Olney Theatre's ANNIE Extends Again Thru 1/16

Leapin' Lizards! Annie has been extended at Olney TheatreCenter for a second time, to Sunday, January 16. The holiday spiritcontinues into the New Year with this Helen Hayes recommendedproduction, with earlier performance times for the second week in January.

Annie plays the Mainstage now through January 16. Tickets start at $26, with discounts available to groups, seniors, military, andstudents.

Call the Box Office at 301.924.3400 or visit olneytheatre.org for tickets and information.

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 worldwide.

The original productionis one of the top 25 longest running shows in Broadway history, and Anniecontinues to be one of the most successful musicals ever.Boasting one of Broadway's most memorable scores, including "It's AHard-Knock Life," "Easy Street," "N.Y.C.," and the ever optimistic"Tomorrow," Annie was written by Thomas Meehan, with music by CharlesStrouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin.

The musical tells the story of Annie, an orphan, and her dog Sandy, whoare placed in the lap of luxury for a week as a part of a publicity campaignfor Oliver Warbucks.

However, Annie's stay turns out to be much morethan anyone had bargained for as she works her way into everyone'shearts and learns a few things for herself.The musical Annie is based on the cartoon Little Orphan Annie, originallycreated in 1924 by Harold Grey.

The comic strip was one of the first to uselong-running storylines. At its peak, it appeared in hundreds ofnewspapers. During the 1945 newspaper deliverymen's strike in New York City, the mayor read Annie's adventures over the radio, so as not todisappoint her followers. Annie outlived Grey, and only recently was retiredfrom the funny pages this past June.

Olney-Sandy Spring Rd., Olney, Maryland 20832
Administration: 301.924.4485
Box Office: 301.924.3400 www.olneytheatre.org

Olney's cast of 29 features Caitlin Deerin as the spunky Annie and George Dvorsky as her benefactorand friend Daddy Warbucks, both making their Olney Theatre Center debuts.

Channez McQuay takes aturn as misguided Miss Hannigan, while Bobby Smith, who recently directed Forever Plaid at Olney, playsher outrageous brother Rooster. Last seen on Olney's stage in Camelot, Carrie A. Johnson portraysGrace Farrell, Daddy Warbucks' right hand gal.The remainder of the cast for Annie is included in the Fact Sheet below. Each of the orphans' roles areshared by two actors; the role of Sandy is shared by two dogs.Mark Waldrop returns to Olney to direct this production of Annie. Waldrop directed Olney's successfuladaptation of Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.

He directed Bette Midler's 1999 Divine MissMillennium tour as well as Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends (2002 Tony Award nomination,Special Theatrical Event). His off-Broadway credits include Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly (1997 DramaDesk and Outer Critic's Circle Awards, OBIE), My Deah, Game Show, Pete 'n' Keely, Listen to My Heart,and Whatnot (Richard Rodgers Production Award).Musical direction for Annie is by Christopher Youstra, with choreography by Tara Jeanne Vallee. Original costume design is by Theoni V. Aldredge, and original set design is by Ming Cho Lee. Thecreative team includes Charlie Morrison (Lighting Design), Christopher Baine (Sound Design), AnneNesmith (Wig Design), and Renee E. Yancey (Stage Manager).

Principal Cast
Biographies
Caitlin Deerin (Annie) is pleased to debut at Olney Theatre Center in Annie! Caitlin has performed locallyas Annie in Annie and Oliver! (Toby's) as well as Honk! and Beauty and the Beast (MTC). A sixth grader atLoiederman Middle School for Creative & Performing Arts, Caitlin also enjoys studying voice with RosieDyer, dance at the Olney Studio, and piano.

George Dvorsky (Daddy Warbucks) recently starred as Billy Flynn in Chicago at the Ogunquit Playhouse.Prior to that he starred in the revival of Closer Than Ever. He played Baron Bomburst /Lord Scrumptious Sinthe National Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Broadway credits include the title role in The ScarletPimpernel and Henry Spofford in the revival of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Other Broadway credits: theTony Award-winning Passion, Marilyn: An American Fable, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Off-Broadway: Pete Bartel in Pete 'N' Keely, the revival of Dames at Sea, and And the World Goes 'Round. George starred in the N.Y.C. premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella as Prince Charming at Lincoln Center, where he also played Tommy in Brigadoon. He also starred as Billy Crocker opposite ChitaRivera in Anything Goes at the Paper Mill Playhouse. George has performed with symphonies all over theglobe including Iceland, Hong Kong, Sweden, and Italy. He was featured in PBS' Emmy-winning Passion:Live at Lincoln Center starring Patti LuPone, and starred with Bea Arthur and the Boston Pop