ANNIE was one of my childhood favorites growing up and it’s one of my children’s favorites, too! The U.S. National Tour of ANNIE will play Portland’s Keller Auditorium from May 17–22, 2016. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, this production of ANNIE is a brand new physical incarnation of the iconic Tony Award®-winning original.
The U.S. National Tour of ANNIE will play Portland’s Keller Auditorium from May 17–22, 2016. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, this production of ANNIE is a brand new physical incarnation of the iconic Tony Award®-winning original.
ANNIE has a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. All three authors received 1977 Tony Awards® for their work. Choreography is by Liza Gennaro, who has incorporated selections from her father Peter Gennaro’s 1977 Tony Award®-winning choreography. I love when Revived and reimagined shows have a connection to the original.
The celebrated design team includes scenic design by Tony Award® winner Beowulf Boritt (Act One, The Scottsboro Boys, Rock of Ages), costume design by Costume Designer’s Guild Award winner Suzy Benzinger (Blue Jasmine, Movin’ Out, Miss Saigon), lighting design by Tony Award® winner Ken Billington (Chicago, Annie, White Christmas) and sound design by Tony Award® nominee Peter Hylenski (Rocky, Bullets Over Broadway, Motown). The lovable mutt “Sandy” is once again trained by Tony Award® Honoree William Berloni (Annie, A Christmas Story, Legally Blonde). Musical supervision and additional orchestrations are by Keith Levenson (Annie, She Loves Me, Dreamgirls). Casting is by Joy Dewing CSA, Joy Dewing Casting (Soul Doctor, Wonderland). The tour is produced by TROIKA Entertainment, LLC.
The Company in “A New Deal for Christmas.” Photo credit: ©JOAN MARCUS.
The production features a 25 member company: in the title role of Annie is Heidi Gray, an 11-year-old actress from the Augusta, GA-area, making her tour debut. Gilgamesh Taggett stars as Oliver Warbucks. In the role of Miss Hannigan is Lynn Andrews. Also starring in the tour are Chloe Tiso as Grace, Garrett Deagon as Rooster, Lucy Werner as Lily, and Jeffrey B. Duncan as FDR. Macy and Sunny, rescue terriers, star as Sandy.
The orphans are Sage Bentley as Tessie, Bridget Carly Marsh as July, Molly Rose Meredith as Pepper, Emily Moreland as Kate, Annabelle Wachtel as Molly, and Casey Watkins as Duffy.
The original production of ANNIE opened April 21, 1977, at the Alvin Theatre and went on to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the Grammy for Best Cast Show Album, and seven Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan), and Best Score (Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin). The show remains one of the biggest Broadway musical hits ever. It ran for 2,377 performances after it first opened, has been performed in 28 languages, and has been running somewhere around the world for 39 years.
The beloved score for ANNIE includes “Maybe,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” and the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.”
Because it is one of our favorite shows as a family, we’re so excited to have the opportunity to review this show together! It’s a rare opportunity we all get to see a show together.
Casey Watkins, Annabelle Wachtel, Sage Bentley, Heidi Gray, Bridget Carly Marsh, Emily Moreland and Molly Rose Meredith in “It’s the Hard Knock Life.” Photo credit: ©JOAN MARCUS.
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TICKET AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
ANNIE will be at Portland’s Keller Auditorium for eight performances. The schedule for the Portland engagement is:
Tuesday, May 17 7:30pm
Wednesday, May 18 7:30pm
Thursday, May 19 7:30pm
Friday, May 20 7:30pm
Saturday, May 21 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, May 22 1:00pm and 6:30pm
For information on ADA seating, please call the Portland Opera Box Office at 503-241-1802 or email boxoffice@portlandopera.org
Tickets can be purchased:
www.BroadwayinPortland.com
Portland Opera Box Office: 503- 241-1802 or toll free at 866-739-6737
Portland’s Box Office: 800-273-1530, All TicketsWest locations
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For tickets and information, visit:
www.anniethemusical.com
@ANNIEonTour
www.facebook.com/AnnieTheMusical
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