Notes for Annie Auditioners

Annie Character Breakdown, Audition Scripts for leading roles, and show synopsisANNIE

Annie is a complex little girl. She is a tough, streetwise urchin who is nevertheless vulnerable when she thinks she might lose what has become most important to her: a newfound family who loves her. She has to be motherly in scene one, independent in scene two, overwhelmed in scenes four and five, needy in scene seven, and hopeful for the future in scenes ten and eleven. The actor who plays Annie must be strong vocally and musically. She must be capable of vocal projection without strain. Although she is at times aggressive or crafty, the audience should never doubt Annie is a friendly and caring child; she will go to any extent to gain the love of a family to which she can belong. Songs you will sing in the audition: Tomorrow, NYC, I Think Im Gonna Like it HereG (below middle C) - High F

GRACE FARRELL

Warbucks' assistant, calm, cool, mature, classy, sophisticated and businesslike.

Grace is mature, calm, cool and "together." She is classy and businesslike when dealing with Miss Hannigan and Warbucks, yet maternal toward Annie. The student playing Grace can set herself apart from the other characters simply by the sophisticated way she walks. Grace should seem ready with an answer for just about anything. Each dramatic situation should seem to come "under control" the moment she glides into a scene. The student playing Grace must be able to negotiate the challenging intervals in "N.Y.C.

Songs you will sing in the audition: Tomorrow, NYC, I Think Im Gonna Like it HereA flat - High F sharp

MISS HANNIGAN

This woman is definitely a "has-been." Her distaste for her job and the children that are part of it should be obvious in every line she speaks, every song she sings and every move she makes. The student who plays her must have an excellent sense of comic timing. The acrid delivery of her lines and the torch-like rendition of her songs must distinguish her from the other characters in the show.

Songs you will sing in the audition: Easy Street, Little GirlsG - High D

OLIVER WARBUCKS

This may be the most challenging role in Annie for a student in this age group. He must appear middle-aged, self-assured and confident. At first awkwardly affectionate toward Annie, he soon finds himself completely charmed by her. The student who plays Warbucks will need to be extremely focused throughout the show. His posture, walk and speech patterns are very important.

Self assured, confident--most challenging role in show for student. Capable of showing emotional transformation and maturity. Good singer. Songs you will sing in the audition: Tomorrow, NYC, I Think Im Gonna Like it HereA flat - E flat

LILY ST. REGIS (see Rooster and Lily)

Distracted airhead, a bit bumbling, girlfriend to Rooster. Good singer and actress, moves well. Songs you will sing in the audition: Easy StreetB flat - E flat

ROOSTER HANNIGAN (see Rooster and Lily)

Flashy, self-assured, "bad guy," brother to Miss Hannigan. Good singer and actor, moves well.

Songs you will sing in the audition: Easy StreetG - E flat

Rooster & Lily

These two are quite the team -- team being the operative word, as the characters play off each other constantly. You might consider casting students of contrasting heights. Rooster can even be shorter than Lily; after all, these two are not to be taken too seriously! Rooster is flashy and self-assured. His moves should be as smooth as a gamblers, as should be the message he sells in Easy Street. Lily (airhead that she is) is always distracted, although she manages to pick up on any conversation involving money. She never acts as the leader, always bringing up the rear while tripping over her own feet (it is difficult to walk and check your makeup in a compact at the same time). Easy Street is the most challenging number in the show, in terms of vocal range. If the students playing Rooster and Lily are strong both vocally and visually, the audience will feel like joining them in Easy Street! ORPHANS

These girls are gritty, neglected and vulnerable, yet basically honest and potentially lovable. The actors portraying them must be able to have mischievous fun with each other as well as sibling-style fights. Each student should be able to create and shape her own character. Children auditioning for these roles need to have vocal strength and be visually expressive. All of their blocking and movements must appear motivated and strong. Cast these characters well and you will have won over your audience by the end of scene one.

Song you will sing in the audition: Hard Knock LifeDUFFY

The biggest orphan 13 years old C - D

JULY

The quietest orphan 13 years old G - C

KATE

The next-to-littlest orphan 7 years old C - D

MOLLY

The littlest orphan 6 years old A flat - B

PEPPER

The toughest orphan 12 years old C - D

TESSIE

The crybaby orphan 10 years old A - D

DRAKE

Fastidious domestic help, proud, fun character, good singer. Song you will sing in the audition: I Think Im Gonna Like it Here

A - D

MRS. GREER

Fastidious domestic help, proud, fun character, good singer. Song you will sing in the audition: I Think Im Gonna Like it Here

A - D

MRS. PUGH

Fastidious domestic help, proud, fun character, good singer. Song you will sing in the audition: I Think Im Gonna Like it Here A - F sharp

ANNETTE Song you will sing in the audition: I Think Im Gonna Like it HereCECILLE Song you will sing in the audition: I Think Im Gonna Like it HereSERVANTS Song you will sing in the audition: I Think Im Gonna Like it HereSTAR-TO-BE (Confident singer) Song you will sing in the audition: NYCSANDY (student in dog costume) Song you will sing in the audition: TomorrowAPPLE SELLER

BERT HEALY

BUNDLES McCLOSKEY

DOGCATCHER

LOUISE HOWE

LT. WARD

POLICE OFFICERPRESIDENT FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT

RADIO ANNOUNCER

SOUND EFFECTS PERSON USHERETTE

MAN IN BROWNSTONE WINDOW

Annie SCRIPT

SIDE 1(ANNIE, who is 11, runs in with a bucket. She has been up cleaning)

ANNIE: Pipe down, all of ya. Go back to sleep. (To MOLLY) It's all right, Molly. Annie's here.

MOLLY: It was my Mama, Annie. We was ridin' on the ferryboat. And she was holdin' me up to see all the big ships. And then I couldn't find her no more.

(ANNIE holds a hanky for MOLLY)ANNIE: Blow. It was only a dream, honey. Now, you gotta go back to sleep. It's after three o'clock.

MOLLY: Annie read me your note.

ANNIE: Again?

MOLLY: Please?

ANNIE: Sure, Molly.

PEPPER: Here it comes again.

ANNIE: (Takes a crumpled note from her pocket, unfolds it and reads it to MOLLY) "Please take good care of our little darling. Her name is Annie."

KATE: (Mockingly; she has heard this note read a thousand times before) "She was born on October 28th. We will be back to get her soon."

PEPPER: (Mockingly) "We have left half of a silver locket around her neck and kept the other half-

PEPPER, DUFFY, KATE: -so that when we come back for her you will know that she's our baby."

TESSIE: Oh my goodness, now they're laughing.

ANNIE: (To the Others) All right. Do you wanna sleep with your teeth insida your mouth or out! (Lovingly folds her note and puts it back in her pocket)SIDE 2(ANNIE ENTERS. SHE is now dressed in a red dress and her hair is curled to look for the first time as she does in "Little Orphan Annie.")ANNIE: Hello.

WARBUCKS: Annie, can we have a man-to-man talk?

ANNIE: You're sending me back to the Orphanage, right?

WARBUCKS: Of course not. (Pause) Annie, I was born into a very poor family and both of my parents died before I was ten. So I made a promise to myself - someday, one way or another, I was going to be rich. Very rich.

ANNIE: That was a good idea.

WARBUCKS: But, I've lately realized something. No matter how much money you've got, if you have no one to share your life with, if you're alone, then you might as well be broke. (Takes the Tiffany's package from his desk and hands it to ANNIE) I was in Tiffany's yesterday and picked this up for you.

ANNIE: For me? Gee, Thanks, Mr. Warbucks. (Opens up the package and looks at the gift. She is clearly unhappy with it, but pretends to like it) Oh. Gee.

WARBUCKS: It's a silver locket, Annie. I noticed that old, broken one you always wear, and I said to myself, "I'm going to get that kid a nice new locket." (Starting to take off ANNIE'S OLD LOCKET) Here, we'll just take this old one off and

ANNIE: No! I don't want a new one.

WARBUCKS: (Following ANNIE as she cowers back from him) Annie, what is it?

ANNIE: (Going gradually into hysterics and tears; fingering her locket) This locket, my Mom and Dad left it when they left me at the Orphanage. And a note, too. They're coming back for me. I know I'm real lucky, being here with you for Christmas. But the one thing I want in all the world (Crying) is to find my mother and father. And to be like other kids, with folks of my own.

SIDE 3GRACE: This is Annie, Mr. Warbucks: the orphan who will be with us for Christmas.

WARBUCKS: That's not a boy. Orphans are boys.

GRACE: I'm sorry, sir, you just said "orphan". So, I chose a girl.

WARBUCKS: Well, I suppose she'll have to do. (Frowningly approaching ANNIE, assessing her) Annie, huh? Annie what?

ANNIE: (Nervously) Oh, I'm just Annie, Mr. Warbucks, sir. I haven't got any last name. I'm sorry I'm not a boy.

WARBUCKS: (Obviously not meaning it) Not at all. I couldn't be happier. Grace, we'll start with the figures on the iron-ore shipments from Toledo to (Made uncomfortable by the presence of ANNIE, aside to GRACE) What are we supposed to do with this child?

GRACE: (Aside to WARBUCKS) It is her first night here, sir.

WARBUCKS: (Aside to GRACE) Hmm. (To ANNIE) Well, Annie, I guess we ought to do something special on your first night. (Has an idea) Would you like to go to a movie?

ANNIE: (Checking GRACE to see if this would be all right; GRACE nods "yes") Gosh, Mr. Warbucks, I've never been to one.

WARBUCKS: Then you'll go to the Roxy. And then an ice-cream soda at Rumpelmayer's and a hansom cab ride around Central Park.

ANNIE: Golly!

WARBUCKS: Grace, forget about the dictation for tonight. Instead, you take Annie to the movies.

GRACE: Yes, sir.

ANNIE: (Obviously disappointed about something) Aw, gee.

WARBUCKS: Something the matter, Annie?

ANNIE: It's just that well I thought you were going to take me.

WARBUCKS: Oh, no, I'm afraid I'll be far too busy tonight.

ANNIE: Aw, gee.

SIDE 4

WARBUCKS: Annie, I'm afraid the F.B.I. doesn't think that there's a chance in a million of tracing your parents through the locket. I'm sorry. (Takes the locket from the envelope and puts it on ANNIE)ANNIE: (CROSSING to the settee and sitting down dejectedly) That's okay. You did your best. Anyway, I guess a kid can get along without folks. You didn't turn out so bad.

WARBUCKS: (CROSSES to the settee with ANNIE and sits) Annie. I want to adopt you.

ANNIE: Adopt me?

WARBUCKS: Yes or no?

ANNIE: If I can't have my real mother and father, there's no one in the world I'd rather have for a father than you, Mr. Warbucks! (They hug. As ANNIE and WARBUCKS embrace, GRACE starts to join them, but then catches herself, realizing that it is their moment, and steps back in embarrassment)WARBUCKS: (Picking up ANNIE and swinging her around) Annie, this isn't just going to be an adoption, it's going to be a celebration! And you can have anyone in the world you want to come to it. Who would you like?

ANNIE: Well, I guess I'd like Miss Farrell here. And Mr. Drake. And Mrs. Pugh. And, well, everybody here.

WARBUCKS: Tell the staff to get spiffed up. They're going to be the guests at Annie's adoption party.

ANNIE: Oh, and the kids.

WARBUCKS: It'll be way past their bedtime now. But I'll tell you what, we'll have everyone from the Orphanage here tomorrow for a big Christmas party.

ANNIE: Miss Hannigan, too?

WARBUCKS: (Generous) Why not?

Music: Tomorrow

Warbucks SCRIPT

SIDE 1

WARBUCKS: (OFFSTAGE) Where is everybody? (OLIVER WARBUCKS, trailed by a uniformed CHAUFFEUR, comes bustling in. WARBUCKS is carrying a bulging briefcase and the CHAUFFEUR is carrying two suitcases. WARBUCKS takes off his overcoat and hands it to DRAKE) Hello, everybody.

SERVANTS: Sir.

GRACE: Welcome home, Mr. Warbucks.

WARBUCKS: It's good to be home.

DRAKE: How was your flight from Chicago?

WARBUCKS: Not bad only took eleven hours. Grace?

GRACE: (Eagerly) Yes, sir?

WARBUCKS: Messages?

GRACE: (consulting a notepad) President Roosevelt wants you to call him at the White House.

WARBUCKS: I'll get back to him tomorrow.

GRACE: (Trying to introduce ANNIE to WARBUCKS) Mr. Warbucks

WARBUCKS: All right, good to see you all again.

SERVANTS: Sir.

WARBUCKS: Drake, dismiss the staff.

DRAKE: Yes, sir.

(The SERVANTS, not including GRACE, EXIT; WARBUCKS turns to speak to GRACE and, for the first time, notices ANNIE)WARBUCKS: And, Grace, if you'll get your notebook Who is that?

GRACE: This is Annie, Mr. Warbucks: the orphan who will be with us for Christmas.

WARBUCKS: That's not a boy. Orphans are boys.

GRACE: I'm sorry, sir, you just said "orphan". So, I chose a girl.

WARBUCKS: Well, I suppose she'll have to do. (Frowningly approaching ANNIE, assessing her) Annie, huh? Annie what?

ANNIE: (Nervously) Oh, I'm just Annie, Mr. Warbucks, sir. I haven't got any last name. I'm sorry I'm not a boy.

WARBUCKS: (Obviously not meaning it) Not at all. I couldn't be happier. Grace, we'll start with the figures on the iron-ore shipments from Toledo to (Made uncomfortable by the presence of ANNIE, aside to GRACE) What are we supposed to do with this child?

GRACE: (Aside to WARBUCKS) It is her first night here, sir.

WARBUCKS: (Aside to GRACE) Hmm. (To ANNIE) Well, Annie, I guess we ought to do something special on your first night. (Has an idea) Would you like to go to a movie?

ANNIE: (Checking GRACE to see if this would be all right; GRACE nods "yes") Gosh, Mr. Warbucks, I've never been to one.

WARBUCKS: Then you'll go to the Roxy. And then an ice-cream soda at Rumpelmayer's and a hansom cab ride around Central Park.

ANNIE: Golly!

WARBUCKS: Grace, forget about the dictation for tonight. Instead, you take Annie to the movies.

GRACE: Yes, sir.

ANNIE: (Obviously disappointed about something) Aw, gee.

WARBUCKS: Something the matter, Annie?

ANNIE: It's just that well I thought you were going to take me.

WARBUCKS: Oh, no, I'm afraid I'll be far too busy tonight.

ANNIE: Aw, gee.

SIDE 2

WARBUCKS: Ah, finally. (Opening the envelope, taking out a letter, and reading it) Agent Gunderson located the manufacturer of Annie's locket. In Utica, New York.

ANNIE: Oh, boy! (CROSSES to WARBUCKS, excited)WARBUCKS: Over ninety thousand were made and sold.

ANNIE: Aw, gee.

WARBUCKS: Annie, I'm afraid the F.B.I. doesn't think that there's a chance in a million of tracing your parents through the locket. I'm sorry. (Takes the locket from the envelope and puts it on ANNIE)ANNIE: (CROSSING to the settee and sitting down dejectedly) That's okay. You did your best. Anyway, I guess a kid can get along without folks. You didn't turn out so bad.

WARBUCKS: Grace?

GRACE: Yes, sir?

WARBUCKS: Do you have those legal papers I gave you the other day?

GRACE: Right here!

WARBUCKS: (CROSSES to the settee with ANNIE and sits) Annie. I want to adopt you.

ANNIE: Adopt me?

WARBUCKS: Yes or no?

ANNIE: If I can't have my real mother and father, there's no one in the world I'd rather have for a father than you, Mr. Warbucks! (They hug. As ANNIE and WARBUCKS embrace, GRACE starts to join them, but then catches herself, realizing that it is their moment, and steps back in embarrassment)WARBUCKS: (Picking up ANNIE and swinging her around) Annie, this isn't just going to be an adoption, it's going to be a celebration! And you can have anyone in the world you want to come to it. Who would you like?

ANNIE: Well, I guess I'd like Miss Farrell here. And Mr. Drake. And Mrs. Pugh. And, well, everybody here.

WARBUCKS: Drake?

DRAKE: (ENTERING) Yes, sir.

WARBUCKS: Tell the staff to get spiffed up. They're going to be the guests at Annie's adoption party.

DRAKE: Yes, sir! (Skips off for joy)ANNIE: Oh, and the kids.

WARBUCKS: It'll be way past their bedtime now. But I'll tell you what, we'll have everyone from the Orphanage here tomorrow for a big Christmas party.

ANNIE: Miss Hannigan, too?

WARBUCKS: (Generous) Why not?

Music: NYC, Tomorrow

Grace SCRIPT

SIDE 1

(GRACE FARRELL ENTERS, carrying an attache case)GRACE: Good afternoon. Miss Hannigan?

MISS HANNIGAN: Yes?

GRACE: I'm Grace Farrell, private secretary to Oliver Warbucks. (Sits in the office chair, STAGE LEFT of the desk)MISS HANNIGAN: The Oliver Warbucks? The millionaire?

GRACE: Mr. Warbucks has decided to invite an orphan to spend the Christmas holidays at his home.

MISS HANNIGAN: What sort of orphan did he have in mind?

GRACE: Well, she should be friendly. (ANNIE waves to GRACE) And intelligent.

ANNIE: Mississippi. Capital M-I-double-S-I-double-S-I-double-P-I. Mississippi.

GRACE: And cheerful. (ANNIE laughs)MISS HANNIGAN: (Kicks ANNIE to quiet her) You shut up. And how old?

GRACE: Oh, age doesn't really matter. Oh, say, eight or nine. (ANNIE gestures upward to indicate she wants GRACE to say a higher age) Ten. (ANNIE gestures still higher) Eleven. (ANNIE gestures to GRACE to stop and then points to her own hair) Yes, eleven would be perfect. And oh, I almost forgot: Mr. Warbucks prefers red-headed children.

MISS HANNIGAN: Eleven? A red-head? Sorry, we don't have any orphans like that.

GRACE: What about this child right here?

MISS HANNIGAN: (MISS HANNIGAN rushes in between GRACE and ANNIE and pins ANNIE behind her back) Annie? Oh, no! You don't want her.

GRACE: Annie, would you like to spend the next two weeks at Mr. Warbucks' house?

ANNIE: I would love to.

MISS HANNIGAN: You can have any orphan here, but not Annie.

GRACE: Perhaps I should call the Board of Orphans and

MISS HANNIGAN (MISS HANNIGAN laughs) If it's Annie you want, it's Annie you get.

GRACE: It's Annie I want.

ANNIE: Oh, boy!

GRACE: If you'll get her coat, I'll take her along right now.

MISS HANNIGAN: She don't have no coat.

GRACE: Then we'll buy her one.

ANNIE: Oh, boy!

GRACE: Come along, Annie. Mr. Warbucks' limousine is outside.

SIDE 2GRACE: Welcome home, Mr. Warbucks.

WARBUCKS: It's good to be home.

DRAKE: How was your flight from Chicago?

WARBUCKS: Not bad only took eleven hours. Grace?

GRACE: (Eagerly) Yes, sir?

WARBUCKS: Messages?

GRACE: (consulting a notepad) President Roosevelt wants you to call him at the White House.

WARBUCKS: I'll get back to him tomorrow.

GRACE: (Trying to introduce ANNIE to WARBUCKS) Mr. Warbucks

WARBUCKS: All right, good to see you all again.

SERVANTS: Sir.

WARBUCKS: Drake, dismiss the staff.

(WARBUCKS turns to speak to GRACE and, for the first time, notices ANNIE)WARBUCKS: And, Grace, if you'll get your notebook Who is that?

GRACE: This is Annie, Mr. Warbucks: the orphan who will be with us for Christmas.

WARBUCKS: That's not a boy. Orphans are boys.

GRACE: I'm sorry, sir, you just said "orphan". So, I chose a girl. Music: I think Im Gonna Like it Here

Rooster & Lily SCRIPT: SIDE 1

ROOSTER: Hi ya, Sis. Long time no see.

MISS HANNIGAN: Rooster? They finally let you outta prison? What were you in for this time?

ROOSTER: Some old geezer said I swindled him outta eleven hundred bucks.

MISS HANNIGAN: Why'd he say that?

LILY: Because the Rooster swindled him outta eleven hundred bucks.

ROOSTER: Sis, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine from

LILY: Jersey City!

MISS HANNIGAN: Rooster, do me a favor. Get outta here.

ROOSTER: So who was the blondie I bumped into when I come in? Looked like she had a couple of dollars.

MISS HANNIGAN: She works for Oliver Warbucks.

LILY: The Oliver Warbucks?

MISS HANNIGAN: Annie, one of the orphans from here, is gettin' adopted by him.

LILY: Crummy orphan!

ROOSTER: Yeah, livin' in the lap of luxury while the two Hannigan kids ended up on the skids!

SIDE 2

(ROOSTER and LILY, in disguise as RALPH and SHIRLEY MUDGE, ENTER the orphanage hallway)ROOSTER: (Humbly, as RALPH MUDGE) Excuse me, ma'am, are you the lady that runs this here Orphanage?

MISS HANNIGAN: Yeah, whatta ya want?

LILY: (As SHIRLEY MUDGE) Ma'am, was you workin' here eleven years ago?

MISS HANNIGAN: Yeah.

ROOSTER: Well, we had a terrible troubles back then and had to leave a baby here. On the front stoop.

LILY: Our little girl. Our Annie.

MISS HANNIGAN: You're Annie's parents? I can't believe it. Where'd you say you come from again?

ROOSTER: A little farm up in Canada where they've got lots of chickens and ducks and geese and roosters. (HE crows and removes his glasses and hat and LILY pulls off her hat to reveal, in part, their disguise devices. ROOSTER and LILY, laughing and enjoying the success of their disguises, follow MISS HANNIGAN into her office) Gotcha, Sis!

MISS HANNIGAN: Rooster! I never woulda knowed it was you in a hundred years.

ROOSTER: Fooled ya, Aggie. And we're gonna fool Warbucks, too. (Sits in chair STAGE LEFT of desk)LILY: Get ourselves fifty thousand big ones.

ROOSTER: We need your help, Sis, for details about Annie that can help us pull this thing off.

MISS HANNIGAN: What's in it for me?

ROOSTER: Three-way split.

MISS HANNIGAN: Half.

LILY: Half?

MISS HANNIGAN: Half.

ROOSTER: OK. Twenty-five grand each. But we gotta do it fast. Get the money, get the kid and get outta town.

MISS HANNIGAN: The kid's the problem. What would we do with her afterward?

ROOSTER: No problem. (Flips open a long switchblade knife) When I want something to disappear, it disappears. (With sleight-of-hand, makes the knife disappear) For good. We get the fifty grand, we blow this crumby town, and then Lil and me'll meetcha

MISS HANNIGAN: Where? Oh, yeah.

Music: Easy Street

Miss Hannigan SCRIPT SIDE 1

(MISS HANNIGAN, wearing a bathrobe, flings open her door and, witch-like, stands bathed in white light before ANNIE)MISS HANNIGAN: Aha! Caught you! (Flings ANNIE to the floor and switches on the hallway light. LIGHTS brighten) Get up. Get up!

ANNIE: (Getting up, warily) Yes, Miss Hannigan.

MISS HANNIGAN: Turn around. (ANNIE doesn't) I said turn around. (ANNIE turns around and MISS HANNIGAN hits her on the backside with a paddle) There! Now, what do you say? What do you say?

ANNIE: (Reluctantly; through her teeth) I love you, Miss Hannigan.

MISS HANNIGAN: Rotten orphan.

ANNIE: (Angrily) I'm not an orphan. My mother and father left a note saying they loved me and they were coming back for me.

MISS HANNIGAN: That was 1922; this is 1933. (Switches on the LIGHT in the dormitory, sticks her head through the door and BLOWS her whistle) Get up! Now, for this one's shenanigans, you'll all get down on your knobby little knees and clean this dump until it shines like the top of the Chrysler Building!

TESSIE: (Starting to cry) But it's four o'clock in the morning.

MISS HANNIGAN: (Laughs cruelly) Get to work.

ANNIE, ORPHANS: Yes, Miss Hannigan

MISS HANNIGAN: Now! (Orphans run for pails and return to front) Why any kid would want to be an orphan, I'll never know.

SIDE 2

ROOSTER: Hi ya, Sis. Long time no see.

MISS HANNIGAN: Rooster? They finally let you outta prison? What were you in for this time?

ROOSTER: Some old geezer said I swindled him outta eleven hundred bucks.

MISS HANNIGAN: Why'd he say that?

LILY: (ENTERING) Because the Rooster swindled him outta eleven hundred bucks.

ROOSTER: Sis, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine from

LILY: Jersey City!

MISS HANNIGAN: Rooster, do me a favor. Get outta here.

ROOSTER: So who was the blondie I bumped into when I come in? Looked like she had a couple of dollars.

MISS HANNIGAN: She works for Oliver Warbucks.

LILY: The Oliver Warbucks?

MISS HANNIGAN: Annie, one of the orphans from here, is gettin' adopted by him.

LILY: Crummy orphan!

ROOSTER: Yeah, livin' in the lap of luxury while the two Hannigan kids ended up on the skids!

SIDE 3

MISS HANNIGAN: A fifty-thousand-dollar reward. Fifty thousand! What I couldn't do with fifty thousand dollars.

(ROOSTER and LILY, in disguise as RALPH and SHIRLEY MUDGE, ENTER the orphanage hallway)ROOSTER: (Humbly, as RALPH MUDGE) Excuse me, ma'am, are you the lady that runs this here Orphanage?

MISS HANNIGAN: Yeah, whatta ya want?

LILY: (As SHIRLEY MUDGE) Ma'am, was you workin' here eleven years ago?

MISS HANNIGAN: Yeah.

ROOSTER: Well, we had a terrible troubles back then and had to leave a baby here. On the front stoop.

LILY: Our little girl. Our Annie.

MISS HANNIGAN: You're Annie's parents? I can't believe it. Where'd you say you come from again?

ROOSTER: A little farm up in Canada where they've got lots of chickens and ducks and geese and roosters. (HE crows and removes his glasses and hat and LILY pulls off her hat to reveal, in part, their disguise devices. ROOSTER and LILY, laughing and enjoying the success of their disguises, follow MISS HANNIGAN into her office) Gotcha, Sis!

MISS HANNIGAN: Rooster! I never woulda knowed it was you in a hundred years.

ROOSTER: Fooled ya, Aggie. And we're gonna fool Warbucks, too. (Sits in chair)LILY: Get ourselves fifty thousand big ones.

ROOSTER: We need your help, Sis, for details about Annie that can help us pull this thing off.

MISS HANNIGAN: What's in it for me?

ROOSTER: Three-way split.

MISS HANNIGAN: Half.

Music: Little Girls

It is 3 A.M. on a chilly morning in early December, 1933. Six orphans are asleep in the dormitory of the Girls' Annex of The New York City Municipal Orphanage. The orphans are Molly, the littlest, who is six; Kate, the next-to-littlest, who is seven; Tessie, the crybaby, who is ten; Pepper, the toughest, who is twelve; July, the quietest, who is thirteen; and Duffy, the biggest, who is also thirteen. Molly is just waking up from a dream and crying out for her mother. The other orphans wake up and begin arguing. Annie, who is eleven and has been up cleaning, runs in. Annie comforts Molly, who begs her to read the note that Annie's parents left when they abandoned her. Pepper reminds the group that they also left Annie one-half of a silver locket and kept the other half with a promise to reclaim her one day. Annie then pulls Molly close to her and sings about the parents she imagines, but has never known. The other orphans join her ("Maybe"). Thinking about her parents inspires Annie to run away from the orphanage to search for them. She packs a bag and is ready to leave when she is discovered by Miss Hannigan, the villainous director of the orphanage. Miss Hannigan makes all the orphans get up to scrub floors and strip the beds to "pay" for Annie's misbehavior. Their complaints that it is four o'clock in the morning fall on deaf ears. As they clean, the orphans complain about their difficult circumstances ("Hard-Knock Life").

In the morning, when Bundles McCloskey, the laundry man, comes to make a pick-up from the orphanage, the orphans take advantage of the fact he is flirting with Miss Hannigan and sneak Annie out of the building in a laundry bag. Realizing Annie has escaped, Miss Hannigan calls for the police as the orphans celebrate ("Hard-Knock Life-Reprise").

Annie is on a street lined with tenements when she encounters a mutt, who is being chased by dog catchers. She rescues him and sings "Tomorrow," expressing her feelings that both she and the dog have to believe everything will be fine for them in the future. When a policeman makes her prove the mutt is her dog, she names it Sandy on the spot and then calls it to come to her. The dog miraculously responds and they become a team.

Back at the orphanage, Miss Hannigan is being tormented by the orphans. She expresses her disgust with her lot in life as the keeper of "Little Girls." The policeman arrives and returns Annie. As Miss Hannigan is threatening Annie, Grace Farrell, an attractive, well-dressed young woman, enters carrying an attach case. She is the private secretary to the billionaire Oliver Warbucks, who wants to invite an orphan to his mansion for Christmas. Annie campaigns for the opportunity but Miss Hannigan does everything in her power to discredit Annie. Grace is instantly drawn to Annie and is determined to bring her to the Warbucks mansion. She demands that Miss Hannigan sign the required papers and she escorts Annie to a waiting limousine. Miss Hannigan fumes as the orphans celebrate ("Little Girls-Reprise").

Grace brings Annie to Mr. Warbucks' mansion and introduces her to the servants. Annie is in awe of her new surroundings and she is made to feel completely welcome by the staff ("I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here"). Oliver Warbucks arrives on the scene. He is a powerful figure in the country and a pivotal player in the current economic crisis. He rarely stops thinking about business and is taken aback by Annie's appearance in his house. He had expected the orphan to be a boy and is puzzled by the prospect of dealing with a little girl. Yet almost immediately he feels a deep connection to Annie's spunk and personality, which remind him of his own humble beginnings. Contrary to his usual behavior, he decides to take a night off. Warbucks escorts Annie to see a movie at the Roxy, treats her to an ice cream soda and a hansom cab ride around Central Park.

As she tours New York with Warbucks and Grace, Annie sees the city in a new way ("N.Y.C."). At the end of the evening, Annie is exhausted and Warbucks carries her home. As they leave Times Square, the faithful Sandy enters and then forlornly wanders off in search of Annie.

Grace arrives at the orphanage to tell Miss Hannigan that Oliver Warbucks wants to adopt Annie. She leaves just as Miss Hannigan's brother, Rooster, arrives with his girlfriend, Lily. Rooster has come to borrow money from his sister. Miss Hannigan shares the news of Annie's pending adoption by Warbucks. The siblings lament their misfortunes ("Easy Street").

Warbucks is talking to the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt. A package from Tiffany & Co. arrives, which contains a silver locket for Annie. Warbucks tells Annie that he wants to adopt her and gives her the locket. Instead of the happy response he imagined, Annie begins to weep. When he learns about her dream of finding her parents and the secret of the half-locket she has treasured for so long, he sets his own feelings aside and orders an exhaustive search for Annie's parents. Warbucks laments his loss, but is resolved to find Annie's real parents ("You Won't Be An Orphan For Long").

Annie and Warbucks are guests on the popular Bert Healy radio show ("Maybe-Reprise"). They make a plea for Annie's parents to return and Warbucks offers $50,000 to anyone who can prove they are her mother and father.

The orphans are listening to Bert Healy's radio show and sing their own version of Bert Healy's signature song, "You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile." Miss Hannigan, furious about Annie's good fortune, sends them out of the room. Rooster and Lily arrive, disguised as Ralph and Shirley Mudge, claiming to be Annie's parents. They reveal their identity to Miss Hannigan and share their plot to claim Annie and the $50,000 reward. Once they have the money, the trio plan to do away with Annie and live in the lap of luxury ("Easy Street-Reprise").

At the mansion, Annie and Warbucks discover that Grace has interviewed and dismissed hundreds of people claiming to be Annie's parents-no one mentioned anything about a locket. The F.B.I. has also reported that the purchasers of the locket cannot be traced. It appears that Annie's quest cannot have a happy ending. Warbucks declares his intention to adopt Annie, and Annie accepts. Preparations are set in motion for a party to celebrate the adoption. Annie and Warbucks express their delight with the idea of becoming father and daughter ("I Don't Need Anything But You"). Just then, Rooster and Lily, disguised as Ralph and Shirley Mudge, appear with the other half of Annie's locket.

They also have Annie's birth certificate, which has been supplied by Miss Hannigan. They announce their intention to take Annie home to live with them in New Jersey. Warbucks convinces them to let Annie spend Christmas with him at the mansion. The Mudges can pick her up the next day. Rooster and Lily agree and leave. Everyone toasts Annie Mudge, but Annie breaks into tears and runs upstairs. Grace confesses to Warbucks she believes she has seen Mudge before.

The next morning, Annie waits apprehensively for the Mudges to claim her ("Maybe-Second Reprise"). President Roosevelt arrives with the news that the F.B.I. has analyzed the handwriting on the note Annie's parents left behind to trace their identity. The investigation revealed her real parents were named David and Margaret Bennett and that they are dead. The Mudges are impostors. Annie and Warbucks declare their love for each other. They realize only Miss Hannigan could have given the Mudges the locket and birth certificate. Miss Hannigan arrives with the orphans to celebrate Christmas. As the Mudges arrive to claim Annie, another communication from the F.B.I. reveals their true identities as Rooster and Lilly. Miss Hannigan tries to save herself by pretending to have no association with them and begins leading the orphans in Christmas carols. All three are hauled off to jail and Roosevelt promises they will have a much better life in the future - a "New Deal" ("Tomorrow-Reprise"). A huge package arrives for Annie; when she opens it Sandy jumps into her arms.