Annie

Family Friendly—appropriate for ages 4 and over
Run time: 2 hours and 15 minutes with a 15 minute intermission
ACT 1—1 hour 15 min.
ACT 2- 1 hour

Overview:

Annie is a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure: Annie adopts a lovable mutt named Sandy; foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations; befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt; and finds a new family and home with billionaire Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks and his personal secretary, Grace Farrell.

Winner of seven (7) Tony Awards for 1977, including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score, as well as the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. The original cast album won the Grammy.

Detailed synopsis:

ACT ONE

Scene One: It is 3 A.M. on a chilly morning in early December, 1933. Six orphans are asleep in the dormitory of the Girls' Annex of The New York City Municipal Orphanage. The orphans are six year old Molly; Kate, who is 7; Tessie, the cry-baby, who is 10; 12 year old Pepper, the toughest; and the two 13 year olds, July, the quietest, and Duffy, the biggest. Molly is just waking up from a dream and crying out for her mother. The other orphans wake up and begin arguing. Annie, who is 11, runs in with a bucket. She has been cleaning because she is being punished by Miss Hannigan, the villainous director of the orphanage. Annie comforts Molly who begs her to read the note that Annie's parents left when they abandoned her. Pepper reminds the group that they also left Annie one-half of a silver locket and kept the other half with a promise to reclaim her one day. Annie then pulls Molly close to her and sings about the parents she imagines, but has never known ("Maybe").

Thinking about her parents inspires Annie to run away from the orphanage to search for them. She packs a bag and is ready to leave when she is discovered by Miss Hannigan, who makes all the orphans get up to scrub floors and strip beds to "pay" for Annie's misbehavior. Their complaints that it is four o'clock in the morning fall on deaf ears. As they clean, the orphans complain about their difficult circumstances ("It's A Hard Knock Life").

In the morning when Bundles McCloskey, the laundry man, comes to make a pick-up from the orphanage, the orphans take advantage of the fact he is flirting with Miss Hannigan by sneaking Annie out of the building in a laundry bag. Realizing Annie has escaped, Miss Hannigan calls for the police as the orphans celebrate.

Scene Two: Annie is on a street lined with tenements when she encounters a mutt who is being chased by dogcatchers. She rescues him and sings "Tomorrow," expressing her feelings that both she and the dog have to believe everything will be fine for them in the future. When a policeman makes her prove the mutt is her dog, she names it Sandy on the spot and then calls it to come to her. The dog miraculously responds and they become a team.

Scene Three: Annie comes upon Hooverville (a Depression style shantytown of jerry-built shacks under a bridge on the East River). The residents of the makeshift town, who have lost their homes and their fortunes in the economic turmoil that is enveloping America, are cooking stew over an outdoor fire. They sing about their plight for which they blame Herbert Hoover, the former president ("We'd Like to Thank You"). The group befriends Annie and Sandy. Annie tries to cheer them up by insisting the future will be brighter. A policeman breaks up the crowd, Annie and Sandy run away.

Scene Four: Back at the orphanage Miss Hannigan is being tormented by the orphans. She expresses her disgust with her lot in life as the keeper of "Little Girls." She has just settled down to enjoy a radio soap opera when a policeman returns Annie. As Miss Hannigan is threatening Annie, Grace Farrell—an attractive, well-dressed young woman—enters carrying an attaché case. She is the private secretary of billionaire Oliver Warbucks who wants to invite an orphan to his mansion for Christmas. Annie campaigns for the opportunity but Miss Hannigan does everything in her power to discredit Annie, even claiming the child is a drunk and a liar. Grace is instantly drawn to Annie and is determined to bring her to the Warbucks mansion. She demands that Miss Hannigan sign the required papers and she escorts Annie to a waiting limousine.

Scene Five: Grace brings Annie to Mr. Warbucks' mansion and introduces her to the servants. Annie is in awe of her new surroundings and she is made to feel completely welcome ("I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here"). Oliver Warbucks arrives on the scene. He is a powerful figure in the country and a pivotal player in the current economic crisis. He rarely stops thinking about business and is taken aback by Annie's appearance in his house. He had expected the orphan to be a boy and is puzzled by the prospect of dealing with a little girl. Yet almost immediately he feels a deep connection to Annie's spunk and personality, which remind him of his own humble beginnings. Contrary to his usual behavior, he decides to take a night off. Warbucks escorts Annie to see a movie at the Roxy.

Scene Six: As she tours New York with Warbucks and Grace, Annie sees the city in a new way ("N.Y.C."). At the end of the evening, Annie is exhausted and Warbucks carries her home. As they leave Times Square, the faithful Sandy enters and then forlornly wanders off in search of Annie.

Scene Seven: Grace arrives at the orphanage to tell Miss Hannigan that Oliver Warbucks wants to adopt Annie. She leaves just as Miss Hannigan's brother, Rooster, arrives with his girlfriend, Lily. Rooster has come to borrow money from his sister. When Miss Hannigan refuses he reminds her of their mother's lullaby ("Easy Street"). As they lament their own misfortunes, Miss Hannigan shares the news of Annie's pending adoption by Warbucks.

Scene Eight: Warbucks is talking on the telephone to the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt. A package from Tiffany & Co. arrives containing a silver locket for Annie. Warbucks tells Annie that he wants to adopt her and as he gives her the locket, Annie begins to weep. When he learns about her dream of finding her parents and the secret of the half-locket she has treasured for so long, he orders an exhaustive search for Annie's parents ("You Won't be an Orphan for Long"). The first act ends with Annie's optimistic reprise of "Tomorrow." Warbucks laments his loss, but is resolved to find her real parents.

ACT TWO

Scene One: Annie and Warbucks are guests on the popular Bert Healy radio show where they make a plea for Annie's parents to return and Warbucks offers $50,000 to anyone who can prove they are her mother and father. The show closes with the radio actors singing "You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile."

Scene Two: The orphans are listening to Bert Healy's radio show and singing their own version of "You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile." Rooster and Lily arrive disguised as Ralph and Shirley Mudge, claiming to be Annie's parents. They reveal who they are to Miss Hannigan and share their plot to claim Annie and the $50,000 reward, do away with Annie and live in the lap of luxury. ("Easy Street - Reprise")

Scene Three: President Roosevelt and members of his cabinet are listening to a popular radio commentator. Warbucks and Annie arrive in the Oval Office. As Warbucks and the government officials discuss the depressing economic situation (strikes, riots, floods, dust storms and crime), Annie counters by singing "Tomorrow." The president reacts with enthusiasm and makes the cabinet members sing along. Then Warbucks and Annie hear the news that hundreds of people claiming to be Annie's parents are surrounding the Warbucks mansion and immediately return to New York. Inspired by Annie's optimism, the cabinet members and the President invent the New Deal.

Scene Four: At the mansion, Annie and Warbucks discover that Grace has already dismissed the throng of people claiming to be Annie's parents—no one mentioned anything about a locket. The maker of Annie's locket reports that the purchasers cannot be traced. It appears that Annie's quest cannot have a happy ending. Trying to console her, Warbucks declares his own feelings about Annie and her importance in his life ("Something Was Missing").

Scene Five: Warbucks' plans to adopt Annie are set in motion, as are the preparations for a party to celebrate the adoption. Annie and Warbucks express their delight with the idea of becoming father and daughter ("I Don't Need Anything But You"). The staff prepares for the festivities and while they sing the praises of "Annie." But just as the final adoption is to be pronounced, Rooster and Lily, disguised as Ralph and Shirley Mudge, appear with the other half of Annie's locket.

They also have Annie's birth certificate, supplied by Miss Hannigan. They announce their intention to take Annie home to live with them on a New Jersey pig farm. Warbucks convinces them to let Annie spend Christmas with him. The Mudges agree to leave and pick her up the next day. Everyone toasts Annie Mudge. But as Grace is escorting Annie upstairs, she remembers having seen Mr. Mudge before. Warbucks calls the President to ask a favor.

Scene Six: The next morning, as Annie waits for the Mudges to claim her, President Roosevelt arrives with the news that the FBI has analyzed the handwriting on the note Annie's parents left behind. The investigation reveales her real parents were named David and Margaret Bennett and that they are dead. The Mudges are declared impostors. Annie and Warbucks realize only Miss Hannigan could have given the Mudges the locket and birth certificate.

Miss Hannigan arrives with the orphans to celebrate Christmas. As the Mudges arrive to claim Annie, another FBI communication reveals their true identities as Rooster and Lily. Miss Hannigan tries to save herself by pretending to have no association with them , but all three are hauled off to jail. Annie introduces the orphans to Warbucks and promises they will have a much better future as everyone sings about "A New Deal For Christmas." A huge package arrives for Annie; when she opens it Sandy jumps into her arms.

Song list:

Act 1

1. Overture — Orchestra

2. Maybe — Annie & Orphans

3. It's the Hard Knock Life — Annie & Orphans

4. It's the Hard Knock Life (Reprise) — Orphans

5. Tomorrow — Annie

6. Hooverville, We'd Like To Thank You Herbert Hoover —Hooverville-ites

7. Little Girls — Miss Hannigan

8. Little Girls (Reprise) — Miss Hannigan

9. I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here — Grace, Annie & Servants

10. N.Y.C. — Warbucks, Grace, Annie, Star-to-Be, Chorus

11. Easy Street — Rooster, Miss Hannigan, Lily

12. You Won't Be an Orphan for Long - Grace & Warbucks

13. Why Would I Change a Thing

14. Maybe (Reprise) — Annie
    

Act 2

1. Maybe (Reprise) — Annie

2. You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile — Bert Healy, Boylan Sisters

3. You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile (Children) — Orphans

4. Easy Street (Reprise) — Rooster, Miss Hannigan, Lily

5. Tomorrow (Cabinet Reprise) — Annie, Roosevelt, Warbucks, Cabinet

6. Something Was Missing —Warbucks

7. I Don't Need Anything But You — Warbucks & Annie

8. Annie — Grace, Drake & Servants

9. Maybe (Reprise) — Annie

10. New Deal for Christmas — Warbucks & Servants