Children's Theatre Company'sANNIE Closes 6/26

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) today announced the theatre will, for the first-time in its 45-year history, stage one of the theatre's most sought-after musicals, "Annie." Among the most requested titles by CTC patrons, "Annie" will be directed by Peter Rothstein, who brought "Disney's High School Musical" and "A Year With Frog & Toad" to The Children's Theatre Company stage in the past.

Based on the 1920-1930s comic strip "Little Orphan Annie," "Annie," the musical, opened on Broadway in 1977. Set in New York City of 1933, in the midst of the Great Depression, the story about the young redheaded orphan who finds a father in the billionaire Oliver Warbucks is as well recognized for its hope and optimism as for its long list of musical titles-such as "Hard Knock Life" and "Tomorrow"-that theatre-loving children nationwide know by heart. That knowledge may come in handy for budding thespians this fall, as the theatre plans to select one or more cast members at an open casting call at the Mall of America in September 2010.

CTC's production of "Annie" will run on the UnitedHealth Group stage from April 12 through June 26, 2011. Single tickets and subscription packages, which include performance tickets to "Annie," went on sale Monday, March 1, 2010. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Children's Theatre Company box office at 612.874.0400 or visit www.childrenstheatre.org.

Remaining productions in the 2009-2010 Children's Theatre Company schedule include: According to Coyote, Iron Ring, Disney's Mulan, Jr. and The Biggest Little House in the Forest.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) is the first theatre for young people to win the coveted Tony® Award for Outstanding Regional Theater (2003). Founded in 1965, CTC serves more than 300,000 people annually and is one of the 20 largest theater companies in the nation. CTC is noted for defining worldwide standards for youth theatre with an innovative mix of classic tales, celebrated international productions and challenging new work.