The sun will come out ... in October

Published Apr 12, 2016

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Diane de Beer

There’s something for all children at heart at the end of the year when Pieter Toerien stages the latest production of Annie with a bonus for adults with the extraordinary Charon Williams Ros (Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd) as the tyrannical Miss Hannigan and Neels Claasen (Mamma Mia!, We Will Rock You) as Daddy Warbucks.

Taryn Sudding (Cats, The Sound of Music) plays Grace, with Stephen Jubber (Sunset Blvd, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, JC Superstar) as Rooster, and Delray Halgryn as Lilly.

Other old favourites include Mike Huff (Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music), Candice von Litsenborgh (Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors), Stefania du Toit, Jenna Robinson, Michelle Lane and Hope Maimane with a special appearance by Grant Almirall (star of Singin’ in the Rain and Jersey Boys) as Bert Healey.

It’s been all systems go with an extensive six-month nationwide search producing three winning Annies who will hopefully be stealing hearts. Emma-Rose Blacher, Lilla Fleischmann and Caitlin Dicker are the stars in the making.

Set in 1930s New York during the Great Depression, brave young Annie lives a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search.

Familiar tunes from this classic include Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You and, the eternal anthem of optimism, Tomorrow, a song one never seemingly tires of hearing.

The show opens in Joburg’s Teatro at Montecasino on October 12 running until November 27 with performances Tuesdays to Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm and 5.30pm. or group bookings and charities, contact Geraldine 011 511 1988.

Annie moves to Cape Town on December 2 running through the holiday season until January 8 with shows starting 30 minutes earlier in the evenings at 7.30pm. All other shows are at the same time. For group bookings and charities contact Tracy 021 438 3301

In case you’re still not convinced, the original 1977 production ran at the Alvin Theatre (now renamed the Neil Simon Theatre) for 2 377 performances and won 7 Tony Awards, including Best Musical; Best Book of a Musical; and Best Original Score and Choreography.

Annie has been revived twice on Broadway, most recently in 2012. And for the record books, Tomorrow has been recorded by Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Cissy Houston, Grace Jones, Idina Menzel, Jack Topping, as well as other artists, becoming one of the most performed Broadway songs.

Get yourself and the family an early Christmas gift!

Bookings are open at Computicket.

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