New Australian ANNIE Cast Recording Released

Sony Music Entertainment and The Gordon Frost Organisation today announced the release of the Australian cast recording of the new production of ANNIE which was recorded on Opening Night, January 5, 2012 at the Lyric Theatre, Sydney. This is the third production of ANNIE to be staged in Australia, the first in 1978-9 and the second in 2000. ANNIE plays at the Lyric Theatre, The Star until March 25 before moving on to Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

The album features live recordings of the perennial Annie favourites performed by the stellar Australian cast that includes Anthony Warlow as Daddy Warbucks, Nancye Hayes as Miss Hannigan, Todd McKenney (Rooster), Chloë Dallimore (Lily St. Regis), Julie Goodwin (Grace Farrell) and radio broadcaster Alan Jones as Franklin D. Roosevelt. This recording features 10-year-old Ella Nicol in the role of Annie, one of three young actresses playing the role in the Sydney season.

Producer John Frost said, “I’m extremely proud of this wonderful new production of ANNIE, and thrilled that Sony Music and I have been able to record this brilliant cast for posterity. I hope it starts a resurgence in live recordings of Australian casts of musicals, so audiences can not only see these productions in theatres but relive the theatrical excitement at home with the cast album.”

The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. Boasting one of Broadway's most memorable scores, including It's the Hard-Knock Life, Easy Street, N.Y.C. and the ever-optimistic Tomorrow, ANNIE is one of the most awarded and loved musicals of all time.

Based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, ANNIE the musical burst into popularity in 1977 when it opened on Broadway. After running for nearly six years in its originating venue, the Alvin Theatre, it has played in over 22 countries worldwide including the United Kingdom, Argentina, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Australia.

ANNIE became a smash-hit movie musical in 1982 starring Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney and Carol Burnett that is adored worldwide and a fixture of popular culture references. Its songs, including Tomorrow and It's the Hard Knock Life have become staples of musical theatre repertoires worldwide and now, 34 years on, it remains one of the most loved and universally appealing musicals of all time.