Just because they are having auditions doesn't mean the show won't close, as you can't really always predict that sort of thing. It also doesn't mean they are necessarily even hiring. Usually broadway show are required to have an audition even 6 months whether they need to or not.
While we're on the subject, I wish they'd cast a few more. I have to say that I've seen perhaps 2 dozen community theatre and even high school productions of Annie. A lot of it has been pretty bad, but one thing is a given. Put a dozen or more little girls with just a bit of talent and let them loose with Hard Knock Life and it will bring down the house every time. There was something just so -- well, cheap and uninspired-- about the current production with just 6 girls (5 at times) trying to do huge numbers.
I agree with Patash. A few more orphans would make numbers like Hard knock life look better. That number was really cool and one if my favorites in the John Huston movie with about 100 girls all doing different sections of the choreography and acrobatics, etc. maybe they could do something like what is done in the opening number for A Chorus Line--put the understudy kids in alongside all the main orphans for that number since it's in the beginning of the show.
Here's just a short clip to show what I mean. And this isn't even a part of the number with the full cast of orphans in this production. But the energy makes the current Broadway version seem like a snoozer.
love that this is sticking around... its been consistent at the box office and I loved it! The kids in that show are amazing and I dont agree that there should be more. They each have a distinct personality and lapine has given them all moments to shine... how many of those ballet girls in billy elliot do you remember?
Billy Elliot had 8-9 girls. Honestly, casting children on Broadway is EXPENSIVE. I imagine they are using as many girls as they can afford or perhaps they chose to work in the confines of the original Broadway casting, which was around 7, I believe. It's kind of silly to compare it to an amateur production where kids just want to be on stage and do it for free. You can pretty much get as many as you want and not have to deal with any union or child labor red tape.
Right. This production actually has more kids than the original production if you count swings. Annie + six orphans every night, plus three swing Orphans. The original had Annie + six orphans every night, plus a standby for Annie at the beginning of the run (later, this was changed to a swing orphan with one of the orphans onstage being the Annie cover.)
Yes, to the last two posts which were are exactly my point. It makes the show look cheap -- because that IS why they did it. Sorry, but that's the bottom line. I firmly believe there would be a lot more "excitement" to the show with bigger production numbers with the kids. There may be more total than in the original, but NOT on stage at one time -- that's really my point. The production is all about what the audience sees -- not what is hidden behind the scenes.
Of course it's expensive, but this criticism is no different than complaining because a production did too small an orchestra to save money, or did cheap sets.
Except they aren't "scaling back" the production as with the examples you just provided. They are using the original casting, which was hugely successful.
It makes the show look cheap -- because that IS why they did it.
Well, that's certainly the reason you decided.
There may be more total than in the original, but NOT on stage at one time -- that's really my point.
How many were on stage in the original Hard Knock Life and how many are on stage in Hard Knock Life now?
Sorry. I didn't mean to start an entire historical fact finding mission regarding the production. And my point was never what it USED to be compared to what it is now, other than what I thought was an agreement to the comment about more now including "swings", but I'm sorry, I apparently misread the statement.
My point is this -- I think Annie would be a lot more exciting if there were more orphans in the big orphan numbers. (and at least one other poster has agreed with that). Some think it's fine the way it is. I personally would imagine that the orphanage is bigger than a grand total of 6 orphans (5 after Annie leaves), but that's just me. I'm thrilled some of you think 5 to 6 is the perfect number. That's your right. I think it would be better with more. That's my right.
Some would love South Pacific with a total of three nurses and three sailors or Newsies with only four newsboys total. Both shows could save a lot of money with that kind of casting. I think it would look skimpy and "cheap". I often like "big" musical numbers including big choruses. Some don't.
There are six orphans after Annie leaves (Molly, Kate, July, Tessie, Duffy and Pepper). And it's what the authors wrote, the wish for dream orphans notwithstanding.
The one place they should have used the orphans in the revival is in "NYC". I think the Palace Theatre dwarfs this production. I saw the original at the Alvin and I thought it was a nice theatre for the show.
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Posted: 3/19/13 at 04:01pm