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CALUMET -- It's hard to resist the spirited songs performed by everyone's favorite red-headed orphan.

Washington Middle School sixth grader Kiira Billeck snagged the lead role in "Annie," this year's all-school musical, and she can hardly wait for the upcoming shows.

"I’m probably the most excited person in the whole cast right now,” say Billeck.  “I've never had a role this big, so it's really awesome."

With pep in her step and a constant smile on her face, Annie escapes the "hard knock life" by endearing herself to successful businessman, Oliver Warbucks, played by Calumet senior Jedidiah Kauppila.

"For the first part of the play, I do a lot of strict talking and ordering people around,” says Kauppila.  “It's when he starts to soften up that I really enjoy playing him."

Many local sponsors helped bring the play to the stage, which is the first all-school musical in the Copper Country in three years.  More than 50 middle and high school students are participating in the production.

"By combining the schools, we get enough kids,” says director Sara Perfetti.  “We have kids for the orchestra, we have kids working backstage, doing lights, and they all get to work with kids from other schools and see other friends."

You can catch the students performing “Annie” this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Calumet Theatre.

Tickets cost $12 for adults and $8 for students.