Original 'Annie' Cast Members Sought for Upcoming Reunion

Andrea McArdle, Bill Berloni, and Shelley Bruce are hoping to contact alumni from the original Broadway company of Annie to stage a reunion.

All interested performers from the original cast of Annie should send an e-mail to originalanniecast@yahoo.com.  The reunion will take place as a private springtime celebration.

McArdle received a Tony nomination for creating the role of Annie, and Bruce originated the role of Kate (she was also the understudy for the role of Molly, and later starred as a replacement Annie).  Theatrical animal trainer Berloni was the owner of stage dogs Sandy and Arf.

Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin and a book by Thomas Meehan, is based on the famed 1930's comic strips about a plucky red-headed orphan who wins over lonely billionaire Daddy Warbucks. The musical, which ran for 2,377 performances after opening at the Alvin Theatre on April 21st, 1977, won seven Tony Awards, including awards for Best Musical, Book and Score, and for Dorothy Loudon (who created the role of Miss Hannigan).  John Huston directed a lavish film version in 1982, and the show was revived on Broadway in 1997.  It was also seen at Madison Square Garden last holiday season (with Kathie Lee Gifford as Miss Hannigan).