Annie's Back! America's Most Beloved Musical Comes to the Academy of Music November 22
September 30, 2005
Tickets On Sale October 9
Leapin’ Lizards! America’s most beloved musical, ANNIE, comes to Philadelphia’s Academy of Music for the first time ever and will star Conrad John Schuck and Mackenzie Phillips. ANNIE comes to town November 22 – 27 as part of the Kimmel Center Presents Cadillac Broadway at the Academy theater series.
Ticket prices range from $25 to $75.50. Box seats are available on a very limited basis for $90.50. Performances include Tuesday and Wednesday evenings (Nov. 22 & 23) at 7:30pm; Friday and Saturday evenings (Nov. 25 & 26) at 8:00pm; and Sunday evening (Nov. 27) at 6:30pm. Matinee performances are Friday (best seats available for this performance!) and Saturday at 2:00pm, and Sunday at 1:00pm. No performances are scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 24. Tickets can be purchased beginning October 9 by calling 215-731-3333, online or at the Kimmel Center box office (open daily 10am to 6pm and later on performances evenings) or at the Academy of Music box office on performance afternoons and evenings only.
The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. With one of the most treasured scores in Broadway history, ANNIE is a delightful theatrical experience for the entire family. This all-new production also features the brand-new song “Why Should I Change A Thing?” by composers Martin Charnin and Charles Strouse!
ANNIE, with music by Charles Strouse and book by Thomas Meehan, is again directed by its lyricist, Martin Charnin, who brought the original production of ANNIE to Broadway in 1977. Tony Award winning set designer, Ming Cho Lee, has created a fresh look for this new production.
Conrad John Schuck (Daddy Warbucks) began his 40-plus year career at The Cleveland Play House. Since then he has acted in over 200 productions across the U.S. and Europe. Plucked from San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theatre in 1969 by Robert Altman to play Painless in the original M*A*S*H motion picture, John began what has been a non-stop film and television career. His first screen kiss was with Elizabeth Taylor. He has starred with Charlton Heston, Bette Midler, Richard Burton, Peter Ustinov, Rock Hudson and Donald Sutherland to name a few. His most recent movies are Woody Allen’s, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion! and the award winning String of the Kite. On Broadway, he played Daddy Warbucks in Annie and reprised the role in the recent Broadway revival. Most recently he was Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun with the highly acclaimed Reba McEntire. Off Broadway shows include The Exonerated and We The People. In Los Angeles he just completed Pippin, at REPRISE. Television fans will remember Jonas Enright in “McMillan and Wife” starring Rock Hudson. John has guest starred in over 75 shows, most recently “Law and Order SVU” and “Star Trek: Enterprise.”
Mackenzie Phillips (Lily St. Regis) burst onto the acting scene at the age of twelve in the critically acclaimed film “American Graffiti.” Perhaps best known for her role as Julie Cooper on “One Day at A Time,” Phillips was just fifteen years old when she began her seven year stint on the popular CBS sitcom in 1975. She most recently finished filming the feature film The Jacket opposite Adrien Brody and Kiera Knightley, which premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. She also starred as “Molly Phillips” on the Disney Channel series “So Weird” for the 1998-2000 seasons, as well as in the Disney movie, “Double Teamed.” Phillips has also appeared in the feature films Rafferty & The Gold Dust Twins and True Friends as well as the television movies “Katie’s Secret,” “Miles Before I Go To Sleep,” and “Eleanor and Franklin.” She has guest starred in the television series “NYPD Blue,” “ER,” “Seventh Heaven,” “Crossing Jordan” and “Without a Trace.” Her recent stage appearances include The Vagina Monologues in New York City, as well as a starring role in the national tour of Grease and Same Time, Next Year. She also reprised her role of Rizzo in Grease on Broadway. Born into a legendary musical family, Phillips is also a talented singer and songwriter. Her father, John Phillips, was the founder of the 60’s vocal group The Mamas and The Papas.
The original Broadway production of ANNIE won seven 1977 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Book and Score. It ran for 2,377 performances, and has subsequently been produced all over the world. The original production is one of the top 20 longest running shows in Broadway history, and ANNIE continues to be one of the most successful musicals ever.
Boasting one of Broadway’s most memorable scores, including “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “N.Y.C.” and the ever optimistic “Tomorrow,” you can bet your bottom dollar that ANNIE will bring a smile to your face.
ANNIE’s creative team includes director Martin Charnin, original Broadway musical staging by Peter Gennaro, choreography by Liza Gennaro, book by Thomas Meehan, lyrics by Martin Charnin, music by Charles Strouse, scenic design by Ming Cho Lee, lighting design by Ken Billington, costume design by Theoni Aldridge and sound design by Peter Hylenski. ANNIE is being presented by executive producer, Ken Gentry.
In addition to ANNIE, the Cadillac Broadway at the Academy theater season includes Wicked (March 22 – April 9, 2006) and Disney’s The Lion King (beginning June 8, 2006). An additional show, The Beatles Experience as performed by RAIN, is scheduled for Jan. 19 & 20.
All performances of 2005/06 Kimmel Center Presents Cadillac Broadway at the Academy are generously supported by Cadillac and the Philadelphia Coca Cola Bottling Company, WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Inquirer & Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Cadillac Broadway at the Academy.
More information on ANNIE can be found at www.annieontour.com.
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