ANNIE 1997 Revival?

[greenguy211]

I searched the boards to try to find a post that had any information about how the 1997 ANNIE revival was but couldn't find anything. Based on what I have heard about it, it wasn't very good. What was so bad about it? Was it badly casted?

[Broadway Bob*]

It was a dusty, old museum piece with bad press! There was nothing fresh about the way the material was presented (and considering it was my first time seeing a prefessional production and I could tell that, that's saying something!) The show lost its bite with the cutting of all the political commentary ("We'd Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover" and what not.) Nell Carter (who I was MORE than excited to see as I am a HUGE fan) seemed to be sleep walking through the role, not even caring they wrote a new song just for her. The production had a bad smell to it from all the negative publicity they got firing Joanna Pacitti and the mishegoss that followed that. Frnakly her replacement, Brittany Kissinger, was too young (almost a Molly) and not that thrilling in the show herself. The orphans had no chemistry together. As someone who has been a big fan of ANNIE since the movie I was so super excited to see the show (again my first time seeing a real production - and only second time seeing the show at all [the first was a community theater production when I was 10]) and I was severly let down and bored. The show had no sparkle for me at all (except a then unknown Sutton Foster shining as the Star to Be.)

It didin't help that it opened the same season as CHICAGO, which became my new obsession for about a year after it opened. No way this limp and lifeless ANNIE could've lived up to that! Would LOVE to see the new revival to compare but alas I don't know if I'll get back to the city in time to see it. My one day trip I'm taking later this month is already filled with NEWSIES and DROOD!

[BrodyFosse123]

[EricMontreal22]

I didn't realize they made cuts. Dollypop posted quite the critique of it in the Annie preview thread. Apparently it had the same drector (Martin Charnin) and original choreography (Peter Gennaro) as the original, but a different, inferior set.

[Becky]

I actually loved Brittny Kissinger, thought Nell Carter was being - well, Nell Carter instead of creating a role, can't remember "Grace" at all, and thought Warbucks was fine.

Overall I thought it was a decent production.

[ticenewyorkcity]

Received such negative press because the girl they hired to do the role, chose and WANTED could not pull it together and give the performance they wanted from her.

She was given line reads with Martin's Assistant. Given over 9 months (rehearsals and pre-Broadway tour) to give the performance they wanted from her and she still wasn't able to. Her bronchitis absence in Boston was a chance for the producers to put Kissinger (who had been rehearsed secretly) on and test her performance. She impressed them so much they made the difficult decision of replacing Pacitti.

I enjoyed Nell Carter. Thought she gave a vocally wonderful performance. Sally Struthers gave a very comedic performance a year later on the tour.

I preferred this production over the new revival

[winston89]

I know that there was negative press about the Annie switch. But, didn't that story make a bit of a bigger splash because the search for Annie was a well publicized nation wide open call?

And to the OP, the word is cast not casted. We are talking about theatre, not fishing.

[Becky]

I don't believe for a second she "couldn't pull it together". Joanna received good reviews from what I read. I will always believe they quickly realized they had a 12 year old on their hands who would grow out of the role almost instantly, and decided to go with an eight-year-old they could use for years.....and they did (Broadway and tour).

[Becky]

Meant to add that I felt they were under pressure to choose quickly for that "contest" - and Joanna was the only one in the moment they felt could do it. I don't think they would have chosen her because of her age had they not been under pressure to hurry and cast. Once they took a step back and found someone younger that could do it, they pulled the trigger.

[Kev]

I don't believe for a second she "couldn't pull it together". Joanna received good reviews from what I read. I will always believe they quickly realized they had a 12 year old on their hands who would grow out of the role almost instantly, and decided to go with an eight-year-old they could use for years.....and they did (Broadway and tour).

I thought Joanna Pacitti was excellent in the title role; very endearing and a solid belt. Pacitti, plus Sutton Foster's golden "NYC" solo and Colleen Dunn's rather funny Grace, were the best things about that flat pre-Broadway tour.

[greenguy211]

Didn't mean to start anything Winston. I understand we are discussing theatre since this is a BROADWAY message board. It was a silly mistake. Relax.

[mb87]

Are there any clips [audio or video] from this revival [outside of promotional appearances and tony awards]? Mainly of Nell Carter and the new song she sang? I'm bummed I never got to see it until Sally Struthers took over.

[greenguy211]

If you search "Nell Carter Annie" on YouTube there's a Brittny Kissinger Montage that shows a small clip of Hannigan's new song.