"They do say never work with children or animals, don't they. Well, so much for that, because I'm working with both - children and an animal, a golden retriever. I have to say though, they've all been very well behaved."
Annie is being presented by the society this year and the opening night, in the Alexandra Memorial Theatre, is on Saturday, September 25. The production is held as part of the Alexandra Blossom Festival.
Mrs Henderson is based in Timaru and it is her first time working with the society. She was impressed at the depth of talent in the district.
"The show is coming together nicely. We're in the theatre for rehearsals this week so it's been interesting seeing the stage sets and lighting all coming together."
This week she has been supervising a team of Alexandra teenagers who were helping put the finishing touches to the stage set and lighting for the show. Some of them have roles in the production or in the stage crew, but others were roped in to help.
"This is what the theatre is all about- teamwork. Everyone just pitches in and does what has to be done."
The cast is made up of 40 people - the youngest aged 7 and the oldest 80.
"There's some very talented people around here," she saidIncluding the production crew, there are 65 people involved in the show.
Annie was last staged by the Alexandra society in 1992 and Mrs Henderson said it had wide appeal and "is a load of fun".
It will run until October 1.
Lauren Ross (14), of Arrowtown, a boarder at Dunstan High School in Alexandra, takes the title role, while Barry Gibbons, of Alexandra, is Daddy Warbucks.
Joy Rogers, of Alexandra, will play Miss Hannigan, Alice Stewart, of Alexandra, is Lily St Regis, Rooster is played by Kelly Keenan, of Cromwell, and CJ Maxwell, of Queenstown, is Grace Farrell.
Mrs Henderson was commuting from Timaru for rehearsals but has been based in Alexandra for the past couple of weeks.
However, this weekend she will return home to catch up with her family and see husband David appear as part of the company in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
