Leapin’ lizards!
Back in 1982, young actress Aileen Quinn became a sensation when she beat out 8,000 other girls to play the lead role in the movie version of the Broadway musical “Annie.” She went on to star in the hilarous classic alongside Carol Burnett, Albert Finney, and Bernadette Peters.
Since that time, Quinn has led a quiet life. She has acted on stage, but not in too many movies. But now she’s heading a new drama department in a Catholic school in Jersey City that just went co-ed.
This fall, Hudson Catholic Regional High School began admitting young women. Out of a current enrollment of 397 students, 72 are female.
And that has not just meant a new mix of estrogen into the atmosphere, but other substantial changes.
The school now has a performing arts program with a variety of classes chaired by a first-year teacher: Aileen Quinn.
That’s right, Hudson County: We got Annie!
So don’t be surprised if you’re walking past the school and hear someone saying, “We love you, Miss Hannigan,” or a pugnatious voice offering, “All riiiight, who’s next?”
Read more about the changes in the school in this weekend’s Jersey City Reporter this Sunday, here at www.hudsonreporter.com or in the print edition.