FLASH FRIDAY: 'Tomorrow' Is Today! ANNIE On Broadway & Onscreen

Today we are celebrating one of the most popular musicals of the modern age in honor of the new film version opening in movie theaters nationwide today, ANNIE!

Bet Your Bottom Dollar

What precisely is it about ANNIE that captivated an entire generation of young theatergoers? Furthermore, why is ANNIE one of the only musicals to get not one, but two big screen editions since its Broadway debut? Possessing one of the only musical theatre crossover songs to make a major mark on pop culture in the last 50 years, the optimistic and anthemic "Tomorrow", Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin and Thomas Meehan's ANNIE is decidedly a complete anomaly in the grand scheme of the musical theatre canon in more ways one. Without a doubt, why a musical set in the Great Depression so unmistakably connected with an entire generation of young theatergoers in the 1970s has to be largely due to the incredible collection of hummable and instantly endearing musical gems crafted for the score for ANNIE - most notable of all, "Tomorrow". Although rap hitmaker and now ANNIE film executive producer Jay Z made a major hit by sampling the tune on his smash hit millennial single "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)", it was a ubiquitous and adoringly embraced song in its own time, as well - and how! Boasting a contemporized and updated new modern-day setting, Jay Z and Will Smith have brought the property into the present day with their new film, directed by Will Gluck, and outfitted it with some new tunes by pop chart-topper Sia to go alongside the score's most celebrated chestnuts. With a new ANNIE for a new generation arriving in theaters today, indeed, it seems that pop culture has come full-circle, particularly considering that America is now suffering from a new economic depression and in need of some happiness, hope and optimistic songs just as the audience for the original comic strip once was roughly 80 years ago. But, before the Broadway show and its various revivals, the John Huston ANNIE motion picture, the Rob Marshall ANNIE TV movie and long, long before the 2014 ANNIE movie remake, there was a comic strip by Harold Gray all about a little orphan girl and her mangy dog, Sandy, and the various antics she involved herself with in FDR-era NYC.

Originally overseen by recently deceased major director Mike Nichols in a hands-on producer position, the original Broadway production of ANNIE was a smash hit from its very premiere back in 1977, as directed by Martin Charnin. Famously, the bouncy and entertaining musical was plagued with out of town headaches prior to its landing on the Great White Way, though, including the infamous eleventh-hour replacement of the title star herself, with the creative team eventually bestowing the prized role to Andrea McArdle, who rightly became an overnight sensation. Opening on April 21, 1977, the show would last for nearly 6 years in its original run and two major Broadway revivals would follow, in 1997 and 2012, respectively. Yet, many claim that the highs achieved by the creators, cast and crew in that original debut production are impossible to equal, let alone beat - now or ever. Are they? The 2014 solution, at least as it appeared to the filmmakers behind the new feature film edition of ANNIE, seems to be to tackle it from a totally different angle and create something new altogether out of the most famous, familiar and cherished elements, generously adding and embellishing the musical that audiences have come to know and love all the while. Whether or not the result will pay off remains to be seen - and, early reviews have been overwhelmingly negative - but, then again, the enterprise as it exists seems aimed squarely at the pre-teen set anyway, so reviews may not matter. Time will tell.

Of course, the original Broadway production of ANNIE won a slew of Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book, Best Leading Actress In A Musical for Dorothy Loudon, plus Best Choreography for Peter Gennaro, Best Scenic Design for David Mitchell and Best Lighting Design for Theoni V. Aldredge. John Huston's 1982 feature film adaptation made many changes to the show and score, replacing several score standouts with new numbers by the original team - case in point: replacing earworm "N.Y.C." with Radio City Music Hall sequence "Let's Go To The Movies"; the addition of a dance showpiece for Ann Reinking as Grace in the form of "We Got Annie"; an entirely new time-frame (Independence Day versus Christmas); plus, a much different second act sequence of events. Taking all this into account - as well as the largely unenthusiastic press attached - the 2014 ANNIE remake does not seem to be that unusual considering the overall cinematic legacy of ANNIE to date. In a further note of instructive irony, the director of the much more faithful Disney TV adaptation of ANNIE, the second screen treatment afforded to the tale, was none other than Rob Marshall - otherwise known as the director of the forthcoming big screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's INTO THE WOODS, which, until recently, was poised to open in movie theaters simultaneously with ANNIE. Thankfully, ANNIE now opens this weekend, while INTO THE WOODS retains its original Christmas Day opening date. The fact that Disney produced the last screen take on ANNIE and now goes up against the Sony-backed 2014 ANNIE with its own movie musical, INTO THE WOODS, directed by the aforementioned Rob Marshall, compounds the coincidences even further.

Whether you prefer your spunky orphan in her original comic form, as embodied by Andrea McArdle and the rest of the replacement performers in the original Broadway production, as seen onscreen in 1982 or 1999, or, as Lilla Crawford played her in the 2012 Broadway revival - Crawford playing a significant part in the INTO THE WOODS film; which was scripted by ANNIE revival director James Lapine, no less; adding even more parallels to all the lore - ANNIE is ripe for enjoyment by anybody of any age. Perhaps the new ANNIE will provide the 2014 answer to those seeking out a fresh take on the tuner - and, if not, at least you can be sure there is a song or two you will walk out of the multiplex humming happily.

Opportunity

So, now, let's take a look at some of the best moments from ANNIE from over the years as we anticipate the new film edition.

First up, the original cast of ANNIE on the 1977 Tony Awards.



Original Annie Andrea McArdle belts out "Tomorrow" in 1981.



Next, Tony-winner Dorothy Loudon offers a jazzy 1986 "Easy Street" reprise.



Peruse the trailer for John Huston's 1982 ANNIE feature film.



Review Rob Marshall's 1999 ANNIE via this spirited clip.



Now, get a look at the 1997 Broadway revival of ANNIE.



Also, see Jane Lynch star in the 2012 Broadway edition of ANNIE.



Plus, get a look at Katie Finneran as Miss Hannigan in ANNIE.



In honor of the holidays, sample ANNIE's "A New Deal For Christmas".



Check out the trailer for the 2014 big screen ANNIE starring Quvenzhane Wallis and Jamie Foxx.



Don't miss the new ANNIE 2014 Sia-penned song "Opportunity" in this cute lyric video.



Lastly, the cast of ANNIE perform on DANCING WITH THE STARS.



As a special bonus, enjoy this cool "Tomorrow" mash-up video filmed in NYC.



So, what is your absolute ideal iteration of ANNIE from over the years? Also, what are your thoughts on updating the musical for a contemporary audience and adding new material to the classic score? With a property as proven to entertain and entrance younger generations as ANNIE undoubtedly is, perhaps it is wisest to leave it up to the kids to decide - both people under 13 and the children in all of our hearts.