Breaking News: ANNIE to return to B'Way in 2012

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:02pm

No article yet, just a red bold headline at the top of the Playbill.com home page reading:

"BREAKING NEWS: ANNIE TO RETURN TO B'WAY IN 2012"

Interesting...

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:04pm

La Ripley for Ms. Hannigan

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:05pm

The AP confirms that Arielle Tepper Madover (producer of Hair, Frost/Nixon, A Raisin in the Sun) will present it:

http://www.newser.com/article/d9g6ksn00/tony-award-winning-musical-annie-based-on-comic-strip-set-for-broadway-return-in-2012.html

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:06pm

I'd be shocked if McArdle weren't Hannigan. Or a much bigger name. Ripley won't cut it.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:06pm

Please, Beth Leavel for Miss Hannigan. I would pay through the nose for that.

[wicked1492]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:08pm

Oh God. How I loathe this show. I hope Longbottom directs. And ruins it.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:09pm

I certainly hope it's better than the dreadful revival that played in the late 90s.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:09pm

Just throwing in my two cents for Ana Gastayer as Hannigan.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:09pm

wicked, you're quickly becoming my new favorite person on the board. : )

[gcal]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:10pm

my money's on Rosie

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:10pm

Jordan, I actually really love the idea of Ana as Miss Hannigan. Also, not that it would happen, but how much would I love Patti in that role? So much.

Updated On: 6/7/10 at 04:10 PM

[wicked1492]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:11pm

Awe :) thanks inlovewithjerryherman haha. I'm trying to post more often now that it's summertime. Glad we're besties now :)

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:12pm

Not enough of a name, probably -- but Laila Robins would be one hell of a Hannigan.

[Gabster]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:12pm

Juliette Allen Angelo as Annie. I see some 13 and Bye Bye Birdie girls as older orphans if some of them don't age too much (Deana Cipolla?). I'm sure all of the BE ballet girls and Jane Banks girls will conqeur this production.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:13pm

Which ending will they use?

[wicked1492]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:14pm

The one where everyone dies, hopefully.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:16pm

The most unnecessary revival ever. What is this producer thinking? How about trying to find the next Annie instead!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:17pm

But the big question is...will Macy's host a National search for girls to be Annie/the Orphans? And will they televise it in a TV show called "LITTLE STARS OF TOMORROW: THE SEARCH FOR ANNIE." And will Animal Planet host a series called "BARK. SIT. EXIT STAGE LEFT INTO 1. IS YOUR PUP THE NEXT 'SANDY'?"

What's most interesting is this new red headline feature on Playbill.com. It's different that they release a headline without the details.

Andrea McArdle is soon to begin rehearsals to play Hannigan at the North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh: http://www.nctheatre.com. I'll be seeing it! Here's the cast:

English Bernhardt: Annie
Andrea McArdle: Miss Hannigan
Robert Newman: Mr. Warbucks
Katherine Anderson: Chorus
Kate Blain: Chorus
Joey Calveri*: Rooster
Tim Caudle*: Chorus/Lt. Ward/Morgenthau
Andrew Chappelle*: Chorus/Dog Catcher
Molly Deans: Chorus
Jennifer Frankel*: Chorus/Ronnie Boylan
Terri Gervais*: Chorus/Mrs. Pugh
Elgin Giles: Chorus
Eric Michael Gillett*: FDR
Laurel Harris*: Chorus/Connie Boylan/Star To Be
Brian Michael Hoffman*: Chorus/Bundles/Ickes/SFX Man
Heather Patterson King*: Chorus/Sophie/Perkins
Eric Mann: Chorus/Fred McCracken
Jeremy Mills: Chorus
Christy Morton*: Grace Farrell
Brian Norris*: Chorus/Bert Healy/Hull
Adrienne C. Perry: Chorus
Jennifer Swiderski*: Chorus/Bonnie Boylan
Tom Treadwell*: Chorus/Drake
Matthew-Jason Willis: Chorus/Howe

Updated On: 6/7/10 at 04:17 PM

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:17pm

Annie was the show that first made me fall in love with musical theater, so I have a soft spot in my heart for it. That doesn't necessarily excuse the hundreds of dreadful productions I've seen over the years, but I just can't hate the show itself.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:18pm

Maybe this is the part of me that was obsessed with the movie and saw that horrible revival TWICE (not thinking it was terrible), but I can't wait. Whenever the overture comes up on my iTunes, I have to stop and listen and think that, you know what, this is actually a really great show.

Capn Hook, there's an article in the New York Times with more details. The producer said that they want an unknown, but really don't like the idea of a TV show.

http://ht.ly/1Vhr2

Updated On: 6/7/10 at 04:18 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:21pm

Pray for Jackie Hoffman as Hannigan.

[newintown]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:22pm

Arielle Tepper is an idiot with money.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:24pm

Meehan is MODERNIZING it with a new creative team? Curiouser and curiouser...

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:26pm

Instead of advertising the search for Annie's parents on the radio, Daddy Warbucks is going to tweet it.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 4:28pm

But the big question is...will Macy's host a National search for girls to be Annie/the Orphans?

Yeah, that went so well the first time. Maybe Joanna Pacitti can play Lily and Brittny Kissinger can play Grace.