BATON ROUGE - Two Baton Rouge women are bringing their original musical "Ms. Warbucks" to the stage for its second run at Cite des Artes in downtown Lafayette.

Caroline Helm Huval, a hospice worker and performer and Bonny McDonald, a Southern University theater professor, co-wrote the show. It runs Aug. 6-9 and Aug. 14-16.

The musical is set in 1961 and follows a grown-up Annie Warbucks as she visits her former orphanage director in a nursing home. There, Annie recognizes the same struggles she faced as a child, including institutionalization, abandonment and a longing for family.

The idea came to Huval while she was working as a hospice social worker. A lifelong fan of the 1982 movie "Annie," she had a vision of nursing home residents dancing to "It's a Hard Knock Life."

When she partnered with McDonald to co-write the musical, the show took off. The creative team grew to include songwriters Johanna Divine and Chas Justus.

The show sold out four performances at the Acadiana Center for the Arts two years ago. This version features more songs and drama.

The production features 12 senior citizens, ages 70 to 88, singing, dancing and showcasing their talents.

"We hope that our show provides strong, interesting roles for older actors," McDonald said. "As our population ages, more families than ever are facing hard questions about long-term care, caregiving and what it means to grow old."

Helm said the show raises bigger questions about community and connection.

"The show is about our need for connection," Helm said, "How can we take better care of one another as a community? What does it mean to belong?"

The creative team has bigger ambitions beyond Lafayette.

"We keep imagining Carol Burnett playing Ms. Agatha," Helm said.

Tickets are available here.