P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525
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P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525 |
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Wendy Franklin - A Brilliant Presence By: Roy Riedy |
Wendy Franklin's name first appeared in the Little Theatre records in the January, 2000, Newsletter of the Highlands Little Theatre which stated that newcomer Wendy Franklin had been selected by Director Frank Oberhausen to play the title role of Annie Oakley in the January, 2000, reprise of the much loved Irving Berlin musical, Annie Get Your Gun.
The role of Annie Oakley was Wendy's debut at Highlands Little Theatre but not her first time in a stage role. Just before appearing in Highlands County, Ms. Franklin appeared as Denise Sanders in the Hardee County Players' production of Smoke on the Mountain. Wendy, a native of Hialeah, Florida and a graduate of Florida State University, has been teaching in Polk County since 1998.
Wendy played the role of Annie with vigor and vitality and made the role of Annie Oakley her own. The reviews of her performance were unanimous and unstinting in their praise of her singing and acting ability and it was hoped that she would soon be seen again on the Lakeside Playhouse stage. The critics were correct in lavishing praise on this new star, for in October of 2000, Ms. Franklin was awarded a Zenon as the Best Actress in a Leading Role in the Twenty-sixth Season.
Happily, Ms. Franklin returned in the Twenty-seventh season to play the role of the star-crossed lover, Tuptim, in the Frank Oberhausen revival of Rogers and Hammerstein's great musical, The King and I, again to great applause and acclaim.
Since Wendy has been associated with Highlands Little Theatre, she has appeared in two musicals, been nominated for awards at two Zenon Ceremonies, and won a Best Actress Zenon. Her name has been mentioned in five HLT Newsletters and fourteen local newspaper articles. It is the wish of all who have see this talented young lady act and sing that they will see her on the HLT stage again soon.
