Casting Annie for Revival TV Special

[BWayFanatic]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 10:23pm

All of this hype with "You're the One that I want" got me thinking back to when I was younger and I remember watching a television special on the production team casting Annie for the most recent revival.

Does anyone else remember this?

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 10:27pm

Haa haa, it started me on an obsession with the show 'till I was 16.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 10:33pm

I do. I remember it very vaguely, though I do remember that the whole thing ended with a lawsuit.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 10:34pm

I taped this back in the day and my sister and I would watch it everyday.. THAT is how obsessed with "Annie" we were!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 10:35pm

I thought this particular story was featured on 20/20 as part of Macy's search for the girl to play Annie in the '98 (or '97) revival of Annie. Yes, it did end in a lawsuit, when the winner of the contest (Joanne Pacitti) was unceremoniously replaced on the road with her understudy.

[Jon]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 10:39pm

The "winner", Joanna Pacitti, played Annie during the pre-Broadway tour, but was replaced for Broadway, due supposedly to vocal problems (and the onset of puberty and all that entails). Her family sued, since the "prize" of the contest was getting to play Annie "on Broadway".

In an odd twist, the dog originally cast as Sandy was "fired" as well, and she adopted him.

Joanna Pacitti has since given up dreams of Broadway and is pursuing a career in pop music. She also grew up to be quite a looker. Her website is linked below.

Joanna Pacitti website Updated On: 1/18/07 at 10:39 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:10pm

Turning Point!

I have it on videotape. Baba Wawa hosted the thing.

I liked when the re-aired it after Pacitti had been fired, and added more of Brittny into the beginning.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:17pm

Yessum...it wasn't a special but a segment on ABC's now-gone Turning Point news program (ala 20/20). It ended-up being a 2-parter (several months apart) after Joanna Pacitti was fired/let go/replaced for the Broadway run of the revival.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:19pm

Yeah it was pretty intense. I knew that woman that was the child cooridnator for that show and I am pretty sure she was related to Brittany somehow...I think her aunt.

Joanna Pacitti is pretty hot.

Updated On: 1/18/07 at 11:19 PM

[BWayFanatic]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:20pm

I remember the director being really intimidating and these poor twelve year old girls were balling their eyes out.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:22pm

The director -- you mean, Martin Charnin...the original director and lyricist.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:38pm

poor twelve year old girls were balling their eyes out

Isn't that illegal in the US?

[Neverandy]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:46pm

I did the us national that he helmed and I must say he is intimidating, but a great director-especially with kids.

Updated On: 1/18/07 at 11:46 PM

[FallintoLight]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 12:24am

hahaha! I totally bought the video tape from ABC because I loved that special and didn't tape it!

[Smartful Dodger]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 10:33am

NBC correspondent Jessica Savitch did a lengthy story back in the winter of 1979/1980 on the audition process which led to Allison Smith landing the role, replacing Sarah Jessica Parker. It was an awesome piece, one that we couldn't record because it aired before most people even knew what a VCR did. I've just dated myself. Still, when we saw the show that spring, my mom and I got to go backstage and meet Allison and her mom. That was so cool -- she had black and white "Little Orphan Annie" drapes on the window in her dressing room. Fun!

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 11:33am

I remember seeing the 20/20 special, and sitting on the floor in our den in Ohio crying because I wanted to be Annie and knew that I never could, even though I could totally sing the part. HAHA. Sad stories.

I also remember hearing that Pacitti had been replaced and feeling completely terrible for her, as much as a 10-year-old could feel.

[blueroses]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 11:37am

I remember seeing the piece on 20/20. Joanna Pacitti sang in her father's barber shop. She was excellent, unlike that horrid Aileen Quinn they cast in the movie.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 11:55am

She's smokin' now. And her music is actually not horrible, which is rare these days.

Akiva

[TT]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 2:51pm

Martin, what the f did you do to your hair?...get a hair cut!!!!...And for all you Annie freaks out there..."Annie" and "the dog" weren't the only ones terminated...and they were terminated for no good reason at all!!!!

Updated On: 1/19/07 at 02:51 PM

[Muggle423]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 10:17pm

I did too! I wanted to see that special again soo bad but I'm so mad it doesn't have the update about Joanna being fired and Brittny taking over. I wish they would sell the update with the original broadcast.

[ILUVTOMG]

Posted: 2/2/07 at 9:51am

In LIFE AFTER TOMORROW joanna talks about being fired via fax. I think the fax was signed MISS HANNIGAN. Seriously, could they be any meaner?

[MimiLovesRoger]

Posted: 2/2/07 at 9:58am

^ I watched that. It was interesting.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 2/2/07 at 10:51am

i wanna see this TURNING POINT damnit! does anyone have it on DVD that they could get me a copy?

[TT]

Posted: 2/3/07 at 7:47pm

She wasn't the only one fired via fax...and I honestly doubt the producers or the GM would have been stupid enough to sign it Miss Hannigan...that's NOT how mine was signed.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 2/3/07 at 8:33pm

Isn't it strange how this piece sticks in your mind? I remember watching this as a young girl and just loving it. I thought it was so stupid that they did a whole search and then replaced her. Of course, I know now that this is show business....