By Jadyn Buccilli
Staff Writer
The iconic Broadway musical “Annie” is officially making its return to the stage in the fall of 2027, right in time for the show’s 50th anniversary. The revival of the musical, based off of the “Little Orphan Annie” comics, will be directed by Sam Pinkleton, who is also known for his work on shows such as “Oh, Mary!” and the 2026 revival of “The Rocky Horror Show.”
Set during the height of the Great Depression, the story follows a young orphan named Annie. Annie lives through rough conditions in an orphanage run by Miss Hannigan until she is eventually taken to live with millionaire Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks for Christmas. Warbucks and Annie both empathize with one another as they spend time together. In a heartwarming ending, Warbucks permanently adopts Annie, allowing her to live a luxurious life with a loving father figure.
The musical also has had multiple adaptations made for the big screen. The 1982 production of “Annie,” though having mixed reviews when it was released, is seen as a widely iconic film today.
The late actor Tim Curry starred in this film, playing the role of Rooster Hannigan. An interesting fact about this adaptation is that Warbucks’ mansion scenes were filmed right in New Jersey. The grand hall of Monmouth University was used for these scenes, and visitors could still view the iconic staircase to this day in the academic institution.
Disney also produced a film adaptation of the musical, and unlike the 1982 film, remained a more accurate representation of the original stage production.
Decades later, “Annie” was put on the big screen once again, this time being reimagined to fit modern times. The film, being released in 2014, reimagines Warbucks entirely, renaming him to Will Stacks. The cast in this version is also diverse, in order to appeal to the current younger generation.
While this adaptation is different from the previous two films, the 2014 “Annie” brought the next generation of theatre kids the inspirational story of the young orphan who never gave up, but in a world that they could relate to.
Whether it was seen on the stage or in one of the movie adaptations, it is no surprise that “Annie” has had a major influence on musical lovers for the five decades it has been around, including Pinkleton.
“If you ask any of my closest friends what I love more than anything on the planet, everyone will have the same answer: Annie,” Pinkleton remarks. “Annie is everything I love about New York City: gutsy, fearless, and funny as hell.”
While there is no exact day for when this revival will arrive on the stage, the world will be awaiting “Annie’s” return to arrive around a year from now. With more details coming on casting and opening date as the time gets closer, fans will all take a page from Annie’s book, waiting for “Tomorrow” to come.
