TCR's Annie opens this weekend

TCR - Theatre Cedar Rapids audiences are no strangers to the musical Annie. It’s a longtime favorite and audiences have been clamoring for it to return to their stage — which is exactly what it will do beginning Nov. 20, when Annie opens at TCR Lindale.

In fact, it’s recommended that audiences reserve their tickets now. Annie tickets are selling faster than any other show on the season — even The Producers, which will see TCR finally return to its home in the Iowa Theater Building downtown.

So what’s the appeal?

“At the end of the day, this musical is about a little girl, the unbridled optimism of children and the importance of the love and care that every child receives,” says director Casey Prince.

It helps that Annie features several classic songs of musical theatre, from “Tomorrow” to “Easy Street” to “Hard-Knock Life.” It also features a heroic father figure in Daddy Warbucks, and one of the all-time classic villains in Miss Hannigan.

For those who don’t know the story: Annie centers on a Depression-era orphan who slaves away at her orphanage under the tyrannical rule of Miss Hannigan. One day, however, her fortunes change when billionaire Oliver Warbucks agrees to temporarily take in an orphan to live with him and Annie gets chosen.

Warbucks is strict and standoffish, but it doesn’t take long for Annie to warm his heart. Soon he’s ready to adopt the little girl for good. It seems that Annie’s life couldn’t get any better — but Hannigan and her brother Rooster are seeing dollar signs, and they start cooking up other plans.

“The script is so great and the setting is so real that we are sucked in, and we truly believe — as unlikely as it sounds out of context — that the optimism of one little girl can change a nation,” Prince says. “When you witness the wholehearted belief of a child like Annie that everything will be better tomorrow, and know that her innocence is not yet jaded, you start to believe again too.”

Annie features many familiar TCR faces, including Jonathan Swenson (Fiddler on the Roof) as Warbucks; Heather Akers (Disney’s High School Musical On Stage) as Grace; Jen Boettger (Urinetown) as Miss Hannigan; Ryan Foizey (Altar Boyz) as Rooster; and Gene Whiteman (countless productions) as Franklin D. Roosevelt. However, it features a fresh face in the lead role: Michelle Lindhart is making her TCR debut as Annie.

“She’s optimistic, warm, funny and quite a talent,” Prince says of his leading lady. “She embodies Annie and she is an amazing little girl.”

Annie will be the final musical at TCR Lindale, which has served as TCR’s temporary home during flood recovery. While Prince is eager to see TCR get back downtown, he admits that he’ll miss the Lindale space.

“That space has been a blessing,” he says. “We’ve done a lot of great theatre in that building in a year and a half. Annie will be a fantastic addition to that.”

And in the spirit of the holiday season, TCR has a special program to help children in need. People who bring in a donation of one package of size 4 & 5 diapers get one free ticket to the Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) performance of Annie. Tickets/donations must be exchanged no later than Nov. 24. This special is only good in person at TCR’s temporary box office located at 800 Second Ave SE 52403. Please have donations with you at time of ticket purchase. All donations will go to Waypoint Services. All of those that make a donation for tickets for the Thanksgiving night performance of Annie will receive a special welcome at the show that night with an update as to the result of your collective donations.

Annie will be performed Nov. 20-Dec. 12 at TCR Lindale, 4444 1st Ave. NE. . Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and at 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $20 or $25 ($15 for students) and can be purchased in person at the TCR Box Office; by phone at 366-8591; or online.

Photo by Steve Eckert/Spotlight Images.