys going on the computer, step dancing, jump rope, swimming, bowling, and skating.

Breanna Caldwell
Breanna is a sixth grader at Northwest School of the Arts. She loves singing and acting and has even performed African Dance in NoDa. Breanna claims to have little stage fright and loves singing in front of people. When she grows up, she wants to be an actress or a performer on Broadway. When she is not performing, Breanna likes to play football.

Carlae Cook
Carlae is a sixth grader at J.M. Alexander Middle School. She is a veteran member of the NoDa School of the Arts summer program with participation in Schoolhouse Rock, Aladdin, and Annie. Carlae enjoys singing in her church choir at New Birth Charlotte and being a member of the CMS Honors Chorus; she even wants to be a professional singer when she grows up! Carlae has also taken dance lessons since she was five years old. When Carlae is not performing, she likes to hang out and talk on the phone with her friends.

DaeQuan Goss
DaeQuan is a sixth grader at Piedmont Open IB Middle School. He likes to sing and was a member of the choir at Merry Oaks Elementary School. DaeQuan likes the dance numbers of Annie the best and says he is able to teach himself how to dance. When he grows up he would like to be a scientist because of his love for and understanding of that subject. In his free time DaeQuan enjoys watching TV and reading.

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Anna Herrera
Anna is a sixth grader at J.M. Alexander Graham Middle School. She loves acting and performing in front of an audience! Before she was a part of Annie, she performed in a play about the importance of manners. When Anna grows up she would like to be an architect or a fashion designer. She also enjoys writing and has a gift for describing things and expressing her feelings. In her spare time Anna likes to design clothes, clean and organize, and swim!

Bethany Herrera
Bethany is a third grader at Highland Renaissance Academy. Her role in Annie is her first experience in musical theatre, but she has taken music and art classes at school. Bethany says that participating in activities at NoDa School of the Arts is one of her favorite things to do. When she grows up, Bethany would like to work at a bank or be on the news. Something special about Bethany is her ability to speak Spanish! In her free time Bethany likes to play football, volleyball, and soccer.

Rebekah Herrera
Rebekah is a sixth grader at Alexander Graham Middle School. Her acting experience began with her participation in a school play in the first grade. She also took ballet lessons when she was younger. When Rebekah grows up, she would like to be a midwife or a runway mom. Something special about Rebekah is the fact that she has one brother and three sisters! In her free time Rebekah likes to play in the woods and sing.

Bria Hill
Bria is a sixth grader at J.M. Alexander Middle School. Annie is her third show with NoDa School of the Arts, having participated in the previous summers’ productions of Schoolhouse Rock and Aladdin. She is also a member of the New Birth Charlotte church choir and can play the drums! When Bria grows up she would like to be an architect. In her spare time Bria takes Tae-Kwon-Do classes, plays basketball and baseball, and enjoys carpentry.

Brianna Lewis
Brianna is a sixth grader who has sung in choruses at First Assembly Church and University Park Baptist Church. In addition to singing, Brianna loves to dance and has taken dance lessons since she was two! When she grows up, Brianna would love to be a professional dancer. When Brianna isn’t singing or dancing, she likes to swim, talk on the phone, shop, and play basketball and tennis.

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Amaur Mason
Amaur is a fourth grader at Winding Springs Elementary School. Amaur has had plenty of experience in all the arts. He sang in his church choir and in a school play, he likes to dance, especially at parties, and he loves to color and paint! In addition to his love for the arts, Amaur also loves to play sports. When Amaur grows up, he wants to be a professional football player. In his spare time, Amaur likes to play baseball, football, basketball, and tennis!

Michelle McClure
Michelle is a homeschooled student who will begin her freshman year in the fall. This is her second year in a NoDa School of the Arts production; last year she was a narrator in Aladdin. In addition, she has spent four years participating in Narrow Way Productions. She also acts in her church’s Thanksgiving and Christmas shows, in addition to taking visual art classes! Michelle plans on attending UNCC for college and wants to major in Drama. She would also like to travel abroad to England for a semester. When Michelle grows up, she would like to be a mom. She is the second youngest of six children and absolutely loves to read!

Rachel McClure
Rachel is a homeschooled student who will begin her eighth grade year this fall. This is her second NoDa School of the Arts production, last year she was a narrator in Aladdin. Rachel has also participated in Narrow Way Productions for four years, as well as singing in the choir for Christ Covenant church. Rachel also loves visual arts and has taken visual art classes in painting, drawing, and charcoal since she was a child. When she grows up, Rachel would like to be a theatrical actress or a landscape architect. She is the youngest of six siblings, and loves to ride her bike and go rollerblading.

Essence Moye
Essence is a third grader at Williford Elementary School in Rocky Mount, NC. She loves to sing and is a member of her school’s choir. Essence also likes to dance and spends some of her free time making up her own dances. When Essence grows up she would like to be a lawyer or a choreographer. Essence has a 10 month old baby sister and in her spare time likes to sing and play with her Bratz dolls.

Milinie Ngo
Milinie is a second grader at Pinewood Elementary. Her role in Annie is her acting and dancing debut, but Milinie has experience singing from classes at her school. She loves visual art, especially drawing! When she grows up she wants to be an artist, a singer, and a dancer. Milinie used to live in Fayetteville, NC and has two younger sisters and one younger brother. In her free time, Milinie likes to draw and play with her friends and cousins.

Tanasha Osborne
Tanasha is an eighth grader at Wilson Middle School. This is her first NoDa School of the Arts production, but she starred as Mama Euralie n the show Once Upon This Island at her school. When Tanasha grows up she wants to be a professional singer! Tanasha claims to be extremely independent and likes to do her own thing. When Tanasha isn’t singing or acting, she likes to resume her role as a cheerleader!

Rakeisha Perry
Rakeisha is a fourth grader at Bearn Junior Academy. She is a member of the Bearn Seven Day Adventist church choir and she has participated in her school’s Christmas plays. When Rakeisha grows up she wants to be a beautician or a lawyer. Rakeisha is the youngest of six children. She has three brothers and two sisters. Rakeisha’s favorite hobbies are swimming and playing with her friends.

Matthew Pitts
Matthew is a fifth grader at First Ward Elementary School. He is a veteran in the NoDa School of the Arts summer productions with participation in Schoolhouse Rock and Aladdin. Matthew also sings in his church choir and he participates in his school’s plays. Matthew’s favorite activities are singing, dancing, and playing sports. In fact, he wants to be either an athlete or an actor when he grows up. In his free time Matthew likes to ride bikes, act, eat, play video games, and play football and basketball.

Morgan Polk
Morgan is a seventh grader at Northwest School of the Arts. She has participated in many plays at Northwest including Into the Woods and Dear Edwina. She also had a part in the school’s high school musical, Les Miserables, which was performed at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. When Morgan grows up she wants to move to New York City and get a job on Broadway! Morgan is ambidextrous, but prefers to write with her left hand. She also enjoys knitting.

Ife Presswood
Ife is an eighth grader at Piedmont Open IB Middle School. She has starred in NoDa School of the Arts’ past two productions, Schoolhouse Rock and Aladdin, but this year she is serving as a dance intern by helping choreograph dances for Annie Jr. Ife is a member of NC Performing Arts Academy, where she does African, modern, ballet, and hip hop dance. She performed in her school’s production of West Side Story, and has played tuba for the school band!

Hadiya Presswood
Hadiya is a third grader at Villa Heights Elementary School. This year is her second year at NoDa School of the Arts and has developed into a great singer and dancer. Her first acting experience was in kindergarten where she performed in a play about nursery rhymes. When Hadiya grows up she wants to be an illustrator or a librarian. Hadiya is the middle child of five children and likes to spend time with her friends and family. In her spare time she likes to read, do arts and crafts, and jump rope.

Chelsea Prioleau
Chelsea is a forth grader at Merry Oaks Elementary School. She really likes music and sings at church. Someday she would like to learn how to play the piano. Chelsea starred in the play Charlotte’s Web with her role as Charlotte. She likes attending NoDa School of the Arts not only because she likes to sing and act, but because she likes staying busy! In Chelsea’s spare time she likes to”organize and put things together.”

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RJ Russell
RJ is a homeschooled student who will start the second grade this fall. RJ really likes visual arts and he likes to sing. He once sang with his church choir! RJ would like to take a dance class because he “likes to do cool moves.” When RJ grows up he would like to be a policeman. When RJ isn’t drawing, dancing, or singing, he likes to play basketball and go swimming.

Taylor Russell
Taylor is a homeschooled student who will start the sixth grade this fall. While she has no formal experience in the arts, she likes to act and perform! Taylor loves animals and adopted two cats. She also likes to ride horses. When Taylor grows up she wants to follow in her parents’ footsteps and own the Smelly Cat Café. In her spare time, Taylor likes to act, go shopping, make fun coffee drinks at Smelly Cat, and hang out with her friends!

Amadi Scott
Amadi is a third grader at Highland Mills Montessori School. He played the parrot in last year’s production of Aladdin. Amadi also sings in his school’s chorus. Even though Amadi is still in elementary school, he already has his career plan mapped out! First, he wants to own a PetSmart and then go on an African Lion safari. Once he finishes the safari, he wants to be an animal scientist! In his spare time Amadi likes to do dangerous stunts and collect and build toy cars.

Jelani Scott
Jelani is a sixth grader at Piedmont Open IB Middle School. Annie is his second NoDa School of the Arts production. Last year Jelani starred as Sultan in Aladdin! In addition to performing, Jelani likes to play sports. In fact, he wants to be a professional basketball player when he grows up. If that does not work out he would like to be a pediatrician. Jelani’s favorite hobbies are basketball, football, and reading.

Abraham Smith
Abraham is a fourth grader at Lincoln Heights Elementary School. He is involved in all of the arts and even had one of his crayon drawings hung at Spirit Square. He sings in his school choir and played an elephant in the play Holiday Zoobillee; but his favorite performing art is dance! When Abraham grows up he would like to play football in the NFL. When Abraham is not performing, he likes to play football, basketball, soccer, and golf.

Deborah Smith
Deborah is a second grader at Lincoln Heights Elementary School. Her role in Annie is not her first theatrical performance; she also starred in a school play! Deborah is very flexible and likes to do cartwheels and flips. When Deborah grows up she would like to be a chef or a mechanic. In her spare time, Deborah likes to collect bottlecaps and skip rocks on the lake with her dad.

Isaiah Smith
Isaiah is a freshman at Hopewell High School. Annie is his second performance with NoDa School of the Arts. Last summer, he played Jafar in Aladdin. Isaiah also does step routines at the Dominion Christian Center and he played trumpet in the school band for three years! When Isaiah grows up he would like to be a basketball player for the NBA or a veterinarian. In his free time Isaiah likes to play basketball and soccer, and watch TV or go on the computer. Something special about Isaiah is his red hair!

Israel Smith
Israel is a seventh grader at Davidson IB Middle School. He enjoys acting and starred in the school’s sixth grade play, Death’s Messengers. Israel also likes visual arts and draws well! When Israel grows up he would like to be an author or a forensic scientist. Israel also likes to read and spends much of his free time doing so!

Surya Swilley
Surya is a homeschooled student who will begin eighth grade in the fall. Surya is serving as an intern this year to help in the production of Annie. Surya has been dancing her whole life and also likes musical theatre. She played Cecilia in the musical Hairspray at Children’s Theatre and was a member of the Sensational 70s camp! She is also a member of the Teen Dance Ensemble and the Teen Drama Ensemble at the African American Cultural Center. When she grows up, Surya would like to attend Florida School of the Arts and then pursue a career as a dancer, actress, and singer.

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Bryana Williams
Bryana is a fifth grader at Villa Heights Elementary School. Her role in Annie is her first time working at NoDa School of the Arts, but she has plenty of experience singing in Charlotte. Bryana is a member of the Charlotte Children’s Choir and a member of St. Peter’s church choir. When Bryana grows up she would like to be a doctor! When Bryana isn’t singing she likes to read, play softball and tennis, and watch TV!

Maiya Williams
Maiya is a sixth grader at Bearn Junior Academy. This is her third year performing with NoDa School of the Arts! Maiya sang “3 Is a Magic Number” in Schoolhouse Rock, and played a harem girl in Aladdin. She also sings in her school choir and starred in a Christmas play at her school! Maiya loves performing and enjoys spending time with the friends she’s made here! She would like to achieve her goal of becoming a doctor or lawyer in the future. Maiya’s favorite hobbies are going outside to play and spending time with her friends and family!

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