Martin Charnin News

Deadline reports that Sony Pictues has hired Will Gluck to take on directing duties for its upcoming reboot of the Broadway musical ANNIE. While Will and Jada Smith's daughter Willow was in line to take on the title role, she is no longer attached to the project.

The Off Broadway Alliance, the organization of Off Broadway producers, theaters, general managers, press agents, and marketing firms, will hold another in its series of seminars focused on the culture, business and history of Off Broadway this Sunday, February 3rd.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) has announced that Broadway veterans Jason Alexander ("Seinfeld," Jerome Robbins' Broadway) and Tovah Feldshuh (Golda's Balcony, Irena's Vow) will star in the season opener of the Winter 2013 Musicals in Mufti Series: Two By Two, with Book by Peter Stone, Lyrics by Martin Charnin and Music by the legendary Richard Rodgers. Additional casting will be announced shortly.

American Airlines is the official airline of the new critically acclaimed new production of the Tony Award-winning musical Annie. Cast members from the production performed a selection of songs from the show at Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy International Airport as part of American Airlines' JFK concert series on Friday, December 21. Check out 'You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile', 'Little Girls' and 'Tomorrow' below!

Music Theatre of Connecticut School of the Performing Arts presents 'Annie.' The production will take place on Saturday, January 12 at 3pm and Sunday, January 13 at 3pm at Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court (off Post Road East) in Westport, CT. Tickets are $30/$25 for adults and $25/$20 for students and reservations are suggested. For tickets, call Music Theatre of Connecticut at 203.454.3883 or visit www.musictheatreofct.com

American Airlines has been announced as the official airline of the new critically acclaimed new production of the Tony Award-winning musical Annie. Cast members from the production will perform a selection of songs from the show at Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy International Airport as part of American Airlines' JFK concert series on Friday, December 21 at 2:15 PM and 2:45 p.m.

It may be wintertime, but Theater By The Sea (TBTS) is in full swing planning next summer's blockbuster musical season. TBTS owner and producer Bill Hanney will be independently producing all 4 shows along with his team from his other award-winning theatre, North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. Subscriptions and Holiday Gift Certificates are on sale now by calling (401) 789-2422 or online at theatrebythesea.biz.

On Thursday, December 13, ABC's Good Morning America aired a live performance by Anthony Warlow and understudy Taylor Richardson from the Broadway musical Annie. Check out their performance below!

Lilla Crawford, star of the new Broadway production of Annie will perform live on ABC's 'Live! With Kelly and Michael' between 9:00AM-10:00AM EST this Tuesday. In the New York area, 'Live! With Kelly and Michael' airs on WABC Channel 7. Check your local listings. Tune in to see Lilla Crawford perform 'Tomorrow.'

Like fine chocolate, Jason Spickler's production yields something not too sweet, a bit on the dark side, but with plenty of promise for a smooth finish.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning Broadway and Hollywood notable all about his terrifically theatrical background - having appeared in musicals ranging from his debut in the ill-fated MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG to his Tony Award-winning work in JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY to most recent role as the artistic director of LA's lauded Reprise! Theatre Company - the one and only Jason Alexander. Expounding upon his big Broadway break in Stephen Sondheim & Harold Prince's MERRILY and what it was like to witness the two titans as they developed the piece, Alexander shares his insights into the art of Broadway and also casts a glance back at his roles in Kander & Ebb's THE RINK, Mel Brooks's THE PRODUCERS and directing Sondheim‘s musicals himself (such as SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE with frequent InDepth InterView participant Kelli O‘Hara). Alexander also opens up about some of his most celebrated dramatic and comedic work to date - to say nothing of the iconic TV dynasty of SEINFELD, we also touch upon the TV movie musicals adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL (with a score by Alan Menken & Lynn Ahrens), co-starring Kelsey Grammer, and Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, (with fellow InDepth InterView participant Bernadette Peters), as well as his recent appearance on HARRY'S LAW and more. Plus, Alexander outlines his featured role in the forthcoming Christopher Ashley feature film adaptation of the Ahrens & Flaherty musical comedy LUCKY STIFF, the future for a revival of the Richard Rodgers/Martin Charnin Bible-based Moses musical TWO BY TWO (co-starring SMASH's Megan Hilty once again, perhaps?) - and much, much more!

A production spokesperson tells us Lilla Crawford 'suffered a minor injury to her foot while on stage at the December 12 matinee performance of Annie.' She is expected to return to the production next week. Understudy Taylor Richardson will take over the role in her absence.

The cast of the new Broadway production of ANNIE will perform live on ABC's "Good Morning America" between 8:30AM-9AM EST this Thursday. In the New York area, "Good Morning America" airs on WABC Channel 7. Check your local listings. Tune in to see Anthony Warlow, Lilla Crawford, and company members from ANNIE perform "I Don't Need Anything But You."

This is the time of year that theatres are looking for productions to attract large audiences in order to bring some extra money into the coffers. BECK, for a number of years did BEAUTY AND THE BEAST for their holiday show. This year they opened the classic ANNIE.

Beck Center for the Arts presents ANNIE, with book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. Based on Little Orphan Annie by permission of The Media Tribune Services, Inc. Directed by Scott Spence, with musical direction by Larry Goodpaster and choreography by Martin Cespedes, the show runs now through Jan 6, 2013. Get a first look at the cast onstage in the photos below!

Below, meet the orphans of ANNIE, all making their Broadway debuts, and find out why they believe you're never fully dressed without a smile!

This week - it's all about ANNIE! This new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, opened on November 8 at the Palace Theatre and stars two-time Tony Award winner Katie Finneran as Miss Hannigan, Australian star Anthony Warlow making his Broadway debut as Daddy Warbucks and 11-year-old Lilla Crawford as Annie.