Annie: Still Going Strong

by Daniel Goldstone

While the beloved character of Little Orphan Annie found a home in America’s comic strips

from 1924 to 2010, many people know of the adorable waif from the 1977 musical Annie and the

1982 movie of the same name. The musical, opening on Broadway in 1977, brought out

audiences in droves. Annie ran for 2,377 performances on the Great White Way and became a

national sensation.

The musical continues to inspire theatergoers across the country and even the world. Since the

late 1990s, Annie has seen several revivals that have brought its characters back to the stage. The

musical returned to Broadway in 1997, igniting a tour of the United States and a subsequent tour

of the show in Australia. Annie was alive and kicking through its 30th anniversary in the middle

of a U.S. tour that lasted five years. The show is set to celebrate its 35th anniversary on

Broadway with another revival, planned for the fall of 2012.

About the author:

Daniel Goldstone is a prolific stage performer in the Boston, Massachusetts, area. He has

portrayed the character of Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks in The Little Theatre of Stoughton’s

production of Annie. The Little Theatre is a vital community playhouse south of Boston.