Annie Documentary

So I finally got to see the Annie documentary on tv last night. So why didn't Andrea McArdle contribute an interview? If they could get Sarah Jessica Parker, surely they could get McArdle.

I thought it was interesting that some of the girls were let go because they began growing up and it was pretty much well noted that McArdle was too old for the role when she did it on Broadway.

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Andrea did not do it because she was lead to believe the film was going to bash the subjects.

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Sarah Jessica Parker participated becasue Julie Stevens let her to believe all five annies were participating. Julie knew Andrea wanted no part of it.

No doubt Andrea got the role because of her voice. Like Judy Garland, she had a mature voice at a young age. However, poor Reid Shelton always looked like he was grimacing when he had to pick her up. Physically she was wrong for the role. I think she was around 14 when the show premiered.

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Is it me, or does Andrea McArdle not age?

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^ Who's, Donna's or Andrea's or both?

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Aw, Annie at the Alvin (before it became the Annie Theatre)

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Actually i saw it several times and i do not think it is manipulative - it merely says the obviouse - that joy and grief go together.
Did they have some bad, defining events? yes but it is clear that none of them would have passed up what they experienced.
Julie Stevens did not do a hatchet job on the show, she showed the glaring pettiness and insensetive decisions involved with putting on such a production.

I came away thinking just how little things had changed for child stars from the early days of film.

As for Andrea, she is always talking about ANNIE - how much is there for her to contribute without it becomming all about her?
Besides, she wants to eventually write a book (it would take an encyclopedia to contain her experiences) leave some things for the future.

The way it stands the documentary is what it should have been : the memmories and experiences of all the other girls who are NEVER asked what it was like for them.

Julie Stevens should be applauded for being honest, reminding us that when nostalgia ends real life begins.

I fully recommend seeing the DVD incarnation of this documentary as it contains longer interviews not included in the actual documentary.

You can actually watch the whole thing, plus bonus interviews on "the site"

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Scary that I remember this, but that news piece on the ANNIE auditions was featured on NBC in 1980 and it was done by the late Jessica Savitch. Allison Smith was chosen from this audition. She was Sarah Jessica Parker's replacement.



Sarah Jessica Parker (Annie 3), Andrea McArdle (Annie 1), Shelley Bruce (Annie 2) and Allison Smith (Annie 4):

Well, the ANNIE girls held a lot of authority back then, don't forget that it was an era in which fame came with a certain amount of power - unlike now when fame brings little influence,
those kids were "happening", they were "the in thing" of course they would be allowed in.
If you want to ask why they were allowed in you may as well ask why Drew Barrymore was also allowed in.
The girls had a bouncer to keep them safe so i would simply call it a silly adventure for them - they could go where other kids couldn't go - we were ALL kids once upon a time, who among us could have resisted the oppratunity to go just as they did?

Interesting to see Shelley Bruce. Wasn't she the one that caused a big flap because they announced to the press that she was leaving the show, but either hadn't told the producer or hadn't allowed the producer to make the announcement. Was she leaving because she was sick, had cancer or something? I remember there being an article in the NYT about it.

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