Segerstrom Center for the Arts announce full casting for the new U.S. national tour of ANNIE coming to Orange County May 13 – 24, 2015. Audiences will see this new physical incarnation of the iconic Tony Award®-winning show, which is being directed for the 19th time by the show’s original lyricist and director Martin Charnin.
ANNIE has a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. All three authors received 1977 Tony Awards for their work. Choreography is by Liza Gennaro, who will incorporate selections from her father Peter Gennaro’s 1977 Tony Award-winning choreography.
This brand new production features a 25-member company. In the title role of Annie is Issie Swickle, a nine-year-old actress from Davie, Florida making her tour debut. Gilgamesh Taggett stars as Oliver Warbucks. In the role of Miss Hannigan is Lynn Andrews. Also starring in the tour are Ashley Edler as Grace, Garrett Deagon as Rooster, Lucy Werner as Lily St. Regis and Jeffrey B. Duncan as Franklin D. Roosevelt. Sunny, a four-year-old rescue terrier mix, stars as Sandy.
The Orphans are Angelina Carballo (July), Adia Dant (Pepper), LillyBea Ireland (Tessie), Sydney Shuck (Kate), Lilly Mae Stewart (Molly) and Isabel Wallach (Duffy).
The featured ensemble includes Amy Burgmaier, Cameron Mitchell Bell, John Cormier, Brian Cowing, Todd Fenstermaker, Evan Mayer, Jake Mills, Hillary Reiter, Meghan Seaman, Hannah Slabaugh, Lily Emilia Smith and Chloe Tiso.
Single tickets start at $29 and may be purchased online at SCFTA.org, the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. For inquiries about group ticket savings for 10 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236. The TTY number is (714) 556-2746. The 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, May 23, 2015 will include audio description, open captioning and sign language interpretation.
The May 14, 2015 matinee and evening performances offer special savings and fun pre-show activities. Parents are encouraged to purchase one ticket at regular price and receive a free second ticket for their child. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office, by phone or on-line by using the special promo code FAMILY. Free tickets are limited to one for each full-priced ticket. And everyone is encouraged to arrive 90 minutes before the shows to enjoy the free, fun activities in the lobbies.
The original production of ANNIE opened April 21, 1977 at the Alvin Theatre and went on to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the Grammy® for Best Cast Show Album and seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan) and Best Score (Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin). The show remains one of the biggest Broadway musical hits ever. It ran for 2,377 performances after it first opened, has been performed in 28 languages and has been running somewhere around the world for 37 years.
