Broadway's ANNIE Names Orphans!

After more than 5,000 auditions in a coast-to-coast search, ANNIE has announced casting for the orphans for the new production of the classic Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. ANNIE will open on Broadway in Fall 2012 at a Nederlander theatre to be announced. The production will be directed by three-time Tony Award winner James Lapine and choreographed by Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler.

Casting for the orphans features Emily Rosenfeld as Molly, the littlest orphan; Tyrah Skye Odoms as Kate, the next-to-littlest orphan; Junah Jang as Tessie, the cry-baby orphan; Georgi James as Pepper, the toughest orphan; Madi Rae DiPietro as July, the quietest orphan and Taylor Richardson as Duffy, the biggest orphan. Jaidyn Young will be the standby for the roles of Annie, Pepper, Duffy and July. Richardson will understudy the role of Annie.

Junah Jang, Taylor Richardson and Emily Rosenfeld were all discovered at one of the production’s open casting calls.

As previously announced, 11-year-old Lilla Crawford (Billy Elliot) will star in the title role of ANNIE. Additional casting will be announced in coming weeks.

“We saw so many wonderful young girls for these roles,” commented producer Arielle Tepper Madover. “I wish we could have cast them all! The orphans are always a highlight of ANNIE and we think we have an amazing, unbelievably talented group with Emily, Tyrah, Junah, Georgi, Madi Rae and Taylor. I think audiences will fall in love with each and every one of them. We also are incredibly fortunate to have Jaidyn Young as our standby for the roles of Annie and several of the orphans. She’s enormously talented and we’re lucky to have her with us.”

ANNIE features music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin and book by Thomas Meehan, based on the newspaper character “Little Orphan Annie” by Harold Gray.

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. Music director is Todd Ellison. Hair and wig design is by Tom Watson. Casting is by Telsey + Company. Animal training is by Tony Award-winner William Berloni.

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

For tickets and more information on ANNIE, visit www.AnnieTheMusical.com.

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Emily Rosenfeld (Molly) is thrilled to be making her Broadway debut as Molly in this production of ANNIE. She is an eight-year-old singer, actor and dancer who hails from Westchester, NY. Emily’s love affair with the theater began when she stepped on the Star Kidz stage at the age of three. She continued performing at Random Farms Kids’ Theater; favorite roles include: Gretl in The Sound of Music, Dickon in The Secret Garden, Michael Darling in Peter Pan and Big Jule in Guys and Dolls. Emily recently appeared as Hendrika in the Off-Broadway Actor’s Fund benefit reading of Miracle on 34th Street, The Musical. She also sings with the Broadway Youth Ensemble and enjoys creating works of art and writing original plays and music in her spare time. Emily is grateful to Amelia DeMayo, Gulnara Mitzanova, Renae Baker, Janine Molinari, Gail Pennington Crutchfield, her agent - David Doan at Generation TV and most importantly, her supportive and loving friends and family. 

Tyrah Skye Odoms (Kate) is thrilled to be making her Broadway debut playing Kate in ANNIE. The seven-year-old New Jersey native has performed with the Maple Shade Community Alliance Summer Theatre Program, the MSHS Performing Arts Department and the Bridge Players Theatre. Tyrah has even had the privilege of opening up for Diverse Pop Group! In addition to her stage experience, Tyrah has been featured in several print campaigns and runway shows, such as New York Fashion Week. She has previously studied ballet and jazz with the Marcia Hyland Dance Company. Tyrah would like to send her love and thanks to Mom, Dad, Tyree and the rest of her family and friends. Special thanks also go to the following people who have helped support Tyrah’s ambitions: Gina Amato, John Demchak, Katie McBurnie, Rose Young, Telsey & Company, Sabina (KRS) and Barry Kolker (Carson Org.). Tyrah cannot wait to work with Tony Award-winning director James Lapine, choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler and the entire Broadway cast of ANNIE!

Junah Jang (Tessie) is thrilled to make her Broadway debut at age nine. She has performed at youth theaters: Seussical The Musical (Jojo), Annie (Molly), The Sound of Music (Gretl), Schoolhouse Rock Live! (Shulie). Thanks to Jill, Bob, Trent, Melissa and friends for support. Special thanks and love to Mom, Dad, Minoo, and family.

Georgi James (Pepper) 11 years old, played the role of Debbie in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot and was also seen on Broadway in A Tale of Two Cities. She played Olive Hoover in the premiere of James Lapine and William Finn’s Little Miss Sunshine at La Jolla Playhouse. Recently, Georgi has been a proud part of the development of Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron’s Fun Home, a musical based on the graphic novel by Alison Bechdel. She was also part of the award-winning ensemble cast who performed Horton Foote’s nine-act play The Orphans’ Home Cycle at both Hartford Stage and Signature Theatre Company. Georgi currently plays bass guitar at The School of Rock where she performs with their house band, playing Jersey Shore venues including the legendary Stone Pony. She is grateful to everyone at Telsey and Co., James Lapine, Mark Schneider, Arielle Tepper Madover and the entire creative team for this amazing opportunity. She sends love and thanks to her teachers Devin Ilaw, Steven Silverstein, Amelia DeMayo, ADA and Dance Molinari. Love and a big thank you to her family and agent Barry Kolker for always supporting her. Georgi’s mom played an orphan 30 years ago in Broadway’s National touring company of Annie and is so proud to be following in her footsteps.

Madi Rae DiPietro (July) is thrilled to be making her Broadway debut as July in ANNIE. Born and raised in San Diego, California, 12-year-old Madi Rae made her musical theater debut at the La Jolla Playhouse as a pageant girl in Little Miss Sunshine. She has also appeared in the Lyceum Theatre’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre in their holiday production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. An accomplished dancer, Madi Rae has trained in ballet, jazz, tap and lyrical dance as well as in musical theatre and choreography. She made her television debut in the NBC soap opera “Days of Our Lives” when she was six. Since then, she has been featured in numerous commercials for Disney Resorts, Legoland, Walmart and Hasbro Toys. When not performing, Madi Rae enjoys golf, swimming and skiing and is an aspiring artist. She is excited to be living in New York City and to be a part of this amazing cast.

Taylor Richardson (Duffy, u/s Annie ) is excited to make her Broadway debut in ANNIE. She is from Richmond, VA where she loves to read and write stories. Her most recent regional credit is as “Susan Waverly” in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Taylor has been dancing since age 3 with Ann Catherine Cross School of Dance and has won multiple dance titles and awards across the region. She takes voice lessons with Cathy Motley-Fitch and plays piano and accordion. She would like to thank her mom, dad, and little brother Sawyer for making the move to NYC and helping make her dream come true!

Jaidyn Young (Standby for Annie, Pepper, Duffy, July) age 11, is ecstatic to be living a dream come true, making her Broadway debut in her very favorite show! Regional: Annie in Annie (Performance Riverside), Marta in The Sound of Music (3D Theatricals), Child Soloist at age 7 for Glory of Christmas (Crystal Cathedral), also in the National Merit film Voice in Silence as the lead role Abby. Thanks to all who have inspired and believed in me: Jodie Bowman at KSR, Telsey Casting, Jason Wooten, TJ Dawson, Roger Castellanos, Patrick Hediger, Tracy Berry, my friends and incredible family! Especially mom, dad, and my sister. 

Lilla Crawford (Annie) made her Broadway debut in 2011, playing Debbie in the closing cast of Billy Elliot on Broadway. She was featured in a workshop production of Craig Wright’s Melissa Arctic. She has also performed in 14 shows with YADA (Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts) in her native Los Angeles.

Group tickets for ANNIE are now on sale. Contact Nederlander Sales & Patron Services at 212-840-3890/800-714-8452 or email nygroups@nederlander.com for details.