Behind the Curtain: Bringing the World of Annie to Life at Sunset Playhouse
From the bustling streets of 1930s New York City to the grandeur of the Warbucks mansion, discover how Sunset Playhouse Resident Scenic Designer and Technical Director Scott Wirtz-Olsen brings this beloved Broadway classic to life.
When the curtain rises on Annie at Sunset Playhouse, audiences are transported to another time and place. But behind every scene, every set piece, and every seamless transition are countless hours of creativity, planning, and technical expertise.
Bringing a production like Annie to the stage is about more than building scenery. It’s about creating a world where the story can unfold, the performers can shine, and audiences can experience the magic of live theater.
A Classic Broadway Look for a Classic Broadway Musical
For Scott, the inspiration behind Annie began with honoring its roots.
“Annie is a classic, old-school Broadway musical,” Scott explains. To capture that timeless feeling, he envisioned a scenic design inspired by traditional Broadway theater, complete with painted scenic legs and backdrops.
These elements establish the framework of 1930s New York City, providing a visual foundation for the many locations Annie visits throughout her journey.
Rather than building entirely separate sets for every scene, the design allows the world of New York City to remain present while individual locations come to life through carefully selected scenery and furnishings.
From Digital Design to the Sunset Stage
While the finished production embraces a traditional Broadway aesthetic, the process of creating it involved modern technology.
Scott spent hours digitally designing the painted scenic legs and backdrops before sending the completed files to a large-format printing company, where the artwork was transformed into the scenic pieces audiences see on stage.
From there, the challenge became determining how each location could be created using just a few essential elements.
Furniture and scenic pieces were designed to roll on and off stage efficiently, allowing the story to move from the orphanage to the streets of New York and ultimately to the magnificent Warbucks mansion.
Each scene builds upon the last, leading to one of the production’s grandest moments: Christmas at the Warbucks mansion.
Big Broadway Magic in a Small Space
One of the biggest challenges of creating a large-scale musical at Sunset Playhouse isn’t necessarily what audiences see on stage. It’s what they don’t see.
Like many community theaters, Sunset operates with limited backstage space, requiring the production team to get creative with every inch.
Scott shares a surprising detail that most theatergoers might never realize: once an actor steps behind a painted scenic leg or black curtain, there may be only about four feet of space before reaching the wall!
With a large cast, moving scenery, furniture, props, and quick transitions, coordinating a production like Annie requires careful planning and teamwork.
Every set piece must serve a purpose, and every transition must be thoughtfully choreographed to keep the story moving.
And when everything works exactly as intended? Audiences never notice the complexity happening just beyond their view.
The Best Set Design Is the Kind You Don’t Notice
Ask Scott about his favorite hidden detail or technical element, and his answer might surprise you.
Rather than pointing to a specific scenic piece, he hopes audiences simply become immersed in the production.
“It’s always my hope that the audience simply enjoys the show as it seamlessly flows from start to finish,” he shares.
That’s the true magic of scenic design. When the scenery, lighting, performers, and storytelling work together, audiences are free to lose themselves in the experience.
Bringing Stories to Life for Every Generation
For Scott, the opportunity to create live theater is deeply meaningful.
Having spent his career working in the performing arts, he finds tremendous joy in introducing beloved stories to a new generation while offering longtime theatergoers a fresh perspective on productions they may have experienced years ago.
With Annie, that opportunity is especially exciting. The musical has delighted audiences for generations, and each new production brings its own creativity, interpretation, and theatrical magic.
Scott hopes the experience inspires audiences, especially younger theatergoers, to continue exploring and supporting live theater and the arts.
And he offers an important reminder about what makes Sunset Playhouse so special.
“The ‘community’ in community theater includes all of us.”
It’s a sentiment that extends far beyond the stage. From the actors and production teams to the volunteers, patrons, sponsors, and donors, every person plays a role in bringing theater to life in Elm Grove.
At Sunset Playhouse, that shared commitment makes productions like Annie possible.
Experience the Magic of Annie!
See Scott’s and the Sunset crew’s creative vision come to life as Annie takes the Sunset Playhouse stage!
Performances run through November 8, 2026.
Whether you’re introducing a young theatergoer to Annie’s unforgettable story or rediscovering this Broadway favorite, there’s no better time to experience the magic of live theater.
