When two young actors share one of the most iconic roles in musical theatre, the result can be magic and that’s exactly what’s happening at GREAT this holiday season. Madelyn Brejcha and Nora Vedder, double-cast as Annie, bring big voices, big personalities, and an even bigger friendship to the Paramount stage.

From matching shoes to whispered warm-ups in the corner, these two middle-schoolers have turned a shared role into a shared adventure.

Meet the Annies

Madelyn, a sixth grader at North Junior High, moved to Minnesota from Lawton, Oklahoma this summer. Before joining Annie, she performed in GREAT’s Youth Artist Project and in Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play! Jr.” as one of the Squirrelles- the trio of fun, doo-wop-style squirrels.

Nora, a seventh grader at St. John’s Prep, is no stranger to the GREAT stage either, having participated in GREAT summer camps, performed GREAT’s Winnie the Pooh Kids last year, and staying active in dance and choir.

For Madelyn, theatre is about connection and creativity:

“I like how theater brings a whole bunch of people together. And it’s just really fun. I love singing and dancing and learning new stuff.”

Nora loves stepping into someone else’s shoes, even if they’re bright red ones.

“I like getting to be different characters. You can be bold or shy or whatever the part needs. I’ve done dance forever, and being in choir helped me with acting. And my brother does theater too, so he kind of pushed me to try it.”

Both girls say GREAT’s Youth Artist Project made the leap into Annie feel possible.

Madelyn:

“Youth Artist Project gave me a big confidence boost, especially since I was new here. It made me feel more brave about trying new things.”

Nora:

“It helped me learn what real auditions are like, so I wasn’t as nervous the next time. It made me feel like, okay, I can actually do this.”

Madelyn came in with experience — and big goals.

“I did Annie Jr. once and played one of the orphans. This time I thought, maybe I can try for Annie. Because of everything I learned, I felt brave enough to go for it.”

For Nora, Annie felt like the perfect next step.

“After doing Winnie the Pooh Kids, I wanted to get back onstage at GREAT. I hoped maybe I could get Annie, and when I found out I did, I was so excited.”

From Stage Dogs to Student Audiences: The Joy of Annie

This production features a live dog as Sandy, played by a three-legged rescue pup named Roma, and for two young performers, that’s both exciting and… unpredictable.

Nora laughs:

“I get nervous sometimes, like what if Roma just runs somewhere or gets distracted? Or what if she poops onstage? But she’s so sweet, and the audience loves her, so it’s okay.”

Madelyn can’t help but smile:

“She’s the first real stage dog I’ve worked with, and she’s amazing. She always makes the whole audience go, ‘Aww.’” 

Another highlight of Annie is the chance to perform for nearly 2,500 students, introducing many to live theatre for the first time through our student matinees. Research shows these experiences boost literary understanding, tolerance, and empathy, and both girls are taking their school-day audiences to heart.

Nora says,

“I kind of love performing for kids because they get excited really fast. You can feel it when they’re into it, and it makes it more fun for us. And some of them might be seeing live theater for the first time, which is really cool.”

Madelyn agrees:

“Yeah, it feels special. Like, what if this is the show that makes someone want to try theater? That would be awesome.”

As the run continues, both actors have favorite moments they look forward to each night.

Madelyn:

“My favorite part is the final scene, and I love performing with Roma.”

Nora:

“My favorite line is when Miss Hannigan gets dragged off and I say, ‘You always taught me never tell a lie.’ It’s fun every time.”

Double-Casting = Double the Fun

Sharing a starring role can be intimidating, but not for these two!

Madelyn says the partnership makes the whole experience richer:

“It’s actually really nice having someone else doing the same role. We figured out we’re super similar…like we literally had the same shoes. It’s just cool having someone who gets it.”

Nora felt the connection fast:

“I thought Maddy was awesome the first time I saw her in a show, so being double-cast with her is really fun. We always warm up together in the corner, and sometimes people tell us to be quiet, but we don’t always stop.”

They watch each other rehearse, compare notes, and celebrate each other’s breakthroughs.
 Madelyn:

“It takes some pressure off, honestly. And it’s fun seeing how she plays Annie. We’re the same character, but we still make her a little different.”

Their bond shows up everywhere – in rehearsals, backstage, and even in how they tease each other. During the interview, Nora asks, “Have I told you how much I love Maddy?”
Madelyn fires back with a grin: “I hate you.” Then they both burst into laughter.

Because double-casting Annie isn’t just about splitting performances, it’s about building two artists at once. It’s about teamwork, trust, and learning from someone walking the same path right beside you.

And as these two Annies take the Paramount stage — red curls, big smiles, and hearts full of hope — they’re proving that sometimes, sharing the spotlight makes it shine even brighter.