Annie the Musical
At Sharon Playhouse
By: Karen Isaacs - Jul 30, 2025
The sun is up at Sharon Playhouse with a delightful and polished production of Annie through Sunday, Aug. 10. Director Carl Andress has done a terrific job.
The strength of this production is the casting of the show. The main roles are cast with performers who were either on the most recent national tour or have extensive Broadway credits. It results in polished performances. I saw the first performance before an audience and could not see one hiccup with the performances or the technical elements of the show.
Is there anyone who doesn’t know this show? It is set in the heart of the depression in a NYC orphanage. Annie is determined to find her parents, but in the meantime keeps the spirits up of the other orphans. As luck would have it, the multi-millionaire Oliver Warbucks wants to host an orphan for Christmas in his 5th Avenue home. While he expects a boy (aren’t all orphans boys?), his personal assistant (Grace) selects Annie much to the consternation of Miss Hannigan who is in charge. After a few trials and tribulations, all ends happily, at least for Annie, Daddy Warbucks and Grace.
Avery Hope brings out the feistiness and determination of Annie, but also the wistfulness. She is an Annie you want to hug. Her rendition of “Tomorrow” and “Maybe” will tug at your heartstrings. Courtney Balan’s Miss Hannigan delivers all the laughs and exaggerated physicality but never seems over-the-top. Her portrayal fits the comic strip style of the show. Also giving a strong performance is Savannah Stevenson as Grace Farrell. Alan H. Green’s resonant baritone and confident manner makes Oliver Warbucks more endearing and initially awkward around Annie. Miss Hannigan’s brother, the con artist Rooster and his girlfriend Lily St. Regis are outrageous characters that always attract audience attention and laughs. Harrison Drake is particularly effective as Rooster, but Landry Chaplin as Lily could project more of the dumb blonde stereotype. “East Street” – the number with Miss Hannigan, Rooster and Lily is a delight.
The scenic design by Christopher and Justin Swader has a backdrop of the New York skyline. The mansion is created by two marble pillars. Wheeler Moon’s lighting design makes the backdrop look dingy and depressed or shiny and bright as needed. Kathleen Deangelis created costumes authentic for the 1930s. Graham Stone’s sound design balanced the voice and off-stage musicians so neither overpower the other.
Krystyna Resavy’s choreography is effective. Members of the ensemble play multiple roles including FDR, members of Warbucks’ household staff, the homeless residents of “Hooverville” and more. Only one of the orphans looks too old for the role; the others are charming.
Of course, there is Sandy – the dog that Annie adopts. Bailey who plays Sandy is absolutely adorable. I’d take him home if my dog would let me.
Annie has a strong connection to Connecticut. It started life at Goodspeed in 1976, before heading to Broadway, where it not only won multiple Tony Awards but played until 1983. While the inspiration was the comic strip, Little Orphan Annie, the musical’s plot by Thomas Meehan, is completely original. Charles Strouse wrote the music with lyrics by Martin Charnin.
Since then, it has had two Broadway revivals, almost constant US tours, and productions worldwide, including multiple London productions and tours. Besides making Andrea McArdle a star, it also led William Berloni to find his career training and providing animals for Broadway shows. He was an intern at Goodspeed when he was asked to find a dog to play Sandy. He found a shelter dog, trained him, and the rest, so they say, was history.
While this is a full-length musical (2+ hours plus intermission) many children will enjoy and be absorbed by the show. The younger ones may fall asleep in their parents’ laps.
Tickets are available at SharonPlayhouse.org