‘You are special. Never stop believing that.’

It’s only a few days away. The Colfax-Mingo Jr./Sr. High production of “Annie Jr.” will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 and 8 at the Colfax-Mingo Jr./Sr. High School auditorium.

“Productions like ‘Annie Jr.’ give Colfax-Mingo students a chance to grow in confidence, creativity and teamwork,” director Tyler Harper said. “The arts teach kids to communicate, problem-solve and express themselves — skills that last far beyond the stage.”

At the start of the year, Harper selected three productions for the students to choose from that he know would work at the school. The kids spent a few weeks watching clips from the show and sharing their thoughts, excitements and boredoms before making a selection.

“Overall the students felt this was a great show for the community — especially their younger siblings,” Harper said.

Rehearsals started with 40 kids playing a part in making the production come to life. From acting on stage to make sure the music starts on cue and finding the perfect lighting, everyone has an important part to play to make the show go off without a hitch.

“Rehearsal has been so much fun,” Harper said. “Many students that aren’t performing have helped our cast in learning their parts. We laugh a lot, but the students have crammed a lot of learning into a very short learning period. There hasn’t been a day go by that I haven’t seen a different student shine.”

Productions at Colfax-Mingo can differ from other area schools because they involve students in grades 7 through 12. By having one show for the school, it gives students a great opportunity to learn from each other and make goals for themselves for the future.

“Because our musicals are 7-12, kids that normally don’t spend much time together spend time learning from each other,” Harper said. “The younger students spend time trying to reach the level of the older students. The older students work hard to pass on knowledge, but they make sure they keep developing skills to keep them ahead of the young ones.”

With opening night coming up soon, Harper is getting excited to see the kids shine on stage and show off all of their hard work.

“It is always a joyful experience when our audiences see the talent and abilities of our kids. I’m ready to see them shine,” Harper said. “My favorite part to every show is the closing song. You get to watch all these teenagers just belting their hearts out, living in the moment. No troubles. No worries. Just singing.”

Performances of ‘Annie Jr.’ will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 in the Colfax-Mingo Jr./Sr. High School auditorium. Tickets are $5 and only available at the door.

“We’re so thankful for the incredible support from our parents and community in bringing ‘Annie Jr.’ to life. Whether through donations, meals for our cast, costume and set help or the generous gift of time, this show truly represents the spirit of Colfax-Mingo,” Harper said. “We hope the community will join us for an evening of music, laughter and joy as our students shine on stage.”