The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

Annie

We’re definitely into the Holiday Season now. And all the familiar Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa concerts, plays and musicals are opening all over the Windy City. And “Leapin’ lizards!” Back in Chicago to usher in the holidays, the Windy City warmly welcomes a glorious new production of ANNIE. Drury Lane’s much-loved, heart-warming, family musical that not only offers a much needed positive message, it happens to take place during Christmas! 

The original Broadway production, with a beloved book by Thomas Meehan, a delectable score by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, was a multi-Tony Award-winning hit in 1977. Based upon the celebrated 1924 comic strip characters by Harold Gray, the popular musical spoke to every audience. The original production ran for almost six years, and eventually spawned numerous international productions, a couple Broadway revivals, several National Tours and countless professional and amateur productions. The crowd-pleasing musical was even adapted for film and television and hatched two theatrical sequels to the original. What’s clear is that theatergoers can never get enough of ANNIE, and the audience’s enduring love for this show continues to draw audiences over four decades later, especially with little girls. It’s clear that the sun will never set on this musical because, as the titular character optimistically reminds us, “The sun will come out tomorrow.”

The show’s timelessness is not only reflected in its holiday setting; today’s bleak economic and political climate, which kind of resembles Depression Era America, feels all too familiar. While the musical’s strong message of hope and optimism may seem a little schmaltzy to some theatergoers, only a Scrooge could experience this inspiring musical without smiling, laughing out loud or even shedding a tear. Since the original 1977 version, both the script and score have been “spiffed up” a bit, as Daddy Warbucks would say. But thanks to Scott Weinstein’s inspired, robust direction, Mara Newberry Greer’s lively and inspired choreography and Julia Schade’s impressively detailed musical guidance, Drury Lane’s new production of ANNIE feels fresh and new almost fifty years later.

Then, as the colorful curtain rises, we hear a little girl crying in the early morning light. This tiny tike is Molly (played by a multi-gifted Ava Rose Doty), and the only child in this dank, dingy orphanage who can comfort her is a spunky little redhead named Annie. She’s played by a very gifted young triple-threat named Emerson Mae Chan. This sharp, spirited and tenderhearted young actress has been seen in New York shows and locally in Paramount’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC. She beautifully croons “Maybe,” a sweet lullaby that soothes the other orphans with her message of hope. We now know that this American Cinderella story, set around Christmas in New York City, is off and running. And every time Ms. Chan belts out “Tomorrow,” that contagious anthem of optimism,” the entire audience cheers her on.

Talented Anand Nagraj, returns to Drury Lane after appearing in THE LITTLE MERMAID. He is the epitome of Oliver Warbucks. Anand is handsome, unflinching, strong and gruff, but with a heart that melts easily under Annie’s influence. He leads the entire cast in “NYC,” a rousing tribute to the Big Apple. Then Mr. Nagraj charms with his ballad, “Something Was Missing,” along with his uptempo “I Don’t Need Anything But You.” Warbucks then leads the entire company in a promise to Annie that “You Won’t Be An Orphan For Long.” He shares much of the musical with lovely Allison Sill as his assistant, Grace Farrell. She gives Annie some strong maternal support while being a loving adult that is always on Annie’s side. Ms. Sill raises her gorgeous voice in every number and brightens up the stage whenever she enters.

Some of the other standouts among the supporting cast begin with multitalented Kelly Felthous. She was last seen at Drury Lane in NUNSENSE. As the villainous, Miss Hannigan is both unintentionally hilarious and wicked. Kelly portrays a woman who, despite her nasty disposition toward children, is really just trying to make ends meet during an economically difficult time. She sings the blazes out of her plea for sympathy, entitled “Little Girls.” And this limber little lady can strut, shimmy and shake it with the best of them during the jazzy, toe-tapping “Easy Street.” In this number she shares the stage with an athletic and hilarious Jackson Evans, as her shifty brother Rooster, and Betty Boop-voiced Amanda Walker, playing his floozy, Lily St. Regis. Together these three tear up the stage in the production’s best song and dance number.

This brilliant cast also features another of my favorite Chicago actors, the versatile Ron E. Rains, who not only plays a couple smaller roles, but gives the finest portrayal of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt I’ve ever seen in this show. He’s not only a skilled comic actor but he brings a gorgeous trained voice to every musical number. In addition to Annie and little Molly, the other talented orphan girls are played by Elin Joy Seiler, Avelyn Lena Choi, Emma Catherine Ritter, Mae O’Connor and Catharina Araujo. A large, tireless ensemble who play multiple roles throughout the musical, sing, dance and add plenty of comedy and drama to the story. And my absolute favorite performer in this production is Georgie, a beautiful fuzzy rescue dog with a mournful face, who brings down the house as Sandy.

The production’s tech team is top-notch, as well. Scenic designer Tijana Bjelajac has designed a gorgeous stage setting that continually and easily transitions between locales. Jose Santiago adds drama and depth with his carefully created lighting design. And the always ingenious Mara Blumenfeld has designed racks of beautiful, period perfect costumes, that tell us more about each and every character.

Although ANNIE has become a staple of educational and community theaters, and the movie can be streamed or available on DVD, there’s nothing quite like seeing a live, professional production. Drury Lane’s glorious new production of ANNIE is everything. This Equity production is a veritable Christmas  stocking stuffed to the brim with so much talent and creativity that the musical feels fresh and new. Every single character is winning and memorable. The score is great, the story is a popular Cinderella tale for audiences of all ages. And besides a gifted cast of triple-threat actors, there’s the most beautiful, lovable dog that you could ever imagine. Here is a timely, real life rags to riches story filled with hope, because, as the song goes, “The sun will come out tomorrow!”

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented November 4-January 10 by Drury Lane Theatre, 

100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the Drury Lane box office, by calling 630-530-0111 or by going to www.DruryLaneTheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area shows may be found at www.theatreinchicago.com 

Photos by Justin Barbin