Photo Flash: The Sun Comes Out at Skylight Music Theatre with ANNIE

Skylight Music Theatre today presents this holiday season's production of Annie. This seven-time Tony Award-winning musical runs from November 17 through December 23, 2017 in the beautiful Cabot Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway, in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.

Annie is a heartwarming, family-favorite Broadway musical that has captivated audiences worldwide with a beloved story and an inspiring score featuring such popular songs as "Hard Knock Life," "Maybe," and the unforgettable "Tomorrow."
Skylight Artistic Director Ray Jivoff announced that Molly Rhode, who has directed numerous hit productions at Skylight, including Les Miserables (2013) and The Sound of Music (2012), will direct and choreograph Annie.

Jivoff said that two of Milwaukee's favorite actors will perform in featured roles: Carrie Hitchcock will portray Miss Hannigan and Andrew Varela will play Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks. In addition, Jivoff announced the two actresses who will play Annie in rotating casts: KyLee Hennes, who returns to Skylight after appearing as Young Violet in Violet (2016) and Eloise Field, who makes her Skylight debut.

Family Friendly and Perfect for the Holidays "We are excited to bring Annie to Skylight for the first time ever," said Jivoff. "It is such a warm-hearted show and is perfect for families during the holiday season. Its final scene takes place on Christmas and includes a visit from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt," said Jivoff. "And really, what is better than a cast of singing and dancing children and a dog!" Jivoff added that the role of the dog, Sandy, will also be double cast.

Annie has special meaning for director/choreographer Rhode. "I was about 5 years old when the film version of Annie was released with Carol Burnett. I was obsessed," she said. "Annie memories are a huge part of my childhood, so the opportunity to revisit the material is a real treat."

"Annie, herself, has a lot of moxie and so does the show. Its deliberate contrast of the have's and have-not's in Depression-era America is boldly unapologetic and remains all too relevant. It's a show with quite a lot to say, and it does so with spunk and heart," said Rhode, who is the associate artistic director at Northern Sky Theater and has directed and acted at Skylight, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre and numerous other theatres.

Tony Award Winning Show Based on Little Orphan Annie Comic Strip Annie is based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie. The original Broadway production of Annie was directed by Martin Charnin and opened in 1977. The book is by Thomas Meehan, the score composed by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin. Annie won Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and four additional Tony Awards for designers and actors.

The New York Times called Annie "an intensely likable musical" with a "rare kind of gutsy charm." Newsweek said the show was, "Spectacular on every count...A sudden reversion to the concept of fun."

Annie was revived on Broadway in both 1997 and 2013 and in London in 1998.

Carrie Hitchcock (Miss Hannigan) and Eloise Field (Annie in LIGHT cast) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Eloise Field, center (Annie in LIGHT cast) performs with the LIGHT cast of Annie in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Eloise Field (Annie in LIGHT cast) and Shiloh the dog (Sandy in LIGHT cast) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Eloise Field (Annie in LIGHT cast) and Shiloh the dog (Sandy in LIGHT cast) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Eloise Field (Annie in LIGHT cast) and Shiloh the dog (Sandy in LIGHT cast) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Carrie Hitchcock (Miss Hannigan) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Carrie Hitchcock, center (Miss Hannigan) performs with the LIGHT cast in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Eloise Field, center (Annie in LIGHT cast) performs with the cast in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Samantha Sostarich (Lily St. Regis), Matt Crowle (Rooster) and Carrie Hitchcock (Miss Hannigan) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annierunning November 17 through December 27.

Andrew Varela (Oliver Warbucks) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

The LIGHT cast in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27

Eloise Field, center (Annie in LIGHT cast) performs with the cast in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Andrew Varela (Oliver Warbucks) and Eloise Field (Annie in LIGHT cast) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Eloise Field (Annie in LIGHT cast) and Andrew Varela (Oliver Warbucks) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Eloise Field (Annie in LIGHT cast), center, with the cast in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27. Orphans pictured are part of LIGHT cast.

KyLee Hennes, center (Annie in SKY cast) performs with the SKY cast of Annie in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

KyLee Hennes, center (Annie in SKY cast) performs with the SKY cast of Annie in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

KyLee Hennes, center (Annie in SKY cast) performs with the SKY cast of Annie in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

KyLee Hennes (Annie in SKY cast) and Skippy the dog (Sandy in SKY cast) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

KyLee Hennes (Annie in SKY cast) and Skippy the dog (Sandy in SKY cast) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Carrie Hitchcock, center (Miss Hannigan) performs with the SKY cast in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

KyLee Hennes, center (Annie in SKY cast) performs with the cast in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Andrew Varela (Oliver Warbucks) and KyLee Hennes (Annie in SKY cast) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Carrie Hitchcock (Miss Hannigan), Matt Crowle (Rooster) and Samantha Sostarich (Lily St. Regis) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Carrie Hitchcock (Miss Hannigan) and Matt Crowle (Rooster) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

The SKY cast in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

KyLee Hennes (Annie in SKY cast), center, with the cast in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.

Alex Campea (Drake), Diane Lane (Grace Farrell), Andrew Varela (Oliver Warbucks) and KyLee Hennes (Annie in SKY cast) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Annie running November 17 through December 27.