The original production of "Annie" opened April 21, 1977 on Broadway and went on to win countless awards. It not only won the Grammy for Best Cast Show Album, it also garnered seven Tony Awards that included: Best Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan) and Best Score (Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin).
The long running hit ran for 2,377 performances and has been performed in 28 languages. In fact the show has been running somewhere around the world for the past 37 years.
The original production of "Annie" opened April 21, 1977 on Broadway and went on to win countless awards. It not only won the Grammy for Best Cast Show Album, it also garnered seven Tony Awards that included: Best Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan) and Best Score (Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin).
The long running hit ran for 2,377 performances and has been performed in 28 languages. In fact the show has been running somewhere around the world for the past 37 years.
If, during all that time, you haven't seen this sunny, heart-warming musical, now is your chance since "Annie" will be at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre through Sunday, Nov. 1. And L.A. audiences are in luck because Martin Charnin, the original Broadway lyricist and director, returns to direct this latest incarnation of this Tony Award winning hit.
The opening night audience fully embraced the new production, performed by a 25-member company. Ten-year-old Issie Swickle made her tour debut in the title role. Her fellow orphans were played with gusto by Angelina Carballo, Lilly Bee Ireland, Molly Rose Meredith, Emily Moreland, Lilly Mae Steward and Isabel Wallach.
Lynn Andrews is pitch perfect in the role of Miss Hannigan. She runs the orphanage, but obviously she hates her job and all the little girls who are driving her crazy. She is so good at being bad that you can't totally hate her. In fact you look forward to seeing her as often as possible, and boy can she belt out a song.
Garrett Deagon plays her truly rotten brother, Rooster and Ashley Edler is his gal pal. Daddy Warbucks, the multi-billionaire businessman, is the Donald Trump of the Depression era. He is well sung by Gilgamesh Taggett, who quickly grows to love Annie when she visits his palatial home for two weeks at Christmas time.
Lucy Werner is his loyal and loving secretary Lily. Jeffrey B. Duncan plays FDR and Sunny, a 5-year-old rescue terrier mix, stars as Sandy, Annie's beloved dog. Sunny got lots of applause at the end of the show when he came out on stage to take his bow-wow.
The delightful score is infectious and includes such songs as: "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," "Easy Street," "I Don't Need Anything But You" and the uplifting "Tomorrow" when the sun will come up. In fact you can bet your bottom dollar there'll be sun! And as always the show begins with the little gals scrubbing the floor as they belt out "It's a Hard Knock Life."
After 37 years "Annie" still retains it's boundless enthusiasm and optimism, and I'll bet my bottom dollar you'll leave the theatre singing "Tomorrow."
Individual tickets for "Annie" start at $25 in the Orchestra. (Prices are subject to change without notice.)
For more information on "Annie" visit www.AnnieTheMusical.com. Tickets available online at HollywoodPantages.com or Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-982-2787. They can also be purchased in person at the theatre box office at 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles.
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Girls, hold on to your hats because the men from “Magic Mike” are back with some more sexy dance moves. In their new film, “Magic Mike XXL,” available on DVD, the story continues. It is now three years since Mike (Channing Tatum) has bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game and the other remaining Kings of Tampa are also ready to throw in the towel, but they want to do it in their own way. They decide to end their careers after one last blow-out performance in Myrtle Beach with the legendary headliner Magic Mike sharing the spotlight with them. On the road for their final show, with stops along the way in Jacksonville and Savannah to renew old acquaintances, Mike and the guys learn some new moves as they shake off the past in surprising ways.
Bonus features on the Blu-ray Combo Pack contain the following: “The Moves of Magic Mike XXL” (also available on DVD) and “Extended Malik Dance Scene.”
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Fans of the Showtime hit “Penny Dreadful,” get ready to binge-watch the complete second season, which is now out on DVD. Once again there is no rest for the wicked as a new evil steps from the shadows to haunt Victorian London in ten new episodes. As Vanessa Ives’s (Eva Green) strange powers grow, she struggles to control her personal demons while devious forces cast spells on those closest to her –African explorer Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton), troubled American Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett), the reckless Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney), loyal Sembene (Danny Sapani), the anguished Creature (Rory Kinnear), tender-hearted Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway) and the beautiful Lilly ( Billie Piper). In this unnerving world where literature’s most iconic and terrifying characters roam the streets, unlikely alliances form to battle unimaginable temptations.
Special features include: Video Production Blogs, Reeve Carney Round Table History of the Occult, and Character Profiles.
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“Batkid Begins” is the true story of a little boy with a wish that made two billion people smile when his “Make A Wish” came true. The documentary, directed and produced by Dana Nachman, chronicles the day when the world came together to grant one 5-year-old cancer patient named Miles his wish. He wanted to be the real Batman. His story transformed and transfixed a city and a nation for one day as thousands of volunteers came from near and far to turn San Francisco into Gotham City and social media cheered him on. His heart-warming adventure will make the whole family smile.
In the end, this true story leaves audiences to decide: did Miles need the world for inspiration or did the world need young Miles? Rated PG for some mild thematic material.
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Do you want to be terrified and creeped out? Does paranormal activity turn you on? If the answer is “Yes,” check out “The Gallows,” which came out on DVD Oct. 13, just in time for Halloween scares.
The fright-makers behind “Paranormal Activity” and “Insidious” have a new tale of terror to tell. In 1993 an accident resulted in the death of a young actor during a high school play. Now, twenty years later, a theater group at the same school decides to resurrect the production to mark the tragedy. Not a wise move.
In an attempt to sabotage the play, three students break into the school at night, only to discover that the horrors of the past don’t always stay buried, as their cameras capture a series of chilling and inexplicable incidents that lead to a shocking climax. Rated R for some disturbing violent content and terror.
Special features include: “The Gallows: The Original Version” which is the same story shot guerilla-style. This version is what caught the attention of Hollywood producers and ultimately led to world-wide presentation in theaters. There are also deleted scenes and a gag reel.
