Breaking News: Ron Raines Joins ANNIE as 'Daddy Warbucks'; Anthony Warlow to Depart on 12/8

TONY and EMMY Award nominee Ron Raines returns to Broadway as Daddy Warbucks in the new Broadway production of ANNIE at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets). He will begin performances on Tuesday, December 10. Australian superstar Anthony Warlow will play his final performance as Daddy Warbucks on Sunday, December 8.

ANNIE, the critically acclaimed new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, is now in its final weeks on Broadway, and will play its final performance on Sunday, January 5, 2014.

Ron Raines' recent Broadway credits include Follies, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award, Newsies, Chicago, Show Boat and Teddy And Alice. TV credits include "Guiding Light" (three-time Emmy nominee), PBS: Five "Great Performances" Recordings: Man of La Mancha, The Pajama Game, 110 in the Shade, Wonderful Town, etc. He has performed with over fifty symphonies including: Chicago, Cleveland, BBC, Royal Philharmonic, Boston Pops, Philly Pops. His national tour & regional credits include The Unsinkable Molly Brown, A Little Night Music, Annie, The King and I, Kiss Me Kate, South Pacific, Kismet, etc.

ANNIE features a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, with all three authors receiving 1977 Tony Awards for their work. ANNIE is directed by Pulitzer Prize and three-time Tony Award-winner James Lapine and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler. The production is playing at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway, between 46th and 47th Streets).

The production will launch a US National Tour in the 2014-2015 season.

ANNIE stars Tony Award-winner Faith Prince as Miss Hannigan, Anthony Warlow as Daddy Warbucks, and 12-year-old Taylor Richardson as Annie. The cast also includes Jenni Barber as Grace Farrell, Clarke Thorell as Rooster Hannigan, and Kirsten Wyatt as Lily St. Regis. The Orphans are Amaya Braganza as July, Gaby Bradbury as Pepper, Tyrah Skye Odoms as Tessie, Emily Rosenfeld as Molly, Brooklyn Shuck as Kate, Sadie Sink as Duffy and Skye Alyssa Friedman as standby for the roles of Duffy, Pepper, July and Tessie. The production also features Jane Blass, Mary Callanan, Jeremy Davis, Tessa Grady, Joel Hatch, Danette Holden, Fred Inkley, Gavin Lodge, Alexandra Matteo, Shina Ann Morris, Justin Patterson, Keven Quillon, David Rossetti, Sarah Solie, Ryan VanDenBoom and Matt Wall.

Anthony Warlow is appearing with the permission of Actors' Equity Association. The Producers gratefully acknowledge Actors' Equity Association for its assistance with this production.

The original production of ANNIE opened April 21, 1977 at the Alvin Theatre and went on to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the Grammy for Best Cast Show Album and seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan) and Best Score (Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin). The show was one of the biggest Broadway musical hits of the 1970s, running for almost six years and playing 2,377 performances.

The score for ANNIE includes "Maybe," "It's the Hard Knock Life," "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," "Easy Street," "I Don't Need Anything But You" and the eternal anthem of optimism, "Tomorrow".

The creative team includes scenic design by Drama Desk Award-winner David Korins, costume design by Tony Award-winner Susan Hilferty, lighting design by two-time Tony Award-winner Donald Holder and sound design by Tony Award-winner Brian Ronan. Projection design is by Wendall K. Harrington. Music director is Todd Ellison. Orchestrations are by Michael Starobin. Dance music arrangements are by Alex Lacamoire. Musical coordinator is Patrick Vaccariello. Hair and wig design is by Tom Watson. Casting is by Telsey + Company. Animal training is by William Berloni.

In a dual effort to promote dog adoption and provide shelters with resources, PEDIGREE Food for Dogs and ANNIE have teamed up to help raise $1 million to help dogs find loving homes. For each Annie ticket sold through December 31, 2013, PEDIGREE will donate $2, up to $1million, to PEDIGREE Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping dogs find loving homes. In addition, co-branded merchandise will be available at the theatre and online with 100 percent of the proceeds going to PEDIGREE Foundation. For more information on The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive and other brand initiatives, visit www.pedigree.com or www.facebook.com/pedigree.

The New 2012 Broadway Cast Recording for ANNIE is produced by 12-time Grammy Award winner Thomas Z. Shepard, Douglas Dennoff andDennis J. Grimaldi for Shout! Broadway, and is available in stores, at the Palace Theatre and for digital download at iTunes, Amazon.com, and other digital websites.

ANNIE is produced on Broadway by Arielle Tepper Madover, Roger Horchow, Sally Horchow, Roger Berlind, Roy Furman, Debbie Bisno, Stacey Mindich, James L. Nederlander, Jane Bergère/Daryl Roth and Eva Price/Christina Papagjika.

Tickets for ANNIE are available through www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 877-250-2929, or in person at the Palace Theatre box office (1564 Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets). Premium seating is available.