Presented May 3, 4, 10, 11,  12, 17 and 18, 2002 at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater.

Overview

The show is derived from the comic strip Little Orphan Annie and tells the rags to riches story of how an orphan girl journeys from the squalor of a New York City orphanage to a millionaire's ("billionaire's") mansion, and the effect she has on everyone she meets along the way.  Annie is a spunky depression-era orphan determined to find her parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of the NYC Municipal Orphanage (run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan).  In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and finds a new family and home in Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell, and a loveable mutt named Sandy.

First appearing in newspapers on August 5, 1924, Harold Gray's Little Orphan Annie featured the adventure, pathos, and humor the nation demanded in the popular continuity strip form. Gray probably immortalized his creation with often overt social messages that continued to appeal to Americans through world wars and a depression. The comic strip boasts a rich history and is indelibly tied to American pop culture. Highlights include the radio program of the same name, sponsored by Ovaltine (with the famous theme song that began Who's that little chatterbox?/The One with the pretty auburn locks?/Cute little she/It's Little Orphan Annie). The strip was revitalized by the smash Broadway musical, Annie in 1977.

This is the third time the Guild has mounted this classic Broadway blockbuster that won seven Tony awards in 1977 and became the third longest running Broadway musical of the 70's. Dorothy Louden, Reid Shelton, and Andrea McArdle headed the original cast. In 1982, the movie version was released starring Albert Finney, Aidan Quinn, Ann Reinking, and Carol Burnett. The musical was revived on Broadway with Nell Carter as Miss Hannigan in 1977. Disney mounted an acclaimed made-for-television production in the late 90's with Kathy Bates, Vicor Garber, Alan Cummings, and Audra McDonald.

Production

Music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, book by Thomas Meehan.

Presented on Broadway by Mike Nichols.

Based on Little Orphan Annie by permission of The Chicago Tribune - New York Times Syndicate, Inc.

Direction and Choreography by Nina Denton Pasinetti.

Musical Direction by John Marshall.

Piano Accompaniment by Stan Kay.

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Last modified: Friday August 20, 2010