Skylight Music Theatre Announces ANNIE Director, Cast and One Day Sale

Skylight Music Theatre today announced the director/choreographer and lead performers for this holiday season's production of Annie. This seven-time Tony Award-winning musical runs from November 17 through December 23, 2017 in the beautiful Cabot Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway, in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.

One Day Ticket Sale Monday, July 17 On Monday, July 17 there will be a one day sale offering 25% off single adult 'A' level tickets to Annie. Call (414) 291-7800 or visit 158 N. Broadway from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., or online at www.skylightmusictheatre.org from 10 a.m. - 11:59 p.m. and use promo code ORPHAN25.

Annie is a heartwarming, family-favorite Broadway musical that has captivated audiences worldwide with a beloved story and an inspiring score featuring such popular songs as "Hard Knock Life," "Maybe," and the unforgettable "Tomorrow."
Skylight Artistic Director Ray Jivoff announced that Molly Rhode, who has directed numerous hit productions at Skylight, including Les Miserables (2013) and The Sound of Music (2012), will direct and choreograph Annie.

Jivoff said that two of Milwaukee's favorite actors will perform in featured roles: Carrie Hitchcock will portray Miss Hannigan and Andrew Varela will play Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks. In addition, Jivoff announced the two actresses who will play Annie in rotating casts: KyLee Hennes, who returns to Skylight after appearing as Young Violet in Violet (2016) and Eloise Field, who makes her Skylight debut.

Family Friendly and Perfect for the Holidays "We are excited to bring Annie to Skylight for the first time ever," said Jivoff. "It is such a warm-hearted show and is perfect for families during the holiday season. Its final scene takes place on Christmas and includes a visit from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt," said Jivoff. "And really, what is better than a cast of singing and dancing children and a dog!" Jivoff added that the role of the dog, Sandy, will also be double cast.

Annie has special meaning for director/choreographer Rhode. "I was about 5 years old when the film version of Annie was released with Carol Burnett. I was obsessed," she said. "Annie memories are a huge part of my childhood, so the opportunity to revisit the material is a real treat."

"Annie, herself, has a lot of moxie and so does the show. Its deliberate contrast of the have's and have-not's in Depression-era America is boldly unapologetic and remains all too relevant. It's a show with quite a lot to say, and it does so with spunk and heart," said Rhode, who is the associate artistic director at Northern Sky Theater and has directed and acted at Skylight, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre and numerous other theatres.
Tony Award Winning Show Based on Little Orphan Annie Comic Strip Annie is based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie. The original Broadway production of Annie was directed by Martin Charnin and opened in 1977. The book is by Thomas Meehan, the score composed by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin. Annie won Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and four additional Tony Awards for designers and actors.
The New York Times called Annie "an intensely likable musical" with a "rare kind of gutsy charm." Newsweek said the show was, "Spectacular on every count...A sudden reversion to the concept of fun."
Annie was revived on Broadway in both 1997 and 2013 and in London in 1998.

Skylight Music Theatre announced the following members of the Annie creative team: Creative Team

Stage Director/Choreographer ......................... Molly Rhode

Skylight Music Theatre announced the following Annie cast members:

Cast

Annie (in rotating casts)...................................... Eloise Field

Annie (in rotating casts).................................. KyLee Hennes

Miss Hannigan........................................... Carrie Hitchcock*

Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks........................... Andrew Varela*

*Member of Actors Equity Association

Biographies

About the Director/Choreographer

Molly Rhode has a wide and varied theatrical career in Wisconsin as an actor, choreographer, director, and theater educator. At 14, she was one of the first students to attend First Stage Theatre Academy, and she later graduated as a Theater Major from Milwaukee High School of the Arts. She earned her B.F.A. in Theater Studies with a double emphasis in Playwrighting and Directing from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. She's currently the Associate Artistic Director of Northern Sky Theater in Door County where she focuses on the development of new musicals. She has directed productions at Northern Sky, Skylight Music Theatre, First Stage, Forward Theater Company, Children's Theater of Madison, and most recently Milwaukee Chamber Theater's Great Expectations.

About Featured Actors

Carrie Hitchcock (Miss Hannigan) was last seen at Skylight in Falsettos (1995), A Little Night Music (1994) and Gypsy (1992). She is a native of Milwaukee and a graduate of the historic Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her recent theater credits include Bloomsday (Cait) with Next Act Theatre, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Masha) and Dear Elizabeth (ElizaBeth Bishop) with Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Romeo and Juliet (Nurse) with Door Shakespeare, A Walk in the Woods (Irina Botvinik) with Third Avenue Playhouse, Lettice and Lovage (Lotte Schoen) with Renaissance Theaterworks and Outside Mullingar (Aoife) with Forward Theatre. She is a commercial voice actor and appeared in the Independent films, Expecting Mercy, Wishtaker and Tomah, Wisconsin.

Andrew Varela (Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks) was last seen at Skylight in the title role of Sweeney Todd (2017); as The Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance (2016); Cowardly Lion in Wizard of Oz (2015) and Javert in Les Miserables (2013). Broadway and national tour performances include: Jean Valjean in Les Miserables; The Phantom in Phantom of the Opera; Javert in the 25th Anniversary Tour of Les Miserables; Professor Bhaer in Little Women; King David; CATS and Sunday in the Park with George. He also made his Dick Wolf TV debut this year in "Chicago Justice" and is recognizable for his commercials for Steinhafels, Wisconsin Dental; Snap-On Tools; Batteries And Bulbs; Buddig and the Illinois Lottery.

About the Annies

Eloise Field (Annie) will make her Skylight debut in this production. She began her theater career at age 9 as Gladys in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at First Stage. Other credits include Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars or Just a Little Critter Musical at First Stage and A Christmas Carol at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Most recently she was "girl" in Loveabye Dragon at First Stage.

KyLee Hennes (Annie) made her Skylight debut as Young Violet in Violet (2016). Other credits include: The Magic Flute, The Sound of Music (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Gypsy (Northwestern University & Capitol City Theatre), and Les Miserables, Annie Get Your Gun, and A Wonderful Life (Fireside Theatre). She plays guitar in the Band Hennes with her three sisters and performed at Madison Square Garden.

Performance Information

Performances of Annie are Friday, November 17 through Saturday, December 23 in the Cabot Theatre, Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway in the Historic Third Ward of Milwaukee.

Tickets & Box Office

Tickets are $30 - $75 (plus tax and fees) and can be purchased in person at the Broadway Theatre Center Box Office, 158 N. Broadway, or by calling (414) 291-7800, Monday - Saturday, noon - 5 p.m. NOTE: Box Office Hours on Monday, July 17 are 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Beginning Monday, August 7, 2017 Box Office hours are noon - 6 p.m. The Box Office window is also open two hours prior to each performance. Tickets may be purchased online at www.skylightmusictheatre.org.

Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more by calling (414) 299-4964 or email morganh@skylightmusictheatre.org

One Day Sale

Monday, July 17 is a one day sale for 25% off single adult A level tickets to Annie. Call (414) 291-7800 or visit 158 N. Broadway from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., or online at www.skylightmusictheatre.org from 10 a.m. - 11:59 p.m. Promo code: ORPHAN25. Offer only valid July 17. Limit 8 tickets. Not valid on previously purchased tickets.
About Skylight Music Theatre Skylight Music Theatre's mission since 1959: To bring the full spectrum of music theatre works to a wide and diverse audience in celebration of the musical and theatrical arts and their reflection of the human condition. Skylight presents productions "Skylight Style" - bringing fresh approaches or interesting twists to music theatre works, creating meaningful connections, not only between the characters on stage but with the audience as well. The beautiful, intimate Cabot Theatre allows audiences to feel close to the powerful emotions on stage.

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