Vegas-based Arrow the Airedale played Sandy the dog in a production of Annie at Farmington Civic Center in Farmington. The canine actor received lots of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ from the audience. The production of Annie marks Four Corners Theatre Company’s first full summer of three musicals. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Distil Beer, Wine, Spirits and SunRay Park & Casino
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He’s a scene stealer. When Arrow the Airedale walked on stage in the production of “Annie” at Farmington Civic Center, the audience just oohed and aahed. You’re watching the Local News Network brought to you by SunRay Park and Casino and Distil Beer, Wine, and Spirits. I’m Haley Opsal. The Four Corners Musical Theatre hired Arrow to play Sandy, the orphan dog that befriends another orphan, Annie, in the eponymous play. It’s Arrow’s fourth time playing the part.
And so, he’s performed in New York, New Jersey, and now, New Mexico.
Based in Las Vegas, Arrow has appeared in several TV shows including “Law and Order” and “FBI: Most Wanted”. It seems that Bess and her show dog were destined to be together.
I have wanted an Airedale since I was eight years old, and I did three productions of “Annie” when I was young, and an Airedale played Sandy in two of the productions, and I fell in love with that dog. And I wanted one ever since, my mom would never let me get this big, huge beast, so he’s my first, and he’s literally fulfilled his prophecy.
Bess says the American line of Airedales are hunters that can take down a mountain lion, and the Serbian line of the breed were trained behind the iron wall to be service dogs.
They’re known not to be hunters and to go off and hunt a mountain lion, but to be by their owner’s side doing a job, and so, that’s why he’s so perfect for this, because he loves work.
Not overly affectionate, Airedales of both lines are sensibly, polite dogs. So when Arrow’s mobbed by children in the lobby after the show’s over, he’s a patient professional. Off stage, he’s nearly catlike.
So he tends to be very, very quiet, very sensitive, incredibly intuitive.
Bess says she hopes the civic center will produce “Annie” every year, and judging by the many people in attendance, that’s a possibility. The production of “Annie” marked the first full summer of three musicals by Four Corners Musical Theatre. Coming this fall is “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”. For more information, go to farmingtonnm.org/listings. Thanks for watching this edition of the Local News Network. I’m Haley Opsal.
