ORLANDO -- - No matter how many times you've seen the sun come out tomorrow, you'll be charmed by the entertaining and
fast-paced "Annie" on stage through Sunday at the Carr Performing Arts Centre in Orlando.
Directed by the show's lyricist and original director, Martin Charnin, this "Annie" is a frothy mix of fun and message.
With the book by Thomas Meehan and music by Charles Strouse, the show pits Annie of "Little Orphan Annie" fame against the
struggles of being an orphan during the Great Depression. She manages to wrest herself from an orphanage headed by mean Miss
Hannigan, the caretaker who sings how she hates little girls.
Annie meets Daddy Warbucks who, with the help of Franklin D. Roosevelt and J. Edgar Hoover, tries to find her missing parents. Her
friends are a plucky group of orphans who are a family to one another.
As Annie, Amanda Balon is as energetic and gee-whiz optimistic as you can imagine. While her trademark song "Tomorrow" will
get you singing, it is "Maybe" that will get you sniffling. In it, she sings about what her life could be. Amanda does a nice job not
only meeting the musical challenge but also of putting heartfelt interpretation into it.
Indeed, even though Tuesday was the first show for this new national tour, the entire cast delivered energetic, well-oiled and tightly
drawn performances.
As Miss Hannigan, Lynn Andrews is a treat, especially in her brassy "Little Girls" and "Easy Street," which is performed with J. Michael
Zygo and Cheryl Hoffmann. David Barton brings a beautiful voice and nice feeling as Oliver Warbucks, the billionaire who wants to
adopt Annie. The little girls in the orphanage are all adorable and clever on stage.
But here, Brevard County can brag a bit. The youngest orphan, Molly, is played by 11-year old Annalisa DiBernardo of Titusville. And
she is as cute and talented and scene stealing as can be. In fact, it's hard to keep your eyes off her. She has not only skill and talent,
but also a likeable stage presence and strong energy that should propel her in this business.
She is particularly entertaining in "A Hard Knock Life," in which she and the rest of the orphans grab buckets and sponges to clean the
filthy orphanage.
So much of this show is right. From Ming Cho Lee's excellent, forced perspective scenic design to the original musical staging by
Peter Gennaro and choreography by Liza Gennaro.
It looks good, sounds good and entertains from beginning to end. And, yes, you are guaranteed to go home humming a tune or two.
Contact Harbaugh at 242-3717 or pharbaugh@floridatoday.com.
fast-paced "Annie" on stage through Sunday at the Carr Performing Arts Centre in Orlando.
Directed by the show's lyricist and original director, Martin Charnin, this "Annie" is a frothy mix of fun and message.
With the book by Thomas Meehan and music by Charles Strouse, the show pits Annie of "Little Orphan Annie" fame against the
struggles of being an orphan during the Great Depression. She manages to wrest herself from an orphanage headed by mean Miss
Hannigan, the caretaker who sings how she hates little girls.
Annie meets Daddy Warbucks who, with the help of Franklin D. Roosevelt and J. Edgar Hoover, tries to find her missing parents. Her
friends are a plucky group of orphans who are a family to one another.
As Annie, Amanda Balon is as energetic and gee-whiz optimistic as you can imagine. While her trademark song "Tomorrow" will
get you singing, it is "Maybe" that will get you sniffling. In it, she sings about what her life could be. Amanda does a nice job not
only meeting the musical challenge but also of putting heartfelt interpretation into it.
Indeed, even though Tuesday was the first show for this new national tour, the entire cast delivered energetic, well-oiled and tightly
drawn performances.
As Miss Hannigan, Lynn Andrews is a treat, especially in her brassy "Little Girls" and "Easy Street," which is performed with J. Michael
Zygo and Cheryl Hoffmann. David Barton brings a beautiful voice and nice feeling as Oliver Warbucks, the billionaire who wants to
adopt Annie. The little girls in the orphanage are all adorable and clever on stage.
But here, Brevard County can brag a bit. The youngest orphan, Molly, is played by 11-year old Annalisa DiBernardo of Titusville. And
she is as cute and talented and scene stealing as can be. In fact, it's hard to keep your eyes off her. She has not only skill and talent,
but also a likeable stage presence and strong energy that should propel her in this business.
She is particularly entertaining in "A Hard Knock Life," in which she and the rest of the orphans grab buckets and sponges to clean the
filthy orphanage.
So much of this show is right. From Ming Cho Lee's excellent, forced perspective scenic design to the original musical staging by
Peter Gennaro and choreography by Liza Gennaro.
It looks good, sounds good and entertains from beginning to end. And, yes, you are guaranteed to go home humming a tune or two.
Contact Harbaugh at 242-3717 or pharbaugh@floridatoday.com.
The details
What: "Annie," the musical
Where: Carr Performing Arts Centre, 401 W. Livingston St., Orlando
When: 8 tonight through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $35 to $61
Info: Call Ticketmaster at459-3309 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
What: "Annie," the musical
Where: Carr Performing Arts Centre, 401 W. Livingston St., Orlando
When: 8 tonight through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $35 to $61
Info: Call Ticketmaster at459-3309 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
| 'Young stars shine in 'Annie' BY PAM HARBAUGH Sept 19th 2007 FLORIDA TODAY |
Orlando native, 10 yr old Amanda Balon stars in
the title role in the Broadway Musical Tour at the
Carr Performing Arts Centre,
the title role in the Broadway Musical Tour at the
Carr Performing Arts Centre,
photo by Joan Marcus