The ever-popular Broadway musical Annie will light up Sydney’s Lyric Theatre from 29 December in an exciting new production produced John Frost. Returning to the role of New York ‘zillionaire’ Daddy Warbucks will be one of Australia’s greatest theatrical talents, Anthony Warlow, fresh from his success in the title role of the World Premiere of Doctor Zhivago. Show business legend Nancye Hayes will play the tyrannical Miss Hannigan who runs the orphanage where Annie begins her journey. This is the third Australian production of Annie that Nancye has been involved with, having played Lily St Regis in the original production and been Assistant Choreographer for the second.
Joining Nancye as her scurrilous brother Rooster Hannigan is television and stage favourite Todd McKenney (The Boy From Oz, Dancing With the Stars). Playing Rooster’s “lady friend” Lily St Regis and Warbucks’ secretary Grace Farrell will be two leading ladies of musical theatre, Chloe Dallimore (The Producers) and Julie Goodwin (West Side Story) respectively. Making his musical theatre debut in the role of President Roosevelt (FDR) will be radio veteran Alan Jones.
Announcing his all-star cast, Producer John Frost said, “I’m often asked when Annie will return to the stage, and I’m thrilled that for this new production we have the A-list of Australian musical theatre talent – Anthony Warlow reprising one of his favourite roles, Nancye Hayes putting her mark on the role of the mean Miss Hannigan, and Todd McKenney, Chloe Dallimore and Julia Goodwin who are the cream of Australian talent. And I know Alan Jones will surprise everyone in his musical theatre debut. Our production team is top quality as well – director Karen Johnson-Mortimer, choreographer Kelly Akers and musical director Peter Casey. You can bet your bottom dollar Annie will be a hit again in 2012!”
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell said, “Over the coming years, Sydney will play host to a number of musicals, many of which will have their Australian and World Premiere season in Sydney and many of which will be produced by John Frost. Today we add another musical to the list, the Australian premiere season of Annie and making his musical theatre debut in the role of Franklin D Roosevelt will be Alan Jones. I’m sure his listeners will be the first in line,” Mr O’Farrell said. “In the last month we have announced that Sydney was chosen for the Australian Premiere of The Addams Family and the World Premiere of Strictly Ballroom. This is in addition to the recent highly successful first run of Doctor Zhivago, as well as Legally Blonde opening in Australia in June 2012. Today we again demonstrate Sydney’s re-emergence as the number one city for first run musicals in Australia,” he said.
Based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip “Little Orphan Annie”, the musical Annie burst
into popularity in 1977 when it opened on Broadway. After running there for nearly six years, it has played in over 22 countries worldwide including the UK, Argentina, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Australia. Annie became a smash-hit movie musical in 1982 starring Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney and Carol Burnett that is adored worldwide and a fixture of popular culture references.
Annie first toured Australia from 1978 with a cast that included Jill Perryman, Hayes Gordon, Kevin Johnson, Nancye Hayes and Anne Grigg. Annie returned to the Australia stage in 2000 produced by John Frost starring Anthony Warlow, Amanda Muggleton, Jane Scali, Philip Gould and Angela Kelly. For this production, Annie’s lyricist and original Broadway director Martin Charnin wrote a new song for Anthony Warlow to sing in the show, an unprecedented honour for Warlow.
Annie is full of toe-tapping hits such as It’s the Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile, NYC, Maybe and everyone’s favourite song – Tomorrow. These wonderful songs have become staples of musical theatre repertoires worldwide and now, 34 years on, it remains one of the most loved and universally appealing musicals of all time.
BOOKING DETAILS
Venue: Lyric Theatre, Star City
Season: From 29 December 2011
Opening Night: Thursday 5 January 2012
Performance Times: Wed–Sat 8pm, Matinees Wed 1pm & Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm & 6pm (TO Jan 30)
Wed–Sat 8pm, Matinees Tues & Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm & Sunday 3pm (FROM Jan 30)
Price: $40.00 – $135.90 (children’s prices available all sessions except Fri/Sat 8pm)
Bookings: 1300 795 267 or www.ticketmaster.com.au
Groups of 12 or more (02) 8240 2290
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Hele Nikitenko says:
Who will be playing Annie herself ?
Clint Salter says:
They started auditions for Annie last Sunday and will continue auditions over the next month.
Julienne says:
How do you apply to audition for Annie
Maddie says:
What other roles will they be auditioning for and how to audition??
KRISTINA BEATON says:
Wouldn’t it be fantastic if we could get Gabrielle Schornegg (ANNIE : SYDNEY 1978) & Rachel Marley
(ANNIE: SYDNEY 2000) along to the Opening Night of this forthcoming production!
clintsalter says:
Looking forward to seeing some new talent in this role for the new production. These young ladies were great though!
KRISTINA BEATON says:
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could get Gabrielle Schornegg (ANNIE: SYDNEY 1978) and
Rachel Marley (ANNIE : SYDNEY 2000) along to the opening night of this forthcoming production!
Taylor Brown says:
how do you find out about auditioning for the role of annie or one of the orphans??
clintsalter says:
Auditions are underway and they are taking no more submissions.
narelle Morrice says:
It says the season starts 29 Dec but opening night is 5 jan. Are the performances before 5 Jan the previews? And if so how do we get tickets for those?
christine smith says:
I am trying to remember who starred in Annie that was played at Her Majesty Theatre at Broadway, Sydney in 1979
Monique says:
Hi my name is mnoqiue i have been acting singing and dancing for 2 years i just turned 12 and would like to be annie or try out for any role are there any auditions coming up please reply ASAP!