Annie Live!
| Annie Live! | |
|---|---|
 Promotional Logo | |
| Genre | Musical |
| Based on | |
| Written by | Thomas Meehan |
| Directed by |
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| Starring | |
| Composers | |
| Country of origin | Vereinigte Staaten |
| Original language | Englisch |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Production locations | Bethpage, New York |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | December 2, 2021 |
Annie Live! is an upcoming musical television special that will air on NBC on December 2, 2021. It will be a performance of the 1977 musical Annie, which is based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray.[1] It's the fourth on-screen version of the musical following the 1982 theatrical film starring Carol Burnett and Albert Finney, the 1999 television film starring Kathy Bates and Victor Garber and the 2014 theatrical film starring Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx.
The special will star newcomer Celina Smith as the titular role, Harry Connick Jr. as Daddy Warbucks, Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan, Nicole Scherzinger as Grace Farrell, Tituss Burgess as Rooster Hannigan and Megan Hilty as Lily St. Regis. The special will be directed by Lear deBessonet and Alex Rudzinski.[2]
Premise
Eleven-year-old orphan, Annie, is adopted by billionaire Sir Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks, much to the dismay of the cruel and overprotective orphanage owner, Miss Hannigan, who vows to get her back and punish her for leaving her by all means.
Cast
- Celina Smith as Annie Bennett Warbucks
- Harry Connick Jr. as Sir Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks
- Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan
- Nicole Scherzinger as Grace Farrell
- Tituss Burgess as Rooster Hannigan
- Megan Hilty as Lily St. Regis
- Jeff Kready as Bert Healy
- Alan Toy as Franklin Delano Roosevelt
- McKenzie Kurtz as Star to Be
- Arwen Monzon-Sanders as Duffy
- Audrey Cymone as Pepper
- Cate Elefante as Kate
- Felice Kakaletris as Molly
- Sophie Knapp as July
Production
Development
The project was announced by NBC on May 12, 2021 with Alex Rudzinski as the live television director and Lear deBessonet as the program director. It was also announced that Sergio Trujillo would choreograph the production. Other members of the production team include Emilio Sosa as costume designer, Jason Sherwood as scenic designer and Stephen Oremus providing new orchestrations. The special will be executive produced by Rudzinski, Robert Greenblatt and Neil Meron. Rehearsals are set to begin in October in New York.
On June 8, 2021, it was announced that Taraji P. Henson had been cast as Miss Hannigan in the production.[3] Later, more casting was announced including Harry Connick Jr. as Daddy Warbucks,[4] Nicole Scherzinger as Grace Farrell,[5] Tituss Burgess as Rooster Hannigan,[6] and Jane Krakowski as Lily St. Regis.[7]
In June 2021, NBC also announced that they will be holding a nationwide audition for the titular role, similarly to the casting of Shanice Williams as Dorothy Gale in The Wiz Live! and Maddie Baillio as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray Live!.[8] Celina Smith was ultimately cast as Annie.[9]
In November 2021, Krakowski stepped down from her role due to a breakthrough case of COVID-19 and will be replaced by Megan Hilty.[10] Also, it was announced that Andrea McArdle, who originated the role of Annie on Broadway, had been cast as Eleanor Roosevelt.[11] But then, McArdle stepped down due to her father being in the hospital.[12]
Filming
The broadcast will be filmed at Gold Coast Studios in Bethpage, New York.
Release
The special is due to premiere on NBC on December 2, 2021.[3]
References
- ^ "'Annie Live!' Musical Event Coming to NBC This Holiday Season". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
- ^ "Harry Connick Jr. Joins NBC's Annie Live! as "Daddy" Warbucks". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
- ^ a b "Taraji P. Henson to Star as Miss Hannigan in NBC's Annie Live!". E! Online. 2021-06-08. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (2021-06-28). "'Annie Live!': Harry Connick Jr Set To Play Daddy Warbucks In NBC Musical". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
- ^ Evans, Greg (August 5, 2021). "Nicole Scherzinger Joins Cast Of NBC's 'Annie Live!'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
- ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (August 11, 2021). "Tituss Burgess Joins Cast Of NBC's 'Annie Live!' Musical Event". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
- ^ Evans, Greg (September 1, 2021). "Jane Krakowski Joins NBC's 'Annie Live!', Reuniting With 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' Co-star Tituss Burgess". Deadline. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "NBC sends out online casting call for title role in 'Annie Live!'- How to audition". News10. June 22, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Bjornson, Greta (August 24, 2021). "Annie Live! Casts Celina Smith in Title Role: 'So Excited for This Journey to Start'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
- ^ Evans, Greg (November 12, 2021). "Megan Hilty Steps In As Replacement For Covid-Struck Jane Krakowski In 'Annie Live!'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ Harms, Talaura (November 12, 2021). "Original Annie Star Andrea McArdle Joins NBC's Annie Live!: Find Out Who She'll Play". Playbill. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ Evans, Greg (November 24, 2021). "Andrea McArdle Stepping Away From NBC's 'Annie Live!' Due To Family Matter". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 24, 2021.