Performances are scheduled to continue through Aug. 1 in the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.
Casey Hushion directs a cast that also includes Robert Newman as Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks and English Bernhardt in the title role with Christy Morton (Grace Farrell), Eric Michael Gillett (Franklin Delano Roosevelt), Joey Calveri (Rooster), Dana Zilman Harshaw (Lily St. Regis), Tim Caudle (Lt. Ward/Morgenthau), Andrew Chappelle (Dog Catcher), Allison Cochrane (Orphan), Grace DeLoache (Orphan), Mikey the Dog (Sandy), Mary Kate Englehardt (Molly), Jennifer Frankel (Ronnie Boylan), Katherine Fritsch (July), Terri Gervais (Mrs. Pugh), Laurel Harris (Connie Boylan/Star to Be), Kelsey Healey (Tessie), Avery Hoerdeman (Orphan), Brian Michael Hoffman (Bundles/Ickes/SFX Man), Hannah Hoskins (Orphan), Mary Callan Kelso (Orphan), Heather King Patterson (Sophie/Perkins), Hayley Lundberg (Orphan), eric Mann (Fred McCracken), Brian Norris (Bert Healy), Payton Price (Duffy), Alexa Robertson (Kate), Jennifer Swiderski (Bonnie Boylan), Tom Treadwell (Drake), Alexis von Venrooy (Orphan), Cady von Venrooy (Orphan), Kelsey Walston (Pepper) and Matthew-Jason Willis (Howe).
The ensemble comprises Katherine Anderson, Kate Blaine, Tim Caudle, Andrew Chappelle, Molly Deans, Jennifer Frankel, Terri Gervcais, Elgin Giles, Laurel Harris, Brian Michael Hoffman, Heather Patterson King, Eric Mann, Jeremy Mills, Brian Norris, Adrienne C. Perry, Jennifer Swiderski, Tom Treadwell and Matthew-Jason Willis.
Featuring a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, Annie is based on the famed comic-strip character who begins an orphan and ends up the daughter of a billionaire. The original Broadway production opened in April 1977 and made a star out of its first Annie, Andrea McArdle, and won a Tony for its Miss Hannigan, the late Dorothy Loudon. The show also won the Tony Award for Best Musical. Its classic score includes such tunes as "Tomorrow," "Maybe," "Little Girls," "Easy Street" and "It's the Hard Knock Life."
Andrea McArdle made her Broadway debut in the original 1977 production of Annie for which she received a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Her other Main Stem credits include Les Misérables, Starlight Express, Beauty and the Beast and State Fair. McArdle also played Rose in a production of Gypsy at Texas' Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre. Her screen credits include "Annie" and "Rainbow." For tickets call (800) 745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. For more information visit www.nctheatre.com.
