On March 20, I attended an event hosted by the production team and cast of Life After Tomorrow for a discussion, performance and signing at Barnes and Noble. Life After Tomorrow, a documentary about the trials and tribulations of several dozen women who were on Broadway and in the road companies of Annie, The documentary was directed and produced by Annie alum Julie Stevens. Julie's website, annieorphans.com has reunited many former cast members and fans. They quickly discovered a sisterhood and many found that their post-Annie lives and experiences could only be understood by their fellow alumni. The film won Best Documentary and Best Director at the Phoenix Film Festival before debuting on Showtime on Christmas Day. It came out on DVD on February 26, 2008. Along with Stevens and special guest Charles Strouse, over twenty former Annies and orphans attended, including Martha Byrne, original Broadway cast member Robyn Finn, and Rosanne Sorrentino and Toni Ann Gisondi from the Annie film. Also in attendance were Emma Rowley (Gypsy) and John Bolton (Curtains).
Bob Marks on piano and host John Bolton
Julie Stevens, Kristen Vigard, Martha Byrne, Rosanne Sorrentino, and Robyn Finn
Dance captain Mimi Wallace shares a memory with the crowd
Gypsy's Emma Rowley wows the crowd with "Tomorrow"
Kristen Vigard, Martha Byrne (holding my shirt!), and Julie Stevens at the autograph table
Julie Stevens (director/producer/tour Tessie/Broadway Pepper) and I
Original cast member Robyn Finn (Broadway Pepper) and I
Rosanne Sorrentino (tour Annie/movie Pepper) and I
Toni Ann Gisoni (movie Molly) and I
Karen Schleifer (Broadway Kate) and I
It was a great event, and was sort of like a family reunion for a lot of people there, not just the cast members. I've always had a small "Annie" family, but it grew that day.