Confirmed - James Lapine to Direct ANNIE on Broadway

[Rob]

Posted: 10/13/10 at 5:21pm

Click Here to Read James Lapine to Direct ANNIE on Broadway

[wickedfan11]

Posted: 10/13/10 at 5:29pm

I wish Elaine Stritch was younger. She would have been the perfect Hannigan.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 10/13/10 at 5:34pm

after seeing last week's SNL, I think Jane Lynch would be terrific as Hannigan--I do not watch glee and had not seen her in anything prior to that.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/13/10 at 5:58pm

Part of me would love to see Lansbury as Hannigan.

[romgitsean]

Posted: 10/13/10 at 6:53pm

This nauseates me.

We all know that McCardle's gonna be Hannigan.

[peerrjb]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 12:41am

Wow. The ever-lighthearted James Lapine directing ANNIE. Makes as much sense as John Huston directing the film.

[alawhat]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 1:38am

^ This. What an odd choice. I like Lapine, but his direction is pretty static and slow, which doesn't exactly scream children's musical. For a kid his original production of Into the Woods must have been like a back-to-back Wagner's Ring.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 2:13am

McArdle will not be Hannigan. That is fine casting for all of the regional productions, but seems highly unlikely for a Broadway bow, unless she is a third or fourth replacement.
They need a real star, and that role is the best to cast it with. McArdle is no star, she is a former child star, that the normal, theatre filling public, has no memory of. After the real star leaves, and if the show is still running, she will make great stunt casting as a last ditch effort to keep the show alive.
That isn't to say she isn't talented.
I am sure she made a great replacement Belle, and Sally. I am also sure her turns at Hannigan in regional productions have been just fine, but come on, we all know she won't really be headlining this revival.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 8:11am

Annie - the original 1977 Annie - was not a children's musical. The show's rep has been destroyed and diluted by the 1982 film, the 1999 TV movie, the 20th anniversary revival and the countless tours and amateur productions. That original production was a fantastic entertainment, with a great cast and a gorgeous physical production. It appealed to everyone - not just children and families - which is why it ran six years and survived the move to three other theatres.

Lapine is an interesting character - he began his career as a graphic artist, so his shows usually look great. It makes me think it won't be one of those cheap-looking Annies we've been seeing. And he has a sure hand with comedy. He's an unexpected choice, to be sure, but it's more interesting to me than several of the musical directors out there, especially some of the musical revival stalwarts like Kathleen Marshall or Walter Bobbie. I'm curious to see what he comes up with.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 5:00pm

I like Lapine, but his direction is pretty static and slow, which doesn't exactly scream children's musical.

The words "static" and "slow" are not ones I normally hear used to describe SPELLING BEE or INTO THE WOODS.

[morosco]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 2:19am

That original production was a fantastic entertainment, with a great cast and a gorgeous physical production.

Agreed. The original production was perfection from start to finish. An absolutely delightful show. I hate when people roll their eyes when someone says ANNIE. If only they had seen the original. Loudon had left the show when I saw it but Alice Ghostly was a hoot as Hannigan!

[CateBroadway]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:27am

Can we do NY audiences a favor and just cast Jackie Hoffman or Mary Testa and not bring in some movie star. I can see it now. Eva Longoria as Miss Hannigan.

[madbrian]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 11:09am

"after seeing last week's SNL, I think Jane Lynch would be terrific as Hannigan"

I've said the same on other threads. I think it's a wonderful idea. Plus, her stature would be a benefit in the role.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 11:38am

Cate, ANNIE doesn't need a movie star. The title, alone, sells, most of the time.

The way things are going, it wouldn't shock me if they lure Andrea McArdle into playing Hannigan again.