The musical “Annie” has been entertaining audiences for 46 years, and the touring production, now on stage at Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center for the Performing Arts through Sunday. Oct. 22, shows why this story of a plucky, optimistic, red-headed orphan endures.
The national touring company of "Annie" now at the Broward Center for the Arts in Fort Lauderdale through Sunday, Oct. 22. (Photo credit: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
“Annie” premiered on Broadway in 1977 and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical for Thomas Meehan, and Best Score for Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin. Since then, it has become a perennial favorite of regional theaters — the New York Times estimates that “Annie” is performed in the United States 700 to 900 times each year.
Based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray, which premiered in 1923, “Annie” is the rags-to-riches tale of an eternally optimistic orphan with striking red hair who was dropped off at a New York orphanage as an infant. Her parents left the baby with half of a silver locket and a note saying they’ll be back for her soon.
The show begins with 11-year-old Annie (Rainier Trevino) trying to escape the orphanage and Miss Hannigan (Stefanie Londino), the alcoholic slattern who runs the place. Miss Hannigan catches her, but Annie succeeds in her escape the next morning, determined to find her parents.
"Annie" makes a tour stop at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale through Sunday, Oct. 22. (Photo credit: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
Along her jaunt through New York during the Great Depression, she rescues a dog and names it Sandy (Georgie). A cop brings Annie back to the orphanage and an angry Miss Hanigan. Annie’s return coincides with the arrival of Grace Farrell (Julia Nicole Hunter) who has come to choose an orphan to spend Christmas at the home of Oliver Warbucks (Christopher Swan) the richest man in the world. She chooses Annie, and although Warbucks is initially standoffish, he warms to Annie and decides to adopt her. When Warbucks learns about the note and the locket, he puts all his resources into finding Annie’s mom and dad, even though finding them means losing her.
Whether you've seen "Annie" a zillion times or never at all, this is as good as it gets. The national touring company of "Annie" is at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. (Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
The touring cast makes this "Annie" shine.
Trevino is a pint-size dynamo who plays Annie with charm and gusto, embodying Annie’s dauntless spirit. When she belts the anthemic "Tomorrow" while holding on to Sandy, Trevino owns that stage.
Londino is hilarious as Miss Hannigan, the man-hungry, little-girl-hating director of the orphanage. She delivers her two big songs, "Little Girls" and "Easy Street," with comic panache.
Stefanie Londino, right, as Miss Hannigan is one of the many reasons to see "Annie" now at the Broward Center for the Arts in Fort Lauderdale. (Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
Swan, as Oliver Warbucks, conveys the billionaire’s authority but also reveals a more human side in a deeply heartfelt performance, especially when he sings "Something Was Missing." Hunter personifies efficiency and elegance as Grace Farrell, and possesses a lilting, lovely voice.
Jeffrey T. Kelly, as Rooster, and Samantha Stevens as Lily, add a great dose of villainous comedy to the show. Stevens is especially funny, adopting a squeaky voice so shrill and high-pitched that it could prick up a dog’s ear with a single syllable.
The ensemble cast is pitch perfect, and "It’s a Hard Knock Life," performed by the orphans, and "NYC," the show’s valentine to Manhattan, performed by Swan, Hunter, and Trevino, are stand-outs in a show with no weak moments.
And a special shout out to Georgie, the sweet, lovable, golden dog who plays Sandy and got more applause than any other cast member every time he appeared on stage.
“Annie” is an enchanting musical and this is a flawless production. Whether you’ve never seen “Annie” or you’ve seen it a dozen times, be prepared to be swept away in its timeless magic.
“Annie” runs through Sunday, Oct. 22 at Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Matinees 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets prices start at $45 to $126. and information, visit BrowardCenter.org.
