ANNIE Revival to Play the Palace- Page 2

[sundayclothes2]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 11:35am

I can confirm that Annie is playing the Palace.
That is why they were only interested in looking at big names for Hannigan. They know what a b!tch it is to sell that place out.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 11:41am

I've heard whispers that if Rosie doesn't work out they want SJP, they think it would be a big draw.

[castlestreet]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 11:46am

I'll echo what smaxie just said- to even bring up the 1997 revival is foolish- it was a train wreck and unless all hell breaks loose with this production and it becomes the same hot mess that that last revival was I really don't see how this can not enjoy a healthy run. James Lapine is directing, and far less popular shows, i.e. Priscilla, and shows that did not meet great expectations, i.e. the last revival of West Side Story, managed to eek out runs of over a year. And those two shows didn't have the family appeal that Annie did- I'll say it again- its Annie- the show itself is the star and I think it will do just fine.



Updated On: 3/26/12 at 11:46 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 12:25pm

I would never say the show itself is the star simply because the last revival proved otherwise. The show does not sell itself in the way that Grease (and possibly no other show) does. I just hope the producers of this revival learned a valuable lesson from the last revival. A lavish production with a strong director could make this a Broadway smash and re-ignite the Annie mania of the 70s (though probably to a lesser degree). And James Lapine is definitely a step in the right direction.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 12:53pm

I can't stand the show, i wish they would tie Annie and Oliver together and throw them in the sea lol

[newintown]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 1:06pm

What's this revival supposed to have that the flop '97 revival didn't have?

[D2]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 1:13pm

Rosie O'Donnell. Apparently.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 1:16pm

And James Lapine.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 1:16pm

I don't see either name making much of a ticket-selling difference...

[Jonwo]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 1:52pm

I think Annie suffers the same problem Oliver had before the 1994 London Palladium production was that most of the revivals were just replicas of the original even using the same Sean Kenny set, I think if they can revive Annie that is not only different from the original production and also have a great Miss Hannigan, it might be able to succeed.

Out of interest, how old is Annie meant to be as a lot of shows triple cast the children roles which I assume would be the case for Annie but the original production only had one Annie.

[castlestreet]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 2:01pm

The difference James Lapine is hopefully going to make is that the 97' revival was a very bad and cheap miss-mash of the original production and various tours.

This production we have been told is going to look different, have some changes made to the book and not have the same tired old feel to it- meaning that it won't be a carbon copy like the last revival. The last revival even went as far as to cut good numbers like Hooverville. As stated in other threads, the last revival also suffered from a TON of bad press.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 2:04pm

I wonder how you could significantly re-envision Annie...

[castlestreet]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 2:08pm

oh I don't know, sets, costumes, staging- maybe I'm the only one here who has seen a lot of productions of this show on the road and in NY but they have all pretty much been the EXACT same production- time for something fresh- its not rocket science

[newintown]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 2:17pm

I suppose the orphanage could be represented by a giant white drape dripping with blood, and Warbucks' mansion could be made entirely of dollar bills. The costumes could all be made from dog hair, representing Sandy's pivotal role in the story.

That sort of thing.

It's Annie, not Götterdämmerung. I don't believe that there are a lot of different ways to tell the story (without looking ridiculous, that is).

[Jonwo]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 2:20pm

Most successful revivals make changes to differentiate from the original from new sets, different choreography etc. I'd like to see a new logo for Annie as they always use the same one as the original.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 2:24pm

Besides Lapine being announced to direct, has a design team been mentioned?

[theatreguy]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 2:26pm

David Korins is designing the sets and Susan Hilferty is designing costumes.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 2:29pm

Thank you.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 2:29pm

I also think that ANNIE could speak to how people are feeling today in a way that it couldn't in 1997. The sense of optimism in hopeless financial times could be powerful.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 2:50pm

I'm not sure how a more conventional and straightforward musical comedy isn't capable of having a sparkling revival. We've seen it before with Guys and Dolls (1992), Annie Get Your Gun, The Pajama Game and 42nd Street. None of those were significantly "re-envisioned" (though Annie Get Your Gun could be debated), but they were well-produced.

[bdn223]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 7:52pm

You don't know how they can "change" annie?
I think you should ask Will Smith then since he is showing the definition of nepotism by remaking the movie about the "RED HEADED" orphan with his daughter Willon, and is having PDiddy "rework" the score...I am not kidding

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 9:16pm

Sarah Jessica Parker will be Hannigan.

[random person 112]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 9:20pm

How am i not surprised?

Updated On: 3/26/12 at 09:20 PM

[zamedy]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 9:33pm

1. Rosie? Seriously people? Come on. I'd like to think the producers pouring big money into yet another revival of ANNIE wouldn't be doing so if Rosie O'Donnell was the 'above the title' star playing Ms. Hannigan. Rosie is soooo yesterday (and I actually don't mind her). Ten years ago w/Rosie.. maybe. But unfortunately someone who America once saw as fresh, fun and funny is now seen as a tired, bitter, butch lesbian who can't get along with The View or Trump and who just had her show cancelled on the Oprah Network.

2. I would have loved to have seen the OBC. And I would pay a small fortune for the opportunity to step into a time machine and see Ms. Dorothy Loudon bring her Tony-winning role to life. Just watching her performing 'Easy Street' at the Tonys gives me endless delight.

[zamedy]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 9:35pm

1. Rosie? Seriously people? Come on. I'd like to think the producers who are pouring big money into yet another revival of ANNIE wouldn't be doing so if Rosie O'Donnell was the 'above the title' star playing Ms. Hannigan. Rosie is soooo yesterday (and I actually don't mind her). Ten years ago w/Rosie.. maybe. But unfortunately, someone who America once saw as fresh, fun and funny is now seen as a tired, bitter, butch lesbian who can't get along with The View girls or Donald Trump and who just had her show cancelled on the Oprah Network.

2. I would have loved to have seen the OBC. And I would pay a small fortune for the opportunity to step into a time machine and see Ms. Dorothy Loudon bring her Tony-winning role to life. Just watching her performing 'Easy Street' at the Tonys gives me endless delight.