Robertson, Phillips and Others Cast in New Annie Tour

By: Jun. 28, 2005
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The cast for the upcoming new national tour of Annie has been secured, with a mixture of new and familiar faces signed to star in the musical classic.

The tour, which will kick off at Seattle's Paramount Theatre on August 21st, will feature Conrad John Schuck as Daddy Warbucks, Mackenzie Phillips as Lily St. Regis, newcomer Marissa O'Donnell as Annie and veteran Alene Robertson as Miss Hannigan.  The tour will also play venues in San Diego, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Detroit, Cleveland, and Chicago, among other cities.

Robertson's association with Annie extends back to 1993, when she originated the role of the villainous Commissioner Doyle in Annie Warbucks, one of the musical's two sequels (the other was Annie 2).  
She earned a Drama Desk nomination for the performance, which she reprised at the Walnut Street Theatre in 2004.  A Chicago-based actress, she has appeared in such shows asMame, The Pajama Game and Bye Bye, Birdie, receiving 9 Jefferson Awards in the process.

Schuck has also appeared as Daddy Warbucks in Annie in its various incarnations--as a replacement in the original production, and opening in the role in the 1997 revival.  He also appeared in the 1999 revival of Annie Get Your Gun (as a replacement for Buffalo Bill), as well as in over 200 other productions across the U.S. Phillips is best known for her role as Julie on "One Day at A Time," but lists Grease as a Broadway credit (she was a replacement in the role of Rizzo).

In addition to those already named, Elizabeth Broadhurst will play Grace Farrell with Scott Willis as Rooster in the production, which will be directed by lyricist Martin Charnin.  Charnin wrote the score with composer Charles Strouse, and the book is by Thomas Meehan.  Of course, Annie recounts how a plucky red-headed orphan growing up in the Depression brings light into the lives of all around her--except maybe Miss Hannigan, Lily and Rooster, who see her as a potential source of income.  The original 1977 production of Annie netted 7 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Book and Score; it would run for 2,377 performances and bring acclaim to stars Andrea McArdle and Dorothy Loudon.

The tour will feature a new song for Warbucks penned by Strouse and Charnin called "Why Should I Change a Thing?"

To learn more about the Annie tour and the cities at which it will make stops, visit www.annieontour.com.
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