PHOTO ARCHIVE: Annie on Broadway and Beyond

The musical had its world premiere in August 1976 at the Goodspeed Opera House, with Kristen Vigard in the title role. She was replaced by Andrea McArdle, who would go on to originate the role on Broadway in 1977.

Annie won the 1977 Tony Award for Best Musical, as well as a Best Actress Award for original Miss Hannigan Dorothy Loudon. It ran 2,377 performances, closing in January 1983.

Over the next 35 years, the show would go on to enjoy multiple national tours and stagings in London and countries all over the world. It was revived on Broadway in 1997, in a production starring Nell Carter.

There have been two attempts at stage sequels: Annie 2: Miss Hannigan's Revenge opened in 1989 at the Kennedy Center, and Annie Warbucks ran for 200 performances at the Off-Broadway Variety Arts Theatre in 1993.

40 Years Later: Celebrating Annie on Broadway and Beyond

HR - Annie (Broadway 1977) - Reid Shelton, Andrea McArdle — 40 Years Later: Celebrating Annie on Broadway and Beyond

The original production of *Annie* opened on April 21, 1977. Look back at the original Broadway production, a few notable subsequent stagings and the infamous 1993 sequel.
49 PHOTOS

Reid Shelton, Andrea McArdle and Sandy Faison in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Diana Barrows, Robyn Finn, Donna Graham, Danielle Brisebois, Shelley Bruce and Janine Ruane in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Dorothy Loudon in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Robert Fitch and Alice Ghostley in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Sandy Faison in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Dorothy Loudon, Robert Fitch and Barbara Erwin in rehearsal

Martha Swope

Dorothy Loudon and Sandy Faison in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Dorothy Loudon and Orphans during the show's pre-Broadway engagement

Martha Swope

Barbara Erwin, Robert Fitch and Dorothy Loudon in rehearsal

Martha Swope

Reid Shelton and Andrea McArdle in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Andrea McArdle in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Alice Ghostley and Orphans in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Annie McGreevey, Robert Fitch and Alice Ghostley in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Shelley Bruce and Donald Craig (as Bert Healy) in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Shelley Bruce and cast in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Alice Ghostley and Shelley Bruce, with Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Fedena and Jenn Thompson

Martha Swope

Rita Rudner, Gary Beach and Alice Ghostley in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Raymond Thorne, Sarah Jessica Parker and Reid Shelton in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Sarah Jessica Parker, Alice Ghostley and Lynn Kearney in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Sarah Jessica Parker and Reid Shelton Orphans in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Norwood Smith as Daddy Warbucks

Martha Swope

Allison Smith in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Allison Smith, John Schuck and Alice Ghostley in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

John Schuck and Allison Smith in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

Alyson Kirk and Sandy in the original Broadway production

Martha Swope

The original canine actor played the role of Sandy for the entire Broadway run, nearly seven eyars

Martha Swope

Sandy and his understudy O'Malley

Martha Swope

Bill Berloni and Sandy at the Outer Critics Circle Awards

Martha Swope

A young Sutton Foster starred as Annie with the Augusta Players

Martha Swope

Donna McKechnie and Harve Presnell in the 1993 sequel <i>Annie Warbucks</i> Off-Broadway — Donna McKechnie and Harve Presnell in the 1993 sequel *Annie Warbucks* Off-Broadway

Martha Swope

Harve Presnell, Kathryn Zaremba and Marguerite MacIntyre in the 1993 sequel <i>Annie Warbucks</i> Off-Broadway — Harve Presnell, Kathryn Zaremba and Marguerite MacIntyre in the 1993 sequel *Annie Warbucks* Off-Broadway

Martha Swope

Joanna Pacitti, who was replaced during out-of-town tryouts for the 1997 Broadway revival

Martha Swope

Nell Carter and company in the 1997 Broadway revival

Martha Swope

Nell Carter in the 1997 Broadway revival

Martha Swope

Conrad John Schuck in the 1997 Broadway revival

Martha Swope

Sutton Foster (standing, left) played Star-To-Be and performed in the ensemble of the 1997 revival

Martha Swope

Sally Struthers in the 1997 Broadway revival

Martha Swope

Brittny Kissinger in the 1997 Broadway revival

Martha Swope

Dana Zilman Harshaw, Andrea McArdle and Joey Calveri at North Carolina Theatre

Martha Swope

Andrea McArdle and cast at North Carolina Theatre

Martha Swope

Ella Nicol and Anthony Warlow in the 2012 Sydney production

Martha Swope

Lucille Le Meledo and Anthony Warlow in the 2012 Sydney production

Martha Swope

Lilla Crawford in the 2012 revival

Martha Swope

Anthony Warlow and Lilla Crawford in the 2012 revival

Martha Swope

The orphans in the 2012 revival

Martha Swope

You may also like

The new revival begins previews at the Palace Theatre Oct. 3.

Annie will star two-time Tony Award winner Katie Finneran as Miss Hannigan, Australian star Anthony Warlow making his Broadway debut as Daddy Warbucks and 11-year-old Lilla Crawford as Annie. The musical that gave the world the songs "Tomorrow" and "It's the Hard Knock Life" is based on the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie," about a billionaire who adopts an orphan in Depression-era New York.

Brynn O'Malley (Wicked, Hairspray) will play Grace Farrell, Daddy Warbucks' devoted personal secretary; Clarke Thorell (Hairspray, Mamma Mia!) will be Rooster Hannigan, Miss Hannigan's crooked brother; and J. Elaine Marcos (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, A Chorus Line) will be Lily St. Regis, Rooster's floozy girlfriend.

Opening night is Nov. 8.

The orphans are Madi Rae DiPietro as July, Georgi James as Pepper, Junah Jang as Tessie, Tyrah Skye Odoms as Kate, Taylor Richardson as Duffy, Emily Rosenfeld as Molly and Jaidyn Young as standby for the roles of Annie, Pepper, Duffy and July. The production also features Ashley Blanchet, Jane Blass, Jeremy Davis, Merwin Foard, Joel Hatch, Ryan Kasprzak, Amanda Lea LaVergne, Gavin Lodge, Liz McCartney, Desi Oakley, David Rossetti, Sarah Solie, Dennis Stowe and Ryan VanDenBoom.

Annie, the Tony Award-winning 1977 musical by composer Charles Strouse, lyricist Martin Charnin and book writer Thomas Meehan (who all won Tonys for writing the show), will be directed by three-time Tony Award winner James Lapine and choreographed by Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler.

For tickets, call (877) 250-2929 or visit Ticketmaster.com.

Visit AnnieTheMusical.com.

40 Years Later: Celebrating Annie on Broadway and Beyond

40 Years Later: Celebrating Annie on Broadway and Beyond

PLAYBILL SITES

CONTACT PLAYBILL

FOLLOW PLAYBILL NOW