According to Theatrical Index, Broadway's Annie, at the Martin Beck Theatre, will play its final performance on the Sunday matinee, Oct. 26. The Peter Cromarty publicity office confirmed that the show would be finishing in mid-October but was not yet certain of the final date. They also confirmed that Nell Carter would tour with the show, beginning with dates in Providence, RI.
In the meantime, the production has announced that it will play an extra matinees 3 PM Thursdays in August, replacing the Thursday evening performances on Aug. 7, 14, 21 and 28.
The production has also launched its own website at http://www.annie20th.com.
In other recent Annie news, two more youngsters were fired from the Broadway cast of Annie, the New York Post reported July 15. Christiana Anbri, 6 (who plays Molly), and Melissa O'Malley, 8 (Kate), will not be renewed when their contracts expire July 26. A production spokesman was quoted as saying "artistic reasons" led to the releases. The action follows the widely publicized firing of Joanna Pacitti as the show's title character earlier this year.
Two other girls who play orphans in the revival also are leaving the show, voluntarily, on July 26, Mekenzie Rosen-Stone and Lyndsey Watkins. The Post quoted a production source saying that the girls, their families and managers were "troublemakers" and that one of the girls had "muffed her lines too many times." Months earlier, producers also fired Zappa, the original dog playing Sandy.
Replacing Anbri will be Kristen Alderson, the Post reported. Replacing O'Malley will be Jemini Quintos.
Annie opened March 26, 1997 and plays at the Martin Beck Theatre with Brittny Kissinger, Nell Carter and Conrad John Schuck. For tickets call (212) 239-6200. You can also order tickets on Playbill On-Line.
-- By Robert Viagas and David Lefkowitz
