Goodspeed stages 50th anniversary revival of Annie The Musical

The Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam opens its 50th anniversary revival of Annie The Musical on Oct. 30. The production marks half a century since the original premiere of the stage adaptation of the 1924 comic strip Little Orphan Annie. The show runs through Jan. 2, 2027, at 6 Main St. in East Haddam.

Laiken Jules, 10, plays the lead role of Annie. She replaces the character originally portrayed by Jenn Thompson in the 1976 premiere. Thompson now directs the current production. The cast also includes Emily Skinner as Miss Hannigan, Rhett Guter as Rooster Hannigan, and Kelly Berman as Lily. Christopher Swan plays Oliver Warbucks, while Julia Nicole Hunter portrays Grace.

The ensemble of young orphan actors includes Sadie Jean Williams as Pepper, Skyla Joy Ward as Duffy, Issa Gonzalez as Tessie, Adalyn Bickley as July, and Anjali Roa as Molly. These preteens perform the opening number choreographed by Patricia Wilcox. The scene depicts the children in their dormitory at the NYC Municipal Orphanage.

Bill Berloni serves as the guardian for Sandy, the terrier mix in the production. Berloni trained the dog for the original 1976 premiere. The costume design for the production is credited to Alejo Vietti.

Audience reviews note that the children in the cast display distinct personalities. Williams and Ward portray their characters as sassy and mischievous. Gonzalez’s character expresses anxiety, while Bickley offers quiet support. Roa’s portrayal is described as vulnerable. The production maintains the original narrative of an orphan searching for parents on the East Side of New York City.

The musical features the classic tune The sun will come out tomorrow. The performance style for this song is described as subtle and calming rather than loud. The adult characters, including the villains, are portrayed with cartoonish flair. Oliver Warbucks is depicted as initially stiff but becomes more caring toward Annie as the story progresses.

Performances are scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday performances occur on Nov. 23 and Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Additional 2 p.m. matinees are added on Nov. 27 and every Thursday in December. There are no 6:30 p.m. Sunday performances in December. The show does not perform at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 24, and there are no performances on Dec. 25. Tickets are priced between $47 and $114. More information is available at goodspeed.org.