Jimmy McBratney as Oliver Warbucks, Dominique Treglia as Annie. (Courtesy Emily Bodkin)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Theater lovers on Staten Island, mark your calendars: In the Wings Productions presents "Annie" from Friday through Sunday in the Music Hall at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden in Livingston.
The family favorite and Tony Award-winning musical is a story of the Harold Gray comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" and is presented under the leadership of Tanya Glassman, artistic director; Adam Glassman, executive producer; Michael Pinto, director and music director, and Geralyn Whelan, choreographer.
Courtesy Emily Bodkin
"I am thrilled to be directing and musically directing 'Annie,' one of my favorite musicals," Pinto said.
"It has such a wonderful, optimistic message that I think resonates even more than when it premiered over 40 years ago.
"And against the backdrop of Christmas, it is going to be a very special show. We have had such fun in rehearsals the last few weeks, I cannot wait for audiences to enjoy the finished product."
Courtesy Emily Bodkin
Annie is a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage run by the comically conniving Miss Hannigan.
Annie and her lovable mutt, Sandy, foil Miss Hannigan's evil schemes, befriend President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and find a new family and home in billionaire Oliver Warbucks.
Bet your bottom dollar, Annie will delight the child in us all.
Dominique Treglia as Annie. Courtesy Emily Bodkin
The cast of "Annie" features Dominique Treglia as Annie, James McBratney as Oliver Warbucks, Samantha Hermansen as Miss Hannigan, Rebecca Sciannameo as Grace Farrell, Craig Kwasnicki as Rooster Hannigan, Fiona Gannon as Lily St. Regis, Michael Whalen as Bert Healy, John Griffin as F.D.R., Gary Bradley as Drake, and Kristen Dalto as Star to Be.
Annie's friends in the orphanage are MaryGrace Pallarino as Molly, Bethany Griffin as Duffy, Audrey Lawson as Pepper, Makaylee Barbara as July, Jane Benvenuto as Tessie, Vanessa D'Angelo as Kate, and Emma Fitzgerald, Giada Garaffa, Allison Kuhn, Alyssa Mazzone and Caitlin Shea.
The ensemble features Valerie Aro, Kaylin Cancel, Christie Chahwan, Samantha Chiodo, Ally Crocitto, Thomas Curty, Thomas Gonzalez, Anthony Ippolito, Kayla McBratney, Phoebe Midttveit, Christina Moore, Victoria Navarino, Amanda Pascarella, Darragh Whalen and Gwen Williams.
Sandy is played by Riley Hourican.
Jimmy McBratney as Oliver Warbucks, Dominique Treglia as Annie. (Courtesy Emily Bodkin)
The award-winning score features memorable songs as "It's The Hard Knock Life" and "Tomorrow."
The creative team for "Annie" includes set design by Curtis Kwasnicki and Craig Kwasnicki, costume design by Scaramouche, wigs by Kurt Alger, lighting design by Danielle Garrett and sound design by Adam Chatfield.
The production stage manager is Christopher Crocitto.
Samantha Hermansen as Miss Hannigan, Craig Kwasnicki as Rooster, Fiona Gannon as Lily St. Regis. (Courtesy Emily Bodkin)
Annie began life in the summer of 1976 at Goodspeed Opera House in East Hadaam, Conn.
The Broadway production opened at the Alvin Theatre on April 21, 1977, running a total of 2,377 performances.
Staten Islander Karen Schleifer joined the original Broadway cast as "Kate" and starred in the 1984 Staten Island Civic Theatre production.
Jimmy McBratney as Oliver Warbucks, Tom Gonzales, John Griffin as FDR, Dominique Treglia as Annie, Samantha Chiodo, Michael Whelan, Tony Verrilli. (Courtesy Emily Bodkin)
How to get tickets
In The Wings Productions' "Annie" will be Friday through Sunday in Snug Harbor Music Hall, 1000 Richmond Terr.
Performance times are 8 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $25 to $33. Group rates for 10-plus people are available.
For more information, call 646-780-WING (9464) or order online at www.sishows.com.
Courtesy Emily Bodkin
Jane Benvenuto as Tessie, Vanessa D'Angelo as Kate, Audrey Lawson as Pepper, MaryGrace Pallarino as Molly, Makaylee Barbara as July and Bethany Griffin as Duffy. (Courtesy Emily Bodkin)
Courtesy Emily Bodkin
Rebecca Sciannameo as Grace, Dominique Treglia as Annie, Jimmy McBratney as Oliver Warbucks. (Courtesy Emily Bodkin)
Courtesy Emily Bodkin
Samantha Hermansen as Miss Hannigan in In the Wings Productions' performance of "Annie." (Courtesy Emily Bodkin)
Courtesy Emily Bodkin
The ensemble of "Annie." (Courtesy Emily Bodkin)
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