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This classic family musical, inspired by the 1924 comic strip Little Orphan Annie, comes to Theatrikos for a summer splash July 26—August 18. Annie features the main characters from Little Orphan Annie, but otherwise is an original story. The author envisioned Annie as a 20th-century American version of Charles Dickens’ orphan characters, like Oliver Twist and David Copperfield, who experienced abandonment and unknown parentage.
Flagstaff audiences will connect with Annie’s “timeless themes of hope, resilience, and the importance of community,” says choreographer Egle Rucci. “The engaging music and lively choreography make it a delightful experience for the whole family.”
Although Annie has 12 children’s roles, this is a full mainstage production, not a TheatriKids production. It is an ambitious, elaborate staging with a large, diverse cast (14 adults and 12 children). Director Joe Maniglia faced an overwhelming turnout with 80 actors who auditioned, making casting both difficult and amazing.“When so many come out for so few roles, it compounds the difficulty.”
It is challenging to do a production with music, singing, and choreography on top of the usual tasks of memorizing lines, blocking actions, developing characters, costuming, and designing sets, explained Maniglia. “Dancing and music can make the show that much more enjoyable, but it also means you have that much more work to mount a show.” Fortunately, this is Maniglia’s second time directing Annie for Theatrikos (the first time was in 2011), and he has a few other special advantages: his Assistant Director, Rosie Ryan, played the title role in the 2011 Annie, and his Stage Manager, Robin Tittelbaugh, played another orphan in that production.
Choreographer Egle Rucci has found working with such a large, mixed-age cast to be “both challenging and incredibly rewarding. The energy and enthusiasm of the younger performers is contagious. It creates a vibrant, dynamic environment where everyone learns from each other and contributes to a truly magical production.” In addition, Rucci noted that, “Annie being such a well-known musical raises the bar for choreography, adding some pressure to deliver an outstanding performance.”
Annie opened on Broadway in 1977, winning seven Tony awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Book. The book is by Thomas Meehan, the music is by Charles Strouse, and the lyrics are by Martin Charnin.
Annie runs July 26—August 18.
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