Spring Lake High School is bringing Annie to the stage for its 2025 spring musical — and this year’s production features more than just student performers. Joining the cast is a four-legged newcomer: Riley, a golden retriever puppy, playing Sandy.
Riley belongs to Seth Anderson, a science teacher at Spring Lake High School. Anderson was approached by students involved in the musical, who asked if he would consider letting Riley play the role.
“There was no extensive training involved,” Anderson said. “But Riley sometimes gets too excited, so he had quite a few rehearsals to get used to all the people and noises around him to prevent overstimulation.”
Junior Mia Nardi plays Annie and works closely with Riley onstage. Though acting alongside a dog presented new challenges, Nardi said it wasn’t due to Riley’s behavior.
“There’s a lot going on onstage and offstage that can be difficult or distracting for a puppy,” she said. “The first day Riley ran from offstage to me without having to be prompted with treats was very special to me.”
The cast quickly fell in love with their canine co-star.
“The first time I brought him in, they freaked out and were so excited,” Anderson said.
“The funniest part is probably the fact that I can’t even watch him onstage,” Anderson said. “Originally, I released him and watched from behind the scenes, but he would always stare at me and get distracted. I tried hiding behind a door or curtain, but he still finds me. So now, during the plays, I release him and run into the back hallway as quickly as I can and wait until the scenes are over to hear how he did.”
Watch for Riley in future Spring Lake High School theater productions!
