By Strouse Photos - Off-Broadway

What did our critic Linda Hodgesthink of ANNIE at Broadway San Jose? It's a hard knock life for sure, but Broadway San Jose's ANNIE infuses even today's troubled times with unrestrained optimism. And even though the sun isn't really shining in rain ravaged Northern California, it didn't stop the carloads of boys and girls and their adults from streaming into San Jose for the show.

Take a look back into BroadwayWorld's archives with this throwback from when stage and screen star Paulette Goddard and pop culture icon Andy Warhol went to see Annie in 1977! Check out the photo below!

There's nothing more endearing than a little girl and her dog, especially when it comes to a red-headed orphan who reminds kids of all ages that positivity is the only road to resilience!  Slidell Little Theatre is opening its' 55th season with the timeless classic, Annie, based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray. Adapted for the Broadway stage in 1977, Annie was the winner of seven Tony Awards, and continues to be a worldwide phenomenon today. The sun has definitely come out on this entire cast, especially two remarkable actresses, Elizabeth Burris and Piper Hall, who share the title role of Broadway's favorite belting ragamuffin.  Despite their marked star quality, there is another salient stray who is commanding equal respect-Annie's beloved dog Sandy!  The four legged character, portrayed by rescued K-9 Jen-Ai, once declared unredeemable, is stealing hearts on and off the stage. The golden's trainer, Margaret Cromwell say the script is not much different than their own life story, and is excited about the affect her beloved may have on audiences.  Regardless of number of legs the actors have, the talent in this production is awe inspiring, and the relationship between the two may require a few tissues. Their genuine affection definitely pulls you into the theme of what it means to value someone or something, all the while highlighting the meaning of family love, however that is defined for each of us.

ANNIE composer Charles Strouse and ANNIE lyricist (and director of the original 1977 Broadway production) Martin Charnin paid a visit backstage at Saturday night's performance of ANNIE at the Hollywood Bowl.  Check out photos from the special visit below!

Even if you have seen it before, I cannot stress enough how miraculous the current production of ANNIE is at the Hollywood Bowl, directed with creative ingenuity by Michael Arden. Featured in the cast of incredibly talented triple-threat (acting, singing, dancing) performers are Ana Gasteyer as the ruthless headmistress Miss Agatha Hannigan, David Alan Grier as the refined, generous billionaire Oliver 'Daddy' Warbucks, Lea Salonga as his dedicated and caring assistant Grace Farrell, with newcomer Kaylin Hedges as Annie, who won the role over hundreds of other young girls from across the country who submitted video auditions to win role. Miss Hedges is the cornerstone of the production and her soaring, pitch-perfect voice and effervescent stage presence setting the jubilant tone for the entire ensemble.

Composer Thea Musgrave is celebrating these days. It's not just that she's marking her 90th birthday on May 27 with a concert in New York, but that the concert is showcasing a gaggle of world premieres, US premieres and NY premieres (along with more familiar works), which highlight her rich musical vocabulary and keen sense of drama.

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts presents one of the best-loved musicals of all time, Annie, directed by the Twin Cities' own Austene Van. Full of holiday spirit and family fun, this new Ordway Original production will be on stage December 7-31.

Skylight Music Theatre today presents 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.

Woodside Community Theatre (WCT) presents Annie, music by Charles Strouse with lyrics by Martin Charnin and book by Thomas Meehan. The show will run from October 20, 2017 through October 29, 2017. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in character below!

As BroadwayWorld sadly reported yesterday, Thomas Meehan, who is best known for his books of such classics as Annie, The Producers and Hairspray, has passed away at 88 years old.

Miranda Hart plays Miss Hannigan with Alex Bourne as Daddy Warbucks, Holly Dale Spencer as Grace Farrell, Jonny Fines as Rooster and Djalenga Scott as Lily in the West End production of Annie at the Piccadilly Theatre. The title role of Annie is shared by Madeleine Haynes, 13-years old from Hadley Wood, Barnet, Lola Moxom, 12-years old from Rochester, Kent and Ruby Stokes, 12-years old from Hampshire. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

It's the time of year to reflect on the past and enjoy familiar stories that warm our hearts. In otherwords, 'tis the season for ANNIE. That spunky waif has been part of our American culture for more than 130 years. She was first penned into existence by poet James Whitcomb Riley in 1885. His poem, 'Little Orphant Annie',was inspired by Mary Alice 'Allie' Smith, an orphaned child who came to live in the Riley home.

Theatre at the Center's production of Annie Warbucks, the sequel to Annie, the 1977 Tony Award-winning smash Broadway hit, opened to a packed house Sunday, November 20. Based on Harold Gray's Little Orphan Annie comic strip, the book is by Thomas Meehan with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. Annie Warbucks opened Off Broadway in 1993 and broke records for the time with 200 performances.  The Jeff Recommended production will continue through December 18. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening festivities below!

Brooklyn's newly restored Kings Theatre (1027 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY) will present the all-new U.S. tour of the beloved musical Annie in a limited 16 performance only engagement at the venue this holiday season, December 15 - 27, 2015. Tickets are on sale now. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, this production of Annie is a brand new physical incarnation of the iconic Tony Award®-winning original.

TROIKA Entertainment LLC and the Nederlander Organization are pleased to announce that the eagerly anticipated L.A. engagement of ANNIE has begun performances at Hollywood Pantages Theatre for a limited three-week engagement through Sunday, November 1, 2015. Tickets are are available for purchase at www.HollywoodPantages.com or www.Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-982-2787, and at the Hollywood Pantages Box Office (6233 Hollywood Boulevard). The box office opens daily at 10am except for Holidays. Check out a first look at the opening night below!

Today, we're featuring the cast of the Annie film, circa 1982. Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music byCharles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years, setting a record for the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre). It spawned numerous productions in many countries, as well as national tours, and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The musical's songs 'Tomorrow' and 'It's the Hard Knock Life' are among its most popular musical numbers.

TROIKA Entertainment, LLC will launch the U.S. National Tour of ANNIE on September 26, 2014 at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit, MI. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, this production of ANNIE will be a brand new physical incarnation of the iconic Tony Award®-winning original. Below, check out a first look at Annie herself!

ANNIE, the new production of the classic Tony Award-winning musical, playing at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street), just welcomed Ron Raines to the cast as Daddy Warbucks, and you can get a first look at him in action below!

Annie, the feel-good, rags-to-riches musical that took Broadway by storm opens December 13th at the Farmington Players Barn, and the holiday classic is almost sold out. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Earlier this week, the adorable orphans of ANNIE celebrated the show's partnership with Make Meaning, by decorating cakes courtesy of Make Meaning and raffling off two pairs of tickets to the show. BroadwayWorld was there for the special occasion and you can check out photo coverage below!

'Leapin' Lizards!' ANNIE, one of the best-loved family musicals of all time, takes the stage at Theatre by the Sea (TBTS) now through Saturday, August 10. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Just yesterday, the adorable orphans of ANNIE gathered at Magnolia Bakery to try the new ANNIE-themed cupcake. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos below!

Shout! Broadway released the new 2012 Cast Recording for ANNIE CD on Tuesday, June 18. To celebrate the release of the CD cast members Jane Lynch, Anthony Warlow, Lilla Crawford, Brynn O'Malley, Clarke Thorell, creators Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin and Tom Meehan and more signed copies of the album at Barnes & Noble (160 East 54th Street at 3rd Avenue) yesterday. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photo coverage below!

ANNIE, nominated for a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, is playing on Broadway at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway at 47th Street). Visit www.anniethemusical.com. Last night, the cast celebratesd creator Charles Strouse's Birthday with a birthday serenade. Check out photos from the celebration below!