Kathie Lee Gifford to Star in NYC Revival of Annie

Kathie Lee Gifford will play Miss Hannigan in the new production of Annie that will play the Theatre at Madison Square Garden from December 6 through 30. This revival of the hit Martin Charnin-Charles Strouse-Thomas Meehan musical will also star Marissa O’Donnell in the title role and Conrad John Schuck as Daddy Warbucks. Charnin will direct the production.

Based on the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” the show features such songs as “Tomorrow,” “NYC,” and “A Hard Knock Life.” The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for more than 2,300 performances; it won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Actress for Dorothy Loudon as Miss Hannigan. A 1997 Broadway revival starring Nell Carter as Hannigan ran for almost 250 performances.

The musical was filmed in 1982 with Carol Burnett and Albert Finney, and a television version aired in 1999, starring Kathy Bates, Victor Garber, Audra McDonald, Alan Cumming, and Kristin Chenoweth, with original Annie star Andrea McArdle in a cameo appearance.

The new production will also feature Allan Baker (FDR), Amanda Balon (Duffy), Elizabeth Broadhurst (Grace), Gabi Carrubba (Kate), Kelly Lynn Cosme (Connie/Annette), Richard Costa (Jimmy Johnson), Jennifer Evans (Ronnie), Ashley Pucket Gonzales (Lily), Aaron Kaburick (Bundles/Justice Brandeis), Allen Kendall (Lt. Ward), Anastasia Korbal (Molly), Brandy Panfili (Tessie), Monica L. Patton (Star to Be), Katherine Pecevich (Mrs. Pugh), Liz Power (Bonnie/Mrs. Greer), NicKayla Tucker (July), Harry Turpin (Harold Ickes), Christopher Vettel (Bert), Scott Willis (Rooster), Madison Zavitz (Pepper), and Lola as Sandy.

Gifford appeared on Broadway in Putting It Together. She is best known as the former co-host of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, and she is a popular recording artist. Gifford co-wrote the musicals Under the Bridge and Sister Aimee; she also contributed songs to the musical Hats!, which is currently playing in Denver.

For tickets and more information, visit www.thegarden.com.