PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Theatre Under The Stars' Annie, Starring George Dvorsky and Michele RagusaDanny Gardner, currently appearing in Theatre Under The Stars' Annie, offers an exclusive look at the production and the iconic Houston venue.
By
Matthew Blank
March 28, 2012
Playbill.com readers are invited to tour the show's set and meet the hard-working cast and crew who bring Annie to life.
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Theatre Under The Stars' Annie, Starring George Dvorsky and Michele Ragusa
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Theatre Under The Stars' Annie, Starring George Dvorsky and Michele Ragusa
Danny Gardner, currently appearing in Theatre Under The Stars' Annie, offers an exclusive look at the production and the iconic Houston venue. Playbill.com readers are invited to tour the show's set and meet the hard-working cast and crew who bring Annie to life. Read the Playbill.com story.
53 PHOTOS
“It’s the day of the show ya’ll!” I start my opening day at our local housing - the Homestead Studio Suites in the Galleria section of Houston. Notice the Palm Trees!
Danny Gardner
The first thing in the day is a work out at the beautiful Trotter Family YMCA! It’s the most beautiful YMCA I have ever seen! It’s has two pools!
Danny Gardner
After the gym I stop by the Starbucks - Jamba Juice combo. Awesome.
Danny Gardner
I had some extra time before the show so I took a trip to the huge mall “The Galleria.” It’s the second largest mall in America and has a skating rink in it. This is where I practice my triple lutz every day before the show.
Danny Gardner
After my ice-skating practice, I took a walk to my favorite park sclupture. It’s a 64-foot-fountain with a Scaene Frons in front of it. This is where I practice my monologue from Oedipus every day before the show.
It’s 6:15 and time to head to the theater. On my way to the theater I run into one of our Broadway veterans Dottie Stanley!
Danny Gardner
These are my car mates – Nikol Wolf and Tess Ferrell.
Danny Gardner
Driving into downtown Houston.
Danny Gardner
Before the show I stop into the TUTS Encore gift shop to say hello to Suzanne Tidwell and Kirk Goodman.
Danny Gardner
Look at all the Annie swag!
Danny Gardner
Time to go to work!
Danny Gardner
Look at the lovely opening night gifts.
Danny Gardner
I catch Dustin Harder (ensemble member and dog handler), Macy the dog (Sandy) and Sadie Sink (Annie) getting ready to practice their scenes before the show. Macy is a true Bill Berloni-trained dog!
Danny Gardner
Here are Tara Jeanne Vallee (choreographer) and Eddy Robinson (musical director) getting ready for opening night. Looking good creative team!
Danny Gardner
This is the ceiling of Sarofim hall. Theater Under the Stars originally started as an outdoor theater and it is still “Under the Stars” to this day. The fiber optic ceiling is arranged to represent the Texas summer solstice.
Danny Gardner
The calm before the storm! The Theatre seats 2650 people! It’s huge!
Danny Gardner
This is a view from the back of the house in the “nose-bleeds.” I am always impressed at how beautiful the house is.
Danny Gardner
Here is a picture of the Hobby Center. It was only built 10 years ago and holds two theaters: Sarofim Hall where TUTS has its performances and Zilka Hall, that is a more intimate space, which seats 500.
Danny Gardner
I catch our stage manager Roger Allan Raby at his booth getting ready for the show.
Danny Gardner
The backstage scenery / props area. No show is complete without a teddy bear in a wagon.
Danny Gardner
The fly rail.
Danny Gardner
Stage Left. Too bad they went with the small staircase.
Danny Gardner
Happy Opening!
Danny Gardner
Bill Berloni Theatrical Animals often teams up with a local rescue group to put the spotlight on dogs that need homes.
Danny Gardner
Here’s our Assistant Stage Manager Cole Ryden collecting dollars for Dollar Friday. A tried and true tradition throughout the theater community.
Danny Gardner
Here’s our AMAZING Annie –Sadie Sink getting her wig on.
Danny Gardner
I check in with George Dvorsky (Daddy Warbucks) before the show. This is a "before" picture…
Danny Gardner
This is the "after" picture. George is so virile he has to have his head shaved every day before the show. (It’s fun to flip back and forth between the pictures.)
Danny Gardner
I catch our director (Mark Waldrop) hanging with Michele Ragusa (Miss Hannigan).
Danny Gardner
Time to Mic up. I catch Roger Preston Smith grabbing his mic before the show. And yes he does like it hot!
Danny Gardner
Dave Schoonover (Rooster) extremely happy about his opening night flowers.
Danny Gardner
I lucked out and was able to catch the entire costume crew of TUTS having a meeting before our opening. We are so lucky to have these professionals on our side.
Danny Gardner
Sadie Sink wigged and microphoned up! “Look, it’s me on a t-shirt!”
Danny Gardner
George Dvorsky takes his pre-performance stretching VERY seriously. Never interrupt him when he is mid-stretch. He may drop a damn or two.
Danny Gardner
Michael Tapley as Mr. Bundles.
Danny Gardner
Our “Star-To-Be” Tess Ferrell wigging-up.
Danny Gardner
Glory Crampton (Grace Farrell) in the Green Room proving that blondes do in fact have more fun!
Danny Gardner
Dave Schoonover (Rooster) at places call. Look at the size of those remotes!
Danny Gardner
As I go back to my dressing room I pass the wall murals of all of the past shows that have played at TUTS – touring and self produced. This is one of four different hallways that are filled with murals.
Danny Gardner
My first costume of the night: the stern Lt. Ward.
Danny Gardner
“We think you’re gonna like it here!” With laundry baskets. Bill Bateman and Roger Preston Smith are the comedic relief in our dressing room.
Danny Gardner
David Schoonover (Rooster) and Brandi Wooten (Lily) juggling into character!
Danny Gardner
Tom Treadwell (FDR) and Dustin Harder (Ensemble / Dog Handler) playing some cards at Intermission.
Danny Gardner
We had the pleasure to have George and Barbara Bush at our show. Believe it or not, instead of saying cheese for the camera we all said, “Obama!”
Danny Gardner
The kids at intermission. Getting revved up for the second act. Maybe I shouldn’t have put all that Easter candy in their dressing room.
Danny Gardner
Sadie Sink (Annie) likes to decorate her dressing room for each Holiday.
Danny Gardner
Ahhh the Lovely Boylan Sisters: Erin Wasmund, Tess Ferrell and Nikol Wolf.
Danny Gardner
It’s time for the radio show. Rod Roberts (Wacky), Sound Effects Guy (Michael Tapley), Christopher Carothers (Bert Healy), Cailtlin Cannon (Page) and Me (Jimmy Johnson).
Danny Gardner
Three of FDR’s cabinet – Morganthau (Me), Hull (Rod Roberts), Perkins (Susan Shofer).
Danny Gardner
The orphans after the curtain comes down on opening night! YAY!!!
Danny Gardner
Happy Opening! Opening night is at the “Artista” restaurant in the Hobby Center building. Me with Frank M. Young (Founder of TUTS), Michele Ragusa and Glory Crampton.
Danny Gardner
Time to Celebrate...
Danny Gardner
As the song goes, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile!”
Sadie Sink takes on the title role of the redheaded orphan, with George Dvorsky (Passion, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) as Daddy Warbucks, Glory Crampton (Phantom, Death Takes a Holiday) as Grace Farrell and Michele Ragusa (Young Frankenstein, Urinetown) as Miss Hannigan.
The cast also includes Dave Schoonover (Cats) as Rooster, Brandi Wooten (9 to 5) as Lili and Tom Treadwell (Ragtime) as Franklin D. Roosevelt. Dog trainer Bill Berloni was brought in to train Macy in the role of Annie's furry pal, Sandy. The orphans are Margarite Durning (July), Megan McGuff (Pepper), Mandy Miller (Kate), Elise Shoss (Duffy), Jacqueline Touchet (Tessie), Mara-Catherine Wissinger (Molly), Mallory Bechtel, Maddie Dyer, Raiya Goodman, Elyssa Kim, Miho Maeda, Savannah May, Abigail Moorhead, Lauren Santana and Katja Yanko.
The adult ensemble features J. David Anderson, Bill Bateman, Caitlin Cannon, Christopher Carothers, Tess Ferrel, Danny Gardner, Dustin J. Harder, Rod Roberts, Susan Shofner, Roger Preston Smith, Dorothy Stanley, Michael Tapley, Erin Wasmund and Nikol Wolf.
Eddy Robinson serves as musical director and conductor. The Annie creative team also includes sound designer Kit Bond, lighting designer Richard Winkler and assistant lighting designer Paul Hudson.
Annie earned seven Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Score for its 1977 debut starring Andrea McArdle in the title role. The production ran for 2,377 performances and has enjoyed numerous national tours and a Broadway revival. A new Broadway production is aiming for a 2013 arrival.
Popular songs from the production include "Tomorrow," "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," "Maybe," "Little Girls," "It's the Hard-Knock Life" and "Easy Street."
