Leapin' lizards! The sun’ll come out tomorrow for Riley DeLuca! After an exhaustive search, the 12-year-old young performer from Kilworth, Ontario has been chosen to play everyone's beloved red-headed orphan in our production of Annie, which is on stage at two venues this season.

Check out the adorable video below of Riley finding out that she got the part of Annie. She thinks she’s being asked to do one more audition by video and instead Director & Choreographer David Connolly lets her know that she has won the role ... and she is thrilled!

Riley is a grade six student at Parkview Public School in Komoka. She is an avid performer and previously appeared in the children’s choruses for Drayton Entertainment’s productions of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat and Cinderella: The Panto.

DeLuca will share the stage with a stellar professional cast including Thom Marriott as billionaire industrialist Oliver Warbucks, Glynis Ranney as the wicked orphanage matron Miss Hannigan, Cynthia Smithers as Mr. Warbucks’ secretary Grace Farrell, Wade Lynch as Miss Hannigan’s conniving brother Rooster, and Jacquelyn French as his partner Lily St. Regis.

Annie will open the season at the Drayton Festival Theatre playing for four weeks from June 5 through June 30. The show will return this fall running at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge from October 2 through October 27.

For tickets visit www.draytonentertainment.com.

Photo: Riley DeLuca with Charlie as Sandy.