By Khalida Sarwari
For better or worse, 2016 is coming to an end, leaving many of us wondering what’s to come. So a visit by a fiery red-headed girl promising us that “the sun’ll come out tomorrow, so ya gotta hang on ’til tomorrow” could not be more timely.
Broadway San Jose will bring “Annie,” one of the biggest Broadway musical hits of all time, to the Center for the Performing Arts stage in January.
Based on a book by Thomas Meehan, the musical is the story of a vivacious young orphan named Annie who lives in a miserable orphanage run by the tyrannical Miss Hannigan. Her luck changes for the better when she meets wealthy munitions industrialist Oliver Warbucks, who takes a liking to the girl and arranges for her adoption.
The original production opened in 1977 at the Alvin Theatre—now the Neil Simon Theatre—and ran for 2,377 performances thereafter, going on to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best musical, the Grammy for best cast show album and seven Tony Awards. The show has since been performed in 28 languages and spawned numerous productions around the world.
Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, the national tour of “Annie” is a brand-new incarnation of the Tony Award-winning original and is now in its third year.
The musical features a 25-member cast with 11-year-old Tori Bates in the title role of Annie, Gilgamesh Taggett as Oliver Warbucks, Erin Fish in the role of Miss Hannigan, Casey Prins as Grace Farrell, Michael Santora as Rooster, Mallory King as Lily and Jeffrey Duncan as Franklin D Roosevelt. Sunny and Macy, rescue terrier mixes, star as Sandy.
Tori, who lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her family, makes her tour debut, but most recently starred as the young Josephine Baker in the musical, “Josephine,” at Florida’s Asolo Repertory Theatre. That production, which stars Grammy nominee Deborah Cox, appears to be headed to Broadway.
With some local community theater experience under her belt, the youngster was invited to audition for the part while on vacation with her family in New York City over the summer. She was informed the role was hers the night before the family was scheduled to fly back home, said her mother, Jenifer Bates. The news changed the trajectory of the girl’s foreseeable future, to the point where her family is now considering relocating to the Big Apple, said Bates.
“We are considering a possible move to NYC, just so that she can continue with training and performing and just being available for any possible future opportunities,” Bates said. “But it is a pretty big conversation.”
For now, Tori will focus on playing Annie, adopting not only the character’s optimistic outlook but her signature red mane, which meant dying her own light brown hair red for the role.
“She’s spunky, she’s courageous and she’s determined,” said Tori of Annie. “I liked how (the musical) is optimistic about life and she just hopes to find her parents one day. I just love the whole story of how she finds someone and Daddy Warbucks finds someone, too.”
While she said she hadn’t seen the stage show, she “fell in love” with the movie when she saw it for the first time a few years ago. “I just thought one day I could possibly play Annie,” Tori said.
Now that she can check that off her list, Tori has her sights set on a few other musicals which she’d love to be a part of someday, namely “School Of Rock,” “Hamilton” and “The Lion King.”
Speaking from her Sarasota home while on break for the holidays, Tori said she’s excited to visit California for the first time in January. Since the tour kicked off in November, she’s had a chance to squeeze in stops at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the wildly popular Broadway show, “Hamilton,” in Chicago. She may be able to fit in a few more sightseeing adventures yet before the tour concludes at the end of May. Their next stop: the Golden State.
“I’m actually looking forward to just driving,” Tori said. “When I look out the window I hope to see Los Angeles. I just can’t wait to see California; I’m so excited.”
“Annie” features music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Charnin, choreography by Liza Gennaro, and scenic design by Tony Award winner Beowulf Boritt. The score features such memorable songs as “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 effervescent “Tomorrow.”
The San Jose engagement is presented as part of Broadway San Jose’s 2016-17 season.
“Annie” runs Jan. 6-8 at the Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose. Performances take place Jan. 6 at 8 p.m., Jan. 7 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Jan. 8 at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $43-$128 at ticketmaster.com, 800.982.ARTS (2787) or the City National Civic Box Office, 150 W. San Carlos St., San Jose. For more information, visit anniethemusical.com.
Link: Tony Award-winning ‘Annie’ arrives in SJ just in time for a new year
