STAGE TUBE: Original 'Annie' McArdle Talks Playing 'Hannigan'

On Saturday, July 24, Broadway star Andrea McArdle opened the North Carolina Theatre's production of ANNIE as "Miss Hannigan," some 30 years after her Tony-nominated performance in the title role on Broadway. To hear McArdle talk about what it's like coming full circle, click below!

Performances of the production are scheduled through August 1st at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

McArdle first captured hearts everywhere in 1976 when she originated the title role in Annie and introduced the eternal "Tomorrow" at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut before it moved to Broadway and ran for 2,327 performances. With her curly red hair and strong instantly identifiable sound, McArdle was the youngest performer at the time to be nominated for a Tony Award as Best Lead Actress in a Musical. Since then, she has starred in many Broadway musicals, national and international tours, as well as concerts and cabaret performances and even recreated her role as Annie in London with Charnin in 1978.

Based on the 1920-1930s comic strip "Little Orphan Annie," "Annie," the musical, opened on Broadway in 1977. Set in New York City of 1933, in the midst of the Great Depression, the story about the young redheaded orphan who finds a father in the billionaire Oliver Warbucks is as well recognized for its hope and optimism as for its long list of musical titles-such as "Hard Knock Life" and "Tomorrow"-that theatre-loving children nationwide know by heart. That knowledge may come in handy for budding thespians this fall, as the theatre plans to select one or more cast members at an open casting call at the Mall of America in September 2010.

For tickets or more information about NC Theatre's ANNIE, click here.