ANNIE Will Return to NYC This Holiday Season at the Newly-Restored Kings Theatre

By: Sep. 10, 2015
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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.

This brand new production features a 25 member company led by 10-year-old Davie, FL native Issie Swickle in the title role, Gilgamesh Taggett as Oliver Warbucks, Lynn Andrews as Miss Hannigan,Ashley Edler as Grace, Garrett Deagon as Rooster, Lucy Werner as Lily St. Regis and Jeffrey B. Duncan as FDR. The orphans are Angelina Carballo as July, LillyBea Ireland as Tessie, Molly Rose Meredith as Pepper, Emily Moreland as Kate, Lilly Mae Stewart as Molly and Isabel Wallach as Duffy. The featured ensemble includes Chelsey Lynn Alfredo, Jonathan Cobrda, Brian Cowing, Ruby Day,Todd Fenstermaker, Madisen Johnson, Brianne Kennedy, Tyler Lenhart, Brendan Malafronte,Jake Mills, Theresa Rowley and Kelsey Shaw. Sunny, a 5-year-old rescue terrier mix, and Macy, a 7-year-old rescue terrier mix, share the role of Sandy.

This production marks the first major theatrical event in the history of the former movie house, which re-opened earlier this year after a $95 million restoration. The renovation expanded the original theatre's footprint from approximately 83,000 square feet to 93,000 square feet, including an enlarged and modernized stage house, dressing rooms and loading areas, and upgraded theatrical lighting and acoustic accommodations. All of this combined has made it possible for the theatre to now accommodate and produce full-scale theatrical productions in Central Brooklyn.

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 will incorporate selections from her father Peter Gennaro's 1977 Tony Award-winning choreography.

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 37 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."

The celebrated design team includes scenic design by Tony Award winner Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Costume Designer's Guild Award winner Suzy Benzinger, lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington and sound design by Tony Award nominee Peter Hylenski. The lovable mutt "Sandy" is once again trained by Tony Award Honoree William Berloni. Musical supervision and additional orchestrations are by Keith Levenson. Casting is by Joy Dewing CSA and Holly Buczek CSA, Joy Dewing Casting. The tour is produced by TROIKA Entertainment, LLC.



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