1 – The Children of the Cast
Along with our Annie, our Orphans are also local actors from St. George, Utah. These children are immensely talented, with great energy, and have been working hard in this “Hard Knock Life” to put on an incredible show for you. They’ve been coming together to make their own family here at Tuacahn. Annie is a great reminder that sometimes the family you have is the one you make for yourself.
2 – Live Orchestra
Many of our patrons don’t realize we have a LIVE orchestra beneath the left overflow seats. This adds to the magic we create here in our canyon. We have about 20 musicians in the pit and the music is directed by Christopher Babbage. The songs of Annie really have it all; they’re funny, memorable, and quite touching. Songs like “Tomorrow” or “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” will be like you’ve never heard before, through the canyon’s echoes.
3 – Set Designer Brad Shelton
“This 1977 Broadway musical is based on the 1924 – 1968 comic strip, Little Orphan Annie created by Harold Gray. Harold’s comic greatly influenced our culture through many Films, Books and Music. I wanted to pay a tribute to Mr. Gray by setting the Charles Strouse Musical into its newspaper origins. Set in NYC 1933, newspaper was the main source of communication, and during the Great Depression many homeless were using newspaper for bedding and keeping their fires burning. Newsprint was their world; and taking a nine-inch comic strip and scaling up to a 90-foot New York City backdrop helps put us right in the middle of their world.” – Brad Shelton
4 – Directed by Mara Newbery Greer
Mara Newbery Greer is the director and choreographer for Annie. We are honored to have her back at Tuacahn for her 4th season after previously choreographing Matilda, Shrek, and The Sound of Music. Recently, she has directed and/or choreographed shows at Paper Mill Playhouse, Music Theatre Wichita, Broadway at Music Circus, Lexington Theatre Company, Pittsburgh CLO, The Cape Rep, Palm Beach Opera, The Fulton Theatre, Fairmont State University, Front Porch Theatricals, Chautauqua Opera, Seattle 5th Ave, The Engeman Theatre, and North Shore Music Theatre.
5 – Our adorable Sandy!
This year, Tuacahn’s cast of Annie features not one, but two dogs filling the role of Sandy. Griffey, a golden doodle from Mesquite, plays Sandy and Quincy, a golden doodle from Ivins, plays Sandy’s understudy.
Book now to see Annie, showing May 14 through July 10 at Tuacahn Amphitheatre!