A gaggle of 65 young girls gathered at BPA Monday and Tuesday nights, each awaiting the chance to sing, dance and charm her way into the coveted role of orphan.

Wednesday’s cadre of 28 were the cream of the crop, called back to garner a role in Annie, BPA’s 2010 holiday season extravaganza.

Parents offered encouragement before being scuttled out of the performance hall, where director Lee Ann Hittenberger, choreographer Shannon Sheehan and vocals director Lynda Sue Welch put the girls through the paces. Auditions included learning and performing a dance routine; solo vocals; a reading of “a side,” a brief section of script; and even a somersault.

“Now, was that fun?” Hittenberger asked the group, two-thirds of which have participated in a BPA theater class or previous production.

Results of casting will be announced next week. Auditions for teen and adult roles, including Miss Hannigan and Daddy Warbucks, will be held Sept. 13-14.

The Review will follow the story from auditions and casting through rehearsal and final production.