NBC's ANNIE LIVE! (2021) - News & Discussion Thread — Page 8

I am excited for Taraji! I wonder how much her performance as Cookie with align with her Hannigan.

And yes she can sing...she was on a musical drama for 5 years as the lead.

Yes.Taraji. Yes, I like this!!

BroadwayNYC2 said: "Agreed—much more exciting than some of the names thrown around. I will say, when she’s on she’s great, but she often tends to chew the scenery a bit. I’m hoping she can find a bit more nuance. Years of horrid community theatre productions has made Hannigan a bit of a Caricature, some I’m hoping she breathes new life into it."

Lear DeBesonet doesn't strike me as someone who's going to want to lean into some of the camp aspects of Hannigan.

Hope they don't cut the Hoovertown/political stuff.

bdn223 said: "I am excited for Taraji! I wonder how much her performance as Cookie with align with her Hannigan.

And yes she can sing...she was on a musical drama for 5 years as the lead."

Yes, she was on EMPIRE -- but that was not a "musical" drama -- it was a drama about a family-owned rap music empire. The characters did not break out into song.

Aww this is fun casting! I think she'll be great! I agree, this is much more exciting than the names that were being thrown out in this thread (no offense). Can't wait to see who they get for the other adult roles!

jlindsey865 said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "So curious to see who will be playing Grace."

The more I think about it, the more I hope it's Mandy Moore. The filming of the final season of "This Is Us" could be an issue though."

See I hope they go with a BIPOC Grace, and a white Annie and Daddy Warbucks, especially if they keep the political subplots. In my opinion this could emphasis the failures of the political and economic system and the need for the social safety nets brought about by FDR. In truth this could be played as an allusion to the modern systematic racism. Miss Hannigan as a BIPOC most certainly can emphasize that she is not "evil", but is a victim of circumstance and simply doing what she needs to to survive. In truth this would help Henson ground her Hannigan, and make her less of the caricature that she has become in most regional theater performances. Having Grace being played by a BIPOC actress would also help explain why she is so afraid to speak up. She knows she does not belong in Daddy Warbucks world as she literally is a different color from it, and as such is fearful to speak her mind. In truth she can be portrayed as an despite taking place over 70 years after slavery was abolished the only was a BIPOC woman can get anywhere in the America is to be a servant to the Rich White Man. Grace also being played by a BIPOC Actress would also help play into the resentment Hannigan clearly feels towards her.

Annie being white would theoretically allow the the production to play into race being a learned concept. My issue with a BIPOC and more specifically black Annie, would be it cuts into the racial dynamic of having a black Miss Hannigan. Can Miss Hannigan still use her race as a reason for her being a victim of circumstance, if a black Annie can simply fall into good fortune of being picked by Grace? It might still work if all the other orphans are explicitly white, and Hannigan treats Annie harsher because she knows how cruel the real world will be to her compared to the other girls simply because of her skin color.

By going with a BIPOC Miss Hannigan though, I really hope and feel like they are going to explore the political subtext of Annie, which is still extremely relevant despite being set nearly 90 years ago.

Yes, the same Annie with "We'd Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover" and "A New Deal for Christmas."

CarlosAlberto said: "Taraji P Henson?!?!?! NOW I am interested. And yes she can sing. Watch Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself where she slays Aretha’s “Rock Steady”."

She didn't do her own singing in the film. That was Cheryl Pepsi Riley providing her vocals.

McArdle has got to be Lily right?