Annie's Back! America's Most Beloved Musical Returns to Philadelphia March 1 – 4 At Academy Of Music
October 31, 2006
Tickets On Sale November 5!
Leapin' Lizards! America's most beloved musical, Annie, is back by popular demand, coming to the Academy of Music for a limited engagement March 1 – 4. Part of the Kimmel Center Presents Broadway at the Academy theater series, Annie gives a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. Tickets go on sale Sunday, November 5 beginning at 10am.
Tickets, ranging in price from $25 to $75, can be purchased beginning November 5 by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Streets (open daily 10am to 6pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Streets (open during performances). A limited number of box seats are available at $100. Groups of 20 or more call 215-790-5883. Performances include: Thursday (March 1) at 7:30pm; Friday (March 2) & Saturday (March 3) at 2pm & 8pm; and Sunday (March 4) at 1pm & 6:30pm.
The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie stars Conrad John Schuck as Daddy Warbucks, Alene Robertson as Miss Hannigan, and Marissa O'Donnell in the title role. With one of the most treasured scores in Broadway history, Annie is a delightful theatrical experience for the entire family.
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 some year career at The Cleveland Play House. Since then he has acted in over 200 productions across the United States 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 John as 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.
Alene Robertson (Miss Hannigan) tours throughout the United States, but calls Chicago home, where she is a nine-time Joseph Jefferson Award recipient. She made her Broadway debut in Annie and Off-Broadway debut in Annie Warbucks creating the role of Commissioner Doyle (Drama Desk Nomination). Alene also recorded the original Annie Warbucks cast CD.
Marissa O’Donnell (Annie) is honored to return for her second year in the 30th anniversary tour of Annie. A resident of Westchester, N.Y., Marissa's favorite roles include Off-Broadway's American Girls Revue, (Hallie/Felicity/Nellie), The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy) with The Random Farms Kids Theater and Meet Me in St. Louis (Agnes Smith) at Westchester Broadway Theatre. In addition to her many stage roles and charity and television appearances, Marissa has performed at Philadelphia’s Boscov Thanksgiving Day Parade, Giants Stadium at the Meadowlands, and recorded her solo debut CD Front Row Center. Look for Marissa in Lucky Dog, an Albert Maysles Production. Marissa, a proud member of Actors Equity, thanks Martin Charnin and her family for making this amazing journey possible! www.marissa-odonnell.com
Other casting includes Elizabeth Broadhurst as Grace Farrell, Ashley Puckett Gonzales as Lily St. Regis and Scott Willis as Rooster Hannigan. Amanda Balon, Gabi Carrubba, Anastasia Korbal, Brandy Panfili, NicKayla Tucker and Madison Zavitz appear as Annie's fellow orphans. The ensemble includes Allan Baker, Julie Cardia, David Chernault, Kelly Lynn Cosme, Richard Costa, Antoinette DiPietropolo, Jennifer Evans, Brian Michael Hoffman, Aaron Kaburick, Allen Kendall, Billy Kimmel, Monica L. Patton, Katherine Pecevich, Liz Power, Harry Turpin and Christopher Vettel.
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 in 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.
In addition to Charnin, Meehan, Strouse and Lee, Annie’s creative team includes original Broadway musical staging by Peter Gennaro, choreography by Liza Gennaro, 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. More information can be found at www.annieontour.com.
In addition to Annie, the 2006-2007 Broadway at the Academy theater and subscription season also includes: Disney Live! Mickey’s Magic Show (Nov. 24 – 26); The Beatles Experience performed by RAIN (January 4 – 7, 2007); Edward Scissorhands (January 16 – 21, 2007); Pippin (Jan. 11 – 15, 2007); Annie (March 1 – 4, 2007); Monty Python's Spamalot (March 20 – April 8, 2007); Riverdance (May 15 – 20, 2007); and WICKED (July 25 – August 19, 2007).
All performances of 2006-2007 Kimmel Center Presents Broadway at the Academy are supported by the Philadelphia Coca Cola Bottling Company, WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Inquirer & Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Broadway at the Academy.
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