The three Macherone sisters of Rotterdam are no strangers to the spotlight as part of the U.S. Water Ski Show Team in Scotia. Now the youngest, Marina, age 11, has been given another high-profile opportunity, playing a part in the Broadway hit musical Annie.
After a summer of performing with the water ski team and placing second in the regionals for her part in the `I Love Lucy` water routine, Marina will spend the next year traveling across the country playing the role of `Duffy.`
`My mom and I went to New York City, and I was lucky enough to get a call back out of 350 girls. I had never been to a casting call, and it was such an experience. I sang for the part of Annie, but I never expected to get a call back for any role. When they asked me to play Duffy, I was so excited, she is the oldest of all the girls in the story,` said Marina.
Marina’s mom, Kerry Macherone, said her daughters have always had a `go for it` mentality. With all three girls on the water ski team, she said she is never too surprised when one of them decides to take a risk.
Marina has experience in the children’s theater group Mohon Mosque, but she has never performed outside of the area, nor has she performed on a professional level.
When asked about any reservations about leaving Pinewood Elementary School for a year, Marina and her mom agreed touring with the show will be a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience.
`Marina will be tutored and is expected to meet all of her academic requirements. There are other girls touring, and they will be expected to study and take tests as well so we are hoping that the girls can support each other through it,` said Macherone.
Macherone said her daughter would first head off to Kentucky for 10 days followed by Orlando, where the production will hold its opening night on Sept. 18 and kick off its 30-week tour.
Macherone said each performer is required to have a chaperone at all times. She said she, her sister and her mom would all be taking turns touring with Marina.
`The most difficult will be being away from the rest of the family, but Marina knows we all support her,` said Macherone.
Marina calls her sisters, Elena, 16, and Hailey, 13, her role models. She said she followed their example on the water ski team and said she will miss them while she is on tour.
`I am really excited and nervous at the same time. I am excited to make new friends, including my understudy, Molly. I really can’t believe this is happening to me,` said Marina.
Marina said she learned a lot of about taking risks as well as performing through her work with the water ski team. She said she could remember the first time she saw her sister in a show and she knew she wanted to perform on the water as well. As the water ski season ends the tour begins.
Martin Charnin who first brought `Annie` to Broadway in 1977 is producing the show. To find out more about the show, go to www.annieontour.com. For information about the U.S. Water Ski Show Team, go to www.uswaterskiteam.com.“