ANNIE Comes To York's Belmont Theatre

The Belmont Theatre will present the beloved family musical ANNIE on their MainStage November 16-18 & 23 -25. Friday, Saturday and the second Thursday shows are at 7:30 p.m. Sunday shows are at 3:00 p.m. There is an additional matinee for this show Saturday, November 24, at 2 p.m. This is the perfect family entertainment to welcome the holidays since ANNIE takes place during the holiday season. Relatives traveling home for Thanksgiving can join their family for a show Thanksgiving weekend!

Based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray, Annie has become a worldwide phenomenon and was the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The beloved book and score by Tony Award winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, features some of the greatest musical theatre hits ever written, including "Tomorrow."

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations... and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! She finds a new home and family in billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

ANNIE is directed by The Belmont Theatre's Artistic Director, Rene Staub. Vocal Direction is by Lisa Pantano. Choreographer is Sarah Flynn. The cast features McKenna Spangler as Annie, Christopher Quigley as Daddy Warbucks, Nina Cline as Grace Farrell, Kendra Keiser as Miss Hannigan, Marisa Hoover as Lily, Jeremy Slagle as Rooster, and Melvin, a golden-doodle, as Sandy with a cast of over 40 ensemble and technical dancers who will have you singing, dancing and laughing in the aisles.

The cast includes a family of three generations...and their dog. Joel Persing, who is also the Belmont Theatre's resident set builder, plays Mr. Bundles and other various characters. Joel's son, Adam, plays Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a policeman and various other characters. Adam's daughter, Ella, plays an orphan. Adam & Ella's family dog, Melvin, plays Annie's beloved pet, Sandy. Sandy is being trained for the show by Peg Rhodes. Peg has trained a variety of other dogs for Belmont shows including Wizard of Oz, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Frankenstein.

The Belmont Theatre is located just off route 83 at 27 South Belmont Street in York, PA. There is convenient, free parking. Patrons are urged to not wait to purchase tickets. Some shows are already close to selling out. Some of the past productions have sold out before they opened! Group sales are available. Go to www.thebelmont.org or call 717-854-5715 for advance tickets and more information.

Photo: McKenna Spangler as Annie and Melvin as Sandy