How well do you know Annie, one of Broadway's most beloved musicals? Test your knowledge and discover fascinating trivia about its origins, record-breaking performances, and iconic songs like *Tomorrow* and *It's the Hard Knock Life*. From its early comic strip roots to unforgettable movie adaptations, *Annie* has left a lasting impression on audiences worldwide. Explore these interesting facts and see just how much you know about this timeless show!
Adaptations
- The film rights for the musical 'Annie' were acquired by Columbia Pictures in 1977 for a then-staggering $9.5 million, making it the most expensive acquisition of a stage musical for film adaptation at the time.
- A sequel to the 1982 film, titled 'Annie: A Royal Adventure!', was made for television in 1995, notably without any songs from the original musical except a reprise of 'Tomorrow'.
- The 1999 'Annie' film adaptation by Walt Disney Company featured a stellar cast including Victor Garber as Daddy Warbucks and Kathy Bates as Miss Hannigan.
- A 2014 remake of 'Annie' featured actress Quvenzhané Wallis in the lead role, with Jamie Foxx playing an updated version of Warbucks named Will Stacks.
Musical Composition
- In The Lego Ninjago Movie, the character Lloyd reflects on his life while 'It's the Hard-Knock Life' from Annie plays in the background.
- In the stage musical adaptation of 'Annie', the song 'You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile' has only one version, differing from other adaptations which feature multiple versions.
- The 1982 film adaption of 'Annie' introduced four new songs that were not present in the original Broadway musical.
- Charles Strouse composed the music, Martin Charnin wrote the lyrics, and Thomas Meehan authored the book for the musical 'Annie'.
- Producer The 45 King sampled 'It's the Hard-Knock Life' from Annie for Jay-Z's single 'Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)' in 1998.
- The NFL Network used the song 'Tomorrow' from Annie in their Super Bowl ads in 2004 and 2005, featuring football celebrities singing the optimistic tune.
- Annie' won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and is known for popular songs like 'Tomorrow' and 'It's the Hard Knock Life'.
Notable Tours
- In 2014, 'Annie' launched a 40th anniversary US tour directed by Martin Charnin.
- The 2019 UK and Ireland tour of Annie featured Anita Dobson, Craig Revel Horwood, and Jodie Prenger sharing the role of Miss Hannigan at different venues.
- The 2023-2024 U.S. tour cast of Annie opened the production in Macau, China, on August 2, 2024.
- The 2023-2024 tour of Annie starred Rainier Trevino in the title role and began on October 7, 2023, ending on May 19, 2024.
- Jenn Thompson, who originally played Pepper in the Broadway production of Annie, directed a new tour that began on October 4, 2022, and ended on June 11, 2023.
- The tour featuring Tori Bates concluded in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 21, 2017, after a total of 745 performances.
- Tori Bates became the first biracial Annie in a professional production during the third and final year of the 2014 US tour.
- The 2005–07 US national tour of 'Annie' introduced a new set design by Ming Cho Lee and included a reprise of 'Why Should I Change a Thing?' by Warbucks.
- A new song, 'Why Should I Change a Thing,' was added exclusively for Warbucks in the 2000–01 Australian tour of 'Annie', sung by Anthony Warlow.
- Annie is estimated to be performed 700 to 900 times each year in the United States.
- The first national touring company of 'Annie' opened in Toronto in 1978 and featured multiple actresses playing Annie, including Kathy Jo Kelly, Mary K. Lombardi, Theda Stemler, Louanne Sirota, and Becky Snyder.
Production Facts
- The original Broadway production of 'Annie' opened in 1977 and set a record for the Alvin Theatre, now known as the Neil Simon Theatre, with a run of nearly six years.
- Comedian Zach Galifianakis lip-synced to 'Tomorrow' while dressed as Annie during his Saturday Night Live monologue on March 12, 2011.
- The character of Annie was envisioned by creator Thomas Meehan as a 20th-century American female version of the orphan characters from Charles Dickens' novels.
- The setting of the musical during the Great Depression in New York was chosen to reflect the downbeat mood of the then-current Nixon era and Vietnam War.
- The climax of the animated film Igor featured a giant monster portraying the character Annie.
- NBC aired a live television production of 'Annie' as a holiday event in 2021, starring Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan and Harry Connick Jr. as Oliver Warbucks.
- The plot of 'Annie' includes the character Oliver Warbucks, who initially is hesitant to take Annie in because he preferred a male orphan.
- Andrea McArdle, who originally played an orphan named Pepper, ended up playing the title role of Annie in the Broadway production after replacing Kristen Vigard, the initial actress.
- During its original Broadway run, 'Annie' switched theaters four times and ended at the Uris Theatre. It closed on January 2, 1983, after a total of 2,377 performances.
- Sarah Jessica Parker, known for her later role in 'Sex and the City', was one of the actresses who played Annie on Broadway.
- The West End production of 'Annie' opened in 1978 at the Victoria Palace Theatre with Andrea McArdle as Annie for the first 40 performances and featured a total of six different actresses in the role over time.
- The West End revival of Annie in 2017 had three young actresses, Madeleine Haynes, Lola Moxom, and Ruby Stokes, sharing the title role.
- The West End revival of Annie in 2017 marked Miranda Hart's musical debut, playing Miss Hannigan.
- The West End production of 'Annie' closed on November 28, 1981, after 1,485 performances.
- A 20th anniversary Broadway revival of 'Annie' was held in 1997 at the Martin Beck Theatre, showcasing the enduring popularity of the musical.
- In 1997, during the 20th Anniversary production of 'Annie', Joanna Pacitti, who won the role of Annie in a highly publicized Macy's contest, was replaced just two weeks before her Broadway debut by Brittny Kissinger.
- Nell Carter, who starred as Miss Hannigan in the 1997 revival of 'Annie', expressed discontent when commercials for the show featured a previous actress, Marcia Lewis, instead of her, which she believed was racially motivated.
- The 40th Anniversary performance of Annie was celebrated in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 21, 2017, with Angelina Carballo playing Annie.
- The 1998 West End revival of 'Annie' featured Lesley Joseph and then drag performer Lily Savage (Paul O'Grady) in the role of Miss Hannigan.
- The musical 'Annie' is based on the 1924 comic strip 'Little Orphan Annie' by Harold Gray, which was inspired by the poem 'Little Orphant Annie' by James Whitcomb Riley.
- The 35th Anniversary Broadway revival of 'Annie' in 2012 starred Lilla Crawford as Annie and featured Anthony Warlow, making his Broadway debut as Warbucks.
