ANNIE Opens Friday at Beck Center

Beck Center for the Arts presents one of the world's best-loved musicals, Annie, December 7, 2012 through January 6, 2013 on the Mackey Main Stage. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Please note early curtain times. There are additional 2:30 p.m. matinee performances on Saturdays, December 15 and 29 (no evening performance on 12/29) and January 5 with special 7:30 p.m. Thursday shows on December 20 and 27. Tickets are now on sale and matinee performances are selling fast.

Annie is the touching story of a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents who abandoned her on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage run by the embittered Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Hannigan’s evil schemes and finds a new home in the mansion of Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks.

Directed by Beck Center Artistic Director Scott Spence, Annie features Caitlin Elizabeth Reilly as the faithful Grace Farrell, Gilgamesh Taggett as bullish billionaire Oliver Warbucks, and Leslie Feagan as Franklin Delano Roosevelt; as well as a talented ensemble of 26 area actors who share this story of hope for the holidays. Reilly and Feagan appear courtesy of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union of actors and stage managers.

Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score, Annie features such unforgettable songs as Hard Knock Life, N.Y.C., Easy Street, and Tomorrow. “I am thrilled to be directing one of Broadway's ‘perfect musicals.’ Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, ‘Annie’ has become a story we all love to see and hear over and over again.” said Spence. “But I think the greatest thrill is for young audiences. This is a classic musical for families to experience together and introduce theater to the next generation of arts lovers.”

Tickets for Annie are $28 for adults, $25 for seniors (65 and older), $12 for students (with valid I.D.), and $10 for children (12 and under). An additional $3 service fee per ticket is applied at the time of purchase. Preview Night on Thursday, December 6 is $10 with general admission seating. Flex Passes and group discounts (13 or more) are available. Purchase tickets online at beckcenter.org or call Customer Services at 216.521.2540, ext. 10. Beck Center for the Arts is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just ten minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available.

Opening night patrons may also enjoy two gallery exhibits, free musical entertainment by Lounge Kitty and happy hour appetizers and drinks as Beck Center hosts its first “Marquee Friday” on December 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Daniels Lounge. Marquee Fridays, scheduled on opening nights throughout the theater season, are open to the public as part of Beck Center’s community engagement initiative.

This production of Annie is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (mtishows.com) and is sponsored by First Federal Lakewood, West Roofing Systems, Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, and the Ohio Arts Council. Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional Theater Productions, arts education programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies for special needs students, and free gallery exhibits featuring local, regional, and International Artists.