The sun will come out when touring musical ‘Annie’ stops at Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre on Feb. 23
From a press release:
The F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre announced today that the U.S. national tour of “Annie,” now in its second smash year, will be performed on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m., sponsored by Isabella Restaurant and Bar. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, this production of “Annie” is a brand new physical incarnation of the iconic Tony Award-winning original.
Tickets, which are $45, $55, and $65, plus fees, are on sale now and available through the Kirby Center box office (71 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre), online at kirbycenter.org, and by phone at 570-826-1100.
“Annie” has a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin. All three authors received 1977 Tony Awards for their work. Choreography is by Liza Gennaro, who has incorporated selections from her father Peter Gennaro’s 1977 Tony Award®-winning choreography.
The celebrated design team includes scenic design by Tony Award winner Beowulf Boritt (“Act One,” “The Scottsboro Boys,” “Rock of Ages”), costume design by Costume Designer’s Guild Award winner Suzy Benzinger (“Blue Jasmine,” “Movin’ Out,” “Miss Saigon”), lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington (“Chicago,” “Annie,” “White Christmas”) and sound design by Tony Award nominee Peter Hylenski (“Rocky,” “Bullets Over Broadway,” “Motown”). The lovable mutt “Sandy” is once again trained by Tony Award Honoree William Berloni (“Annie,” “A Christmas Story,” “Legally Blonde”). Musical supervision and additional orchestrations are by Keith Levenson (“Annie,” “She Loves Me,” “Dreamgirls”). Casting is by Joy Dewing CSA, Joy Dewing Casting (“Soul Doctor,” “Wonderland”). The tour is produced by Troika Entertainment, LLC.
The production features a 25-member company: in the title role of Annie is Heidi Gray, an 11-year-old actress from the Augusta, Georgia area, making her tour debut. Gilgamesh Taggett stars as Oliver Warbucks. In the role of Miss Hannigan is Lynn Andrews.
The original production of “Annie” opened April 21, 1977 at the Alvin Theatre and went on to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for “Best Musical,” seven Drama Desk Awards including “Best Musical,” the Grammy for “Best Cast Show Album,” and seven Tony Awards, including “Best Musical,” “Best Book” (Thomas Meehan), and “Best Score” (Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin). The show remains one of the biggest Broadway musical hits ever. It ran for 2,377 performances after it first opened, has been performed in 28 languages, and has been running somewhere around the world for 37 years.
The beloved score for “Annie” includes “Maybe,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” and the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.”
Photo by Joan Marcus
