Tori Bates Cast as First Bi-Racial Actress in ANNIE; Full National Tour Casting Announced
By: Caryn Robbins Sep. 20, 2016
Going into its third smash year, with over 575 blockbusting performances under her belt, this production of ANNIE, a new incarnation of the 1977 Tony Award®-winning original, continues to be met with standing ovations and effusive reviews!
After touring the production to over 100 cities across the nation and recently overseas to Jakarta and Singapore, Troika Entertainment LLC is pleased to announce the casting for the 2016-2017 season.
Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, the production features a 25 member company: in the title role of Annie is Tori Bates, an 11-year-old actress from Sarasota, FL, making her tour debut. Bates will be the first bi-racial actress to portray the iconic redhead. She most recently starred as Young Josephine in the sold-out run of Josephine at Asolo Repertory Theatre. "I'm thrilled to cast Tori as Annie," said Martin Charnin. "She has all of the characteristics and gifts that I look for in the role. I am proud to continue ANNIE's history of non-traditional casting, dating back to Nell Carter as Miss Hannigan in 1997."
Gilgamesh Taggett continues to star as Oliver Warbucks. In the role of Miss Hannigan is Erin Fish. Also starring in the tour are Casey Prins as Grace Farrell, Michael Santora as Rooster, Mallory King as Lily and Jeffrey B. Duncan as FDR. Sunny and Macy, rescue terrier mixes, star as Sandy.
The orphans are Bunny Baldwin as Molly, Jacqueline Galvano as July, Ava Slater as Kate, Amanda Swickle as Pepper, Amanda Wylie as Tessie and Katie Wylie as Duffy.
The featured ensemble includes Timothy Allen, Todd Berkich, Katie Davis, Adam du Plessis, Mia Fitzgibbon, Caroline Lellouche, Conor McGiffin, Mackenzie Perpich, Connor Simpson, David Vogel, Anastasia Wolfe and Roxy York.
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 incorporates selections from her father Peter Gennaro's 1977 Tony Award®-winning choreography.
The celebrated design team includes scenic design by Tony Award® winner Beowulf Boritt (Act One,The Scottsboro Boys, Rock of Ages), costume design by Costume Designer's Guild Award winner Suzy Benzinger (Blue Jasmine, Movin' Out, Miss Saigon), lighting design by Tony Award® winner Ken Billington (Chicago, Annie, White Christmas) and sound design by Tony Award® nominee Peter Hylenksi (Rocky, Bullets Over Broadway, Motown). The lovable mutt "Sandy" is once again trained by Tony Award® Honoree William Berloni (Annie, A Christmas Story, Legally Blonde). Musical supervision and additional orchestrations are by Keith Levenson (Annie, She Loves Me, Dreamgirls).Casting is by Joy Dewing CSA, Joy Dewing Casting (Soul Doctor, Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz).
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, and has been performed in 28 languages and has been running somewhere around the world for 39 years.
The beloved score for ANNIE includes "Maybe," "It's the Hard Knock Life," "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," "Easy Street," "I Don't Need Anything But You" and the eternal anthem of optimism, "Tomorrow."
For 2016-17 tour cities, tickets and additional information, please visit:
www.facebook.com/AnnieTheMusical
@ANNIEonTour
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