Annie From Script to Stage

[mb87]

Posted: 6/27/13 at 2:56pm

one bizarre thing is that Lilla Crawford is not in the project. How do you do a documentary on 'Annie' without Annie?

[ArtMan]

Posted: 6/27/13 at 4:47pm

She maybe in clips. But according to TV Guide she doesn't participate in the interviews, which of course is essential to a documentary.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 6/27/13 at 4:48pm

I had heard that they wanted it to be about the SHOW "Annie" - not the CHARACTER "Annie". It's not supposed to be a "star" vehicle...just about the making of this Broadway show as a whole.

[mb87]

Posted: 6/27/13 at 5:29pm

yes, but the character of Annie IS the show. It's like making a special on The Phantom of the Opera and not having the phantom. It's not a valid point you're making.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 6/27/13 at 5:58pm

I am not trying to make a valid point.

I was relating what I was told..not whether or not I agree with it or not.

[Broadwaywest]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 1:37pm

I watched it last night, thought it was pretty good. I liked how it just seemed to focus on putting one number together and all the elements that go into it. I wasn't aware that the composers didn't care for the film version of annie.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 2:47pm

I liked seeing the rehearsals and the set and costumes come together.

I think Lila should at least have been interviewed a few times. It was odd that she never spoke.

I could have done without showing how darn "cute" Molly was. She seemed like a priveledged brat.

[sally1112]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 4:39pm

I was a little bored overall, but Annie being one of my favorite shows, and me not being able to make it to NYC for this revival, I was happy to get this glimpse.

I thought Molly was very well adjusted sweet little girl, I don't recall any "brat" behavior. Maybe I dozed off.

[noracharles89]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 9:43pm

Dramamama, I'm genuinely curious as to what gave you that impression of "Molly". I thought all the kids seemed well-adjusted, but her especially.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 9:44pm

I found it odd and disappointing. Didn't compare to the recent documentaries about In The Heights and the revival of A Chorus Line.

[Mactor17]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 10:57pm

I found it interesting. I do enjoy Annie but not a fan of what they did with this production. The documentary seemed to show why. They did not really have a clear vision, even has previews begun. I did not see Emily as a brat, but I did not find her so cute after a while of watching it.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 8:44am

"Brat" was definitely not the right word; although I think I used it in the sense that all kids are "brats".

She is just that kid that has been told that every thing she utters is amazing. Yes, she was mature beyond her years, but 1/2 of the interview sections were so irrelevant. I realize the filmmakers decided what went in and what didn't -- but I just didn't feel any warmth from her.

I thought the kid that played Pepper was the down to earth and I would have like to hear more from her. It was obvious, to me, the filmmakers were smitten with Molly and they gave her the most exposure because of it.

[frankywhitley]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 9:31am

Thought this documentary was very well done. The reason ( I hear ) that Lilla Crawford wasnt really involved... is bc of her mother... she's well known now as being the worst thing about hiring lilla. Also... this documentary if you watched it at all... wasnt supposed to focus on the character of ANNIE... rather... the orphans as a whole idiot.
Getting them cast - and seeing them work together on reinventing the staging of the song "hard knock life" lol... I dont get how you didnt get that...

The girl who plays Molly is adorable and I understand why they focused on her. She steals the show in this production.

Loved it.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 10:36am

I love Lilla but I don't have a problem with them not focusing on her for this documentary - since none of the leads actors were mentioned, and most were not even on camera. She just happened to be there because she was part of the ensemble for Hard Knock's life - which was the focus of from Stage to Script.

That said, I felt it should have focused a little more on ALL 6 of the other orphans, not just a few of them. It's not like there was a cast of hundreds of kids - there were just 6 kids. I didn't like the fact that they put most of their focus on one of them (no matter how cute Emily is) and then a little on two more and then barely touched on the other three. That wasn't right IMO. I mean these are KIDS..and how often do they get an opportunity like this..it should have been more balanced.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 11:11am

For those of us without a TV, is this online anywhere? (Legit or otherwise?)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 11:15am

Oh, pleae...life isn't "fair". If these kids are going to be in the real world (as a professional) they need to develop a thick skin. The filmmakers are going to put together what they think makes the best story. I'm sure they were all interviewed similarly -- assuming their parents gave permission -- which perhaps they did not.

I didn't want to see Lila focused on, but it just seems weird that she was left out entirely. But the stories about the mum seem quite plausible. What a shame for her, if there is that much "out there" that mum is a nightmare, it will definitely hurt her future.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 12:54pm

I'm really late, but what's the deal with Lila's Mother? Is she a big stage mom??

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 12:57pm

I, too, noticed that Lilla was conspicuously absent during some of the rehearsals for the number shown. Also odd not seeing her during the opening night clip with the other orphans.

[MissOrphanJuly]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 12:59pm

I loved it. I just found it so interesting to see what goes into producing a Broadway show. After seeing the show the day before the documentary aired, I found it so cool to see how they created by far one of the best numbers in the whole show!

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 1:37pm

"I'm really late, but what's the deal with Lila's Mother? Is she a big stage mom??"

Yes, please, quit keeping us in the dark already! Tell us what the deal is!

[DAME]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 2:08pm

There is no truth to those comments regarding Lila's mother.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 2:11pm

LizzieCurry... you can watch the entire documentary on the PBS website...
PBS Website

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 2:30pm

Even though the title was "It's the Hard Knock Life", I wasn't expecting them to focus on that one song for the whole hour. I haven't seen this revival on stage, but what I saw of the final number in the documentary left me underwhelmed by the choreography, especially compared to Peter Gennaro's original material. I understood why Andy wanted to avoid the rags and buckets entirely and try to do something new. In fact, I was glad we were finally getting a new vision for ANNIE after it's essentially calcified into its familiar form after years and years of tours. But what they came up with for that number was... not an improvement or an acceptable substitute for what already existed. "Hard Knock Life" and "Easy Street" were Gennaro's best moments in this show and it would be incredibly difficult for anyone to re-imagine them with any success. I loved the set, though.

[Dessie]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 2:31pm

I won't be in NY until Thansgiving-and would love to see Faith Prince. Anyone know if she'll still be in it?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 2:36pm

We don't even know if the show will still be open.

However, I would guess she's likely to have a 6 month contract. (Unless anyone knows that she's got something else lined up.)