Jadaya, who now is a freshman at the Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools' Grunin Performing Arts Academy, won the lead roles in the Intermediate South musicals in seventh and eighth grade as well as earned the main role in Toms River Intermediate South's performance of 'Into The Woods' while she was in sixth grade.

But it was apparently the Society Performers Academy in Point Pleasant Beach that pushed Bivins to branch out into acting. She went on to find a talent agency in New York City, which led to an audition for NBC's 'Annie.'

Jadaya's path to 'Annie Live!' began in July, when she received her first callback, according to numerous news articles.   She landed a role in the orphan ensemble and has been rehearsing with Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson, who plays the classic role of Miss Hannigan, for months.