'Daddy' Warbucks being written a new song in ANNIE

[binau]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 6:26am

Anthony Warlow is reprising his very unexciting role 'Daddy' Warbucks in an upcoming Australian production of ANNIE, and apparently Martin Charnin (the show's lyricist - just putting it out there in case you're not familiar with the name - I wasn't) is writing him a new song??

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/ANNIE-Returning-to-Sydney-Australia-Starring-Anthony-Warlow-and-Nancye-Hayes-20110627

I assume that this change, if successful, could filter to the upcoming Broadway revival and encourage a name for this thankless role..(hopefully not Warlow, not that he is a name for US audiences- but he needs a stronger Broadway debut than this).

I wonder what the song will be about. Perhaps audiences are ready for a Judge's Johanna part 2, where Warbucks has to consider how much he really loves Annie. This is the kind of climax the show needs.

Updated On: 7/7/11 at 06:26 AM

[chewy5000]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 6:50am

They wrote him a new song last time he did it. They certainly love him, don't they?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 8:59am

Hopefully it's the same song from last time? I don't see why they would need to write him another new song. And I really, really like it. The song is called "Why Should I Change a Thing" and it's on the 30th anniversary recording for anyone who hasn't heard it, though it's not sung by Warlow.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 10:33am

Having played Warbucks (many years ago), I can honestly say that the role is musically unexciting. One can only hope that any new music written for the character is melodic and not a snooze-fest.

[wildcat]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 11:20am

It is the same song. And if he does come to Broadway, it will most likely be with DR ZHIVAGO which he's currently performing in Australia and was written for him by the SECRET GARDEN team.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 11:31am

Oh great, just what Annie needs, another 15 minutes added to its run time. Why not give Sandy a song as well?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 11:57am

I saw a community theatre production that added this song. It's really not bad, but yeah, it slows everything down. It didn't help that it forced the incredibly hammy Warbucks I saw to suddenly become serious.

Updated On: 7/7/11 at 11:57 AM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 12:00pm

Adding this song will create some very cranky orphans on two show days.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 12:26pm

I'm in a Production of Annie right now and the song " Why Should I change a thing" is currently being offered in the script as optional sadly our warbucks couldn't hit his high register our Musical Director decided not to use it. I'm not very fond of the lyrics in the song but I think strouses melody is beautiful, Just a side note I know on the MTI site it says that they rent out the Original Broadway Script but there now renting out the most recent tour's script which features some minor updates to the script and score.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 12:35pm

Warbucks sings "NYC," "I Don't Need Anything But You," and the terrific ballad "Something Was Missing." He's hardly given short shrift in the show as written. But some actors will blame anything other than themselves for not being good...

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 3:49pm

I played Warbucks last year and thankfully the director liked the song "Why Change A Thing" so we kept it. That song is very nice, and tho the character does not have any big belty songs, I think "Something Was Missing" and "NYC" are nice songs.