Annie arrives in the West End 40 years after the original Broadway production opened in 1977 and received seven Tony awards including the Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. In 1982, Annie was adapted for the big screen, and in 2014 a further feature film was released, directed by Will Gluck, with a cast including Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx – both versions are now on Netflix – The much-loved score includes the classics It’s A Hard Knock Life, Tomorrow and Easy Street.
Rehearsals for the 2017 West End run have now started, 4 weeks before the first preview at the Piccadilly Theatre on 23 May 2017, with opening night on 5 June 2017. The production is initially booking to 6 January 2018.
The title role of Annie will be shared by Madeleine Haynes, 13-years old from Hadley Wood, Barnet, Lola Moxom, 12-years old from Rochester, Kent and Ruby Stokes, 12-years old from Hampshire. They will be joined by three teams of young performers who will play the girls in Miss Hannigan’s orphanage (see below). Amber, a 4 year-old Labradoodle, will play Annie’s dog Sandy.
Miranda Hart will play Miss Hannigan (Miranda, Call The Midwife, Chummy). Alex Bourne’s play Daddy Warbucks (Mama Mia!, Rocky Horror Show, Kiss Me Kate for the BBC Proms, We Will Rock You and Beauty and the Beast at the Dominion, Chicago – Adelphi Theatre, Showboat for the RSC and Opera North and Annie UK Tour). Holly Dale Spencer’s  plays Grace Farrell (American Psycho – Almeida Theatre, Kiss Me Kate for the Old Vic and Annie on tour).
Further cast includes: Jonny Fines’ as Rooster (Avenue Q and Annie on tour), Djalenga Scott’s (West Side Story and Annie on UK tour, Chicago at the Garrick Theatre).
The role of Molly will be alternated by Aurelia Borrelli, Ellicia Simondswood and Nicole Subebe.
The role of Tessie will be alternated by Jessica Cartledge, Scarlet Grace and Dora Yolland.
The role of Kate will be alternated by Shani Roberts, Emily-May Stephenson and Maisie Thorn. The role of Pepper will be alternated by Drew Hylton, Eva MacLaughlan and Charlotte Ross Gower. The role of July will be alternated by Nancy Allsop, Carla Dixon and Isabelle Methven. The role of Duffy will be alternated by Kya Davis, Nicole Dube and Kathryn Whetter.
Book tickets today at www.fromtheboxoffice.com/Annie-The-Musical
Annie is one of those childhood favorites of mine and even my favorite elementary school. I hope this production does well in London. I can understood why so many girls love Annie. The optimism Annie has and even the dog Sandy plays a role. I wish the cast luck on this production.