Austin, Warne & More Join McArdle In Musical Theatre West's ANNIE

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce the complete cast for its upcoming production of ANNIE at the beautiful 1070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. ANNIE previews October 29th and runs October 30th through November 14, 2010. Musical Theatre West Artistic Director/Producer Steven Glaudini directs with musical direction by Daniel Thomas and choreography by Roger Castellano.

In addition to the previously announced Andrea McArdle (Broadway's original Annie) as Miss Hannigan, the Musical Theatre West cast also stars Jeff Austin (National Tour: CITY OF ANGELS, THE UNSINKABLE Molly Brown, Regional: ANNIE, McCoy/Rigby, CALL ME MADAM, Reprise!) as Oliver Warbucks, Shannon Warne (National Tour: CAMELOT, Regional: TWO BY TWO, Reprise!, VIOLET, Musical Theatre Guild) as Grace Farrell, David Engel (Broadway: SEUSSICAL, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, Off Broadway: FOREVER PLAID, Original Cast, Regional: THE PRODUCERS, CRAZY FOR YOU, THE ANDREWS BROTHERS all at Musical Theatre West) as Rooster, Bets Malone (Off-Broadway: THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES, Original Cast, Regional: ALL SHOOK UP, GUYS AND DOLLS, ME AND MY GIRL, Musical Theatre West) as Lily St. Regis, Mark Capri (Broadway: BLITHE SPIRIT, PRIVATE LIVES, Regional: MY FAIR LADY, CAMELOT at Santa Barbara CLO) as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Melody Hollis (Broadway and National Tour: WHITE CHRISTMAS, Regional: DOLLHOUSE, Goodman Theatre and SEUSSICAL, Marriott Theatre) as Annie.

Andrea McArdle (ANNIE, JERRY'S GIRLS, STARLIGHT EXPRESSS, STATE FAIR, LES MISERABLES, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST) first captured the hearts of theatergoers everywhere in 1977 when she originated the title role in ANNIE, based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip "Little Orphan Annie". As Annie, Andrea became the youngest performer ever to be nominated for a Tony Award as Best Lead Actress in a Musical. She also received the Theater World and Outer Critics' Circle Awards for her performance and went on to star when the show was produced on London's West End. Since then, she has starred in several Broadway musicals and appeared in theatres both nationally and internationally. She has performed in concert from Carnegie Hall to the Hong Kong Philharmonic. She has honed her craft by working with some of the great legends of the entertainment industry such as Ethel Merman, Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews, Bob Hope, Liberace, Frank Sinatra, Steve Martin and Martin Short, to name a few, and was privileged to have appeared on television with Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin and Dinah Shore.

Rounding out the cast as the adorable orphans are Paige Befeler as July, Alexa Freeman (Regional: MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, Musical Theatre West), as Pepper, Grace Kaufman (Regional: MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, Musical Theatre West) as Molly, Madison Milledge as Tessie, Jenna Rosen (National Tour: JOSEPH...) as Duffy, and Danielle Soibelman (Regional: RAGTIME, Hudson Theatre, TV: CALIFORNICATION) as Kate. The ANNIE ensemble includes Jef Canter (Regional: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, Norris Theatre), Amberly Chamberlain (Regional: ANNIE, Music Theatre of Southern California, TV: MADTV), Sean Clifford (Regional: SWING!, CHICAGO, Phoenix Theatre), Amy Gillette (National Tour: VOX LUMIERE: HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME), Brian Michael Hoffman (National Tour: ANNIE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL), Damon Kirsche (Regional: 1776, Musical Theatre West, Little Shop of Horrors, Cabrillo Music Theatre), Nick Lorenzini, (Regional: RENT, Musical Theatre West, MISS SAIGON, Moonlight Amphitheatre),

Melissa Mitchell (Regional, CINDERELLA, Cabrillo Music Theatre, JOSEPH..., CLO of South Bay Cities), Todd Nielsen (Regional: 1776, THE WIZARD OF OZ, Musical Theatre West, SIDE SHOW, Colony Theatre), Jennifer Strattan (Regional: THE PRODUCERS, Musical Theatre West, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, Candlelight Pavilion), and Mikey as Sandy.

ANNIE tickets may be purchased online at www.musical.org or by phone at 562-856-1999 x4. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Musical Theatre West Box Office located at 4350 E. 7th Street, Long Beach, CA 90804 from noon to 6PM Monday through Friday.

 

Based on the long-running Tribune Media Service Comic Strip, Little Orphan Annie, which just ended its run this past June, ANNIE is the story of a spunky depression-era orphan determined to find the parents who abandoned her on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie, along with Sandy, her trusty canine companion, foils Miss Hannigan's cruel machinations, befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and finds a new family in the home of billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Winner of nine Tony Awards--including Best Musical, ANNIE's bright and tuneful score, has long since become a part of our nation's cultural heritage and includes the songs "It's a Hard-Knock Life," "Maybe," "Tomorrow, " and the show-stopping " You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile."

ANNIE opened at the Alvin Theatre on April 21, 1977. The New York production ran for 2,377 performances, making it the third longest running musical of the 1970s. In 1982, the heavily revised movie version was released starring Albert Finney, Aileen Quinn, Ann Reinking, and Carol Burnett.

ANNIE is written by Tony Award-winners, Thomas Meehan (Book), Charles Strouse (Music) and Martin Charnin (Lyrics).

The performance schedule for ANNIE is Thursdays and through Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm, Sundays at 2pm. (note: no 2pm performance on 10/30 with a 7pm performance added 11/7.) Tickets start at $30 with last row seating available at an additional discount. There is a $3 service charge per ticket. Prices are subject to change without notice. Group rates are available for 15 or more. Musical Theatre West performs at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center located at 6200 E. Atherton Street, Long Beach, CA 90815.

ANNIE is the first show of Musical Theatre West's 2010-2011 Season, and is made possible through the generous contributions of Honorary Producers Arlene Solomon and Sidney Schulman and Associate Producers Don and Terry Marté Greco.
Musical Theatre West 2010-2011 Season Sponsors are the Ackerman Family/Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation and Ken and Dottie Reiner.

For more information on Musical Theatre West's production of ANNIE, please visit www.musical.org.