Please read the information below carefully! Audition Registration is available here.
Director: Jack Boyagian
Vocal Director: Marie Anderson
Choreographer: Alina Adjemian/Assisted by Holly LaFlamme-Warner
Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, with a beloved book and score by Tony Award-winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, Annie JR. features everyone’s favourite little redhead in her very first adventure.
With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, finding a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
Audition Info
Dates
The auditions will take place on June 26, 28, and July 2, with callbacks for leads on July 3 from 4:30 to 7:00. If you are away for these dates please email Jack Boyagian.
We want to start rehearsing on Sept. 4th. Rehearsals are Thursdays 4:30-7:00 and Saturdays 9:30- 1:00.
Show dates are Nov. 26, 27, 28, and Dec. 1 during school hours and Nov. 29 and 30 for 3 public shows.
PICK ONE AUDITION TIME APPROPRIATE FOR THE ROLE YOU ARE TRYING OUT FOR. IF YOU WANT A LEAD YOU MUST TRY OUT FOR THE LEAD. IF YOU DON’T GET THE LEAD ROLE YOU MAY GET ANOTHER LEAD ROLE OR AN ENSEMBLE ROLE.
| Role | Audition Time |
| Annie/Orphan | Thursday, June 26, 4:00pm |
| Thursday, June 26, 4:30pm | |
| Thursday, June 26, 5:00pm | |
| Thursday, June 26, 5:30pm | |
| Saturday, June 28, 10:00am | |
| Saturday, June 28, 10:30am | |
| Saturday, June 28, 11:00am | |
| Saturday, June 28, 11:30am | |
| Wednesday, July 2, 4:00pm | |
| Wednesday, July 2, 4:30pm | |
| Wednesday, July 2, 5:00pm | |
| Wednesday, July 2, 5:30pm | |
| Lily/Grace/Rooster/Warbucks/Hannigan | Thursday, June 26, 6:00pm |
| Thursday, June 26, 6:30pm | |
| Saturday, June 28, 12:00pm | |
| Saturday, June 28, 12:30pm | |
| Wednesday, July 2, 6:00pm | |
| Wednesday, July 2, 6:30pm | |
| Boys Ensemble | Thursday, June 26, 7:00pm |
| Thursday, June 26, 7:30pm | |
| Saturday, June 28, 1:00pm | |
| Wednesday, July 2, 7:00pm | |
| Wednesday, July 2, 7:30pm |
Audition Process
You will we asked to sing, act out a few lines from the show and do a short movement piece. You are expected to prepare for the song and the short scene. The practice track and the instrumental music track are provided below. We may also have you read from the script – pieces are included below but do not need to be memorized. The short dance number will be demonstrated and no preparation is needed. Auditions times are organized in groups.
How Can I Have a Good Audition?
- Speak/sing with expression
- Practice so you don’t stare at the paper for the words
- Look out to the audience when you sing
- Use gestures with your body, hands, arms, head, eyes, etc.
- Act confident-pretend that you are not nervous or afraid to be on stage.
- Research the show through videos or recordings to get a better idea of how the character sings and speaks.
Roles
We will be doubling up these roles for a smaller cast of around 24 so the kids have enough to do. We may also have the ANNIE role shared or an understudy depending on the turnout. This cast has a heavy requirement of girls. They need to be age appropriate so some talented kids may not get a part. We are looking at casting 12 orphans including Annie.
With several big musical numbers (including: Hard Knock Life, I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here, N.Y.C., You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile and Tomorrow), there will be additional opportunities to assign special parts and staging during rehearsals. Additional ensemble roles include: ORPHANS, PEDESTRIANS, SERVANTS, AND USHERETTES.
Girls ages 8 – 17
Boys ages 10 – 17
Character Breakdown
ANNIE – Red-headed 11 year old street-wise orphan; motherly to fellow orphans while independent & tough; must be a strong actor who can maintain focus and stay in character and display clear physical control for a lot of onstage pantomimed action; requires an outstanding vocalist with a clear, strong sound; must create a friendly & caring character that the audience will love! Sings MAYBE, TOMORROW, I THINK I’M GONNA LIKE IT HERE; NYC, YOU WON’T BE AN ORPHAN FOR LONG, I DON’T NEED ANYTHING BUT YOU, HARD KNOCK LIFE
ORPHANS – Gritty, neglected & vulnerable little girls of varying ages; must have mischievous fun & “sibling-style” fights; must be vocally strong & visually expressive – be able to dance & move well on stage; Sing HARD KNOCK LIFE, YOUR’RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED, TOMORROW (REPRISE)
MOLLY – The littlest who is 8 yrs. old
PEPPER – 12 yrs. old,tough
DUFFY – 13 yrs. Old, the oldest & biggest; somewhat of a leader
KATE – Next-to-littlest who is 8
TESSIE – Cry-baby who is 10
JULY – The quietest who is 13
MISS HANNIGAN – Head of the Orphanage & a definite “has-been”; hates her job & the children, but hilarious to watch; must have great comedic timing & be a strong singer & performer; needs to make the audience delight in anticipation of what she will do next! Sings LITTLE GIRLS & EASY STREET
ROOSTER – Miss Hannigan’s younger thief of a brother; a hustler by all accounts. Flashy & self-assured; Needs to make a great team with Lily; big character part – a New York accent could be a real plus; needs to be a strong singer, dancer, & presence on stage. Sings EASY STREET & EASY STREET (REPRISE)
LILY– Rooster’s friend – ditsy, checks her make-up in the mirror often, big New York accent. Needs to be able to dance & sing well. Must play up to Rooster – character part. Sings EASY STREET & EASY, STREET (REPRISE)
OLIVER WARBUCKS – A self-made millionaire who spent his life building his career & not his personal relationships; a kind man, but a bit brusque and not used to children, pleasantries, or emoting; His posture, walk, and speech patterns are very important. Can sing well or speak-sing if the actor playing him has a booming voice & stage presence. Sings NYC, YOU WON’T BE AN ORPHAN FOR LONG; I DON’T NEED ANYTHING BUT YOU, TOMORROW (REPRISE)
GRACE FARRELL – Oliver Warbuck’s “right hand” person. She is sophisticated, mature, calm, cool, & together; she should seem responsible & have great timing when speaking & moving that she has everything under control. Needs to be a strong singer & stage presence. Sings I THINK I’M GONNA LIKE IT HERE, NYC, & TOMORROW (REPRISE)
ENSEMBLE ROLES:
SANDY – Annie’s faithful dog companion, played by a human; non-speaking but sings and dances
BUNDLES McCLOSKEY – The orphanage laundry man; flirts w/ Hannigan
APPLE SELLER – Sells apples, interacts w/ Annie on the street
DOGCATCHER – Looking for strays; interacts with Annie on street
LT. WARD – Police Officer; interacts w/ Miss Hannigan
DRAKE – Warbuck’s English butler; in several scenes
MRS. GREER – Warbuck’s housekeeper
MRS. PUGH – Warbuck’s cook
CECILLE – Warbuck’s French maid
ANNETTE – Warbuck’s French maid
Warbuck’s chauffeur
STAR-TO-BE – Solo part in” NYC”; just arrived in New York; hoping to make it big
MAN IN BROWNSTONE WINDOW – Yells a line in “NYC”
USHERETTE – One line in scene 5; works at the movie theater
RADIO ANNOUNCER – Not onstage – comes thru Hannigan’s radio
SOUND EFFECTS MAN – Non-speaking acts out sounds onstage & cues audience
BERT HEALY – host of radio program
3 RADIO GIRLS – trio singing part in “Your Never Fully Dressed”
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT – President of US; character actor; lines in final scene
LOUIS HOWE – Pushes FDR’s wheelchair; one line
POLICEMAN – Non-speaking role in final scene
Annie & Orphans
Annie: looks 10 or 11. Note, for the callback, Annie will be asked to sing the entire song Tomorrow.
Audition song: Maybe – with lyrics | instrumental
Lyrics:
Maybe far away, Or maybe real nearby, He may be pouring her coffee, She may be straightening his tie!
Maybe in a house, All hidden by a hill She’s sitting playing piano, He’s sitting paying a bill!
Betcha they’re young, Betcha they’re smart , Bet they collect things, Like ashtrays, and art!
Betcha they’re good, Why shouldn’t they be? Their one mistake, Was giving up me!
Memorize the passage:
Pipe down, all of you. Do you want Hannigan to hear you? Shhhh, Molly. It’s all right, Annie’s here. Blow. It was only a dream. Now we’ve all got to get back to sleep. It’s after three a.m. All right, I’ll read you my note again if you promise to go back to sleep. (clears throat) “ . . . Please take care of our little darling. We’ve named her Annie. She was born on Oct. 28 . . . “ So, you’re laughing are you? Do you want to sleep with your teeth inside your mouth or out?
Girl Orphans, ages 8 – 12
Audition song: It’s a Hard Knock Life – with lyrics | instrumental
Lyrics:
- It’s the hard-knock life for us!
It’s the hard-knock life for us!
‘Steada treated
We get tricked!
‘Steada kisses
We get kicked!
It’s the hard-knock life! - Got no folks to speak of, so
It’s the hard-knock row we how
Cotton blankets
‘Steada of wool!
Empty bellies
‘Steada of full!
It’s the hard-knock life! - Don’t if feel like the wind is always howln’?
Don’t it seem like there’s never any light!
Once a day, don’t you wanna throw the towel
in?
It’s easier than puttin’ up a fight - No one’s there when your dreams at night
get creepy!
No one cares if you grow or if you shrink!
No one dries when your eyes get wet an’
weepy!
From the cryin’ you would think this place’s a
Miss Hannigan, ages 14 – 17
Audition song: Little Girls, sing entire song – with lyrics | instrumental
Memorize the passage:
Ah ha! Caught ya! I hear ya! I always hear ya! Get up! All of ya! So what if it’s four o-clock in the morning. That’s your problem.Rotten orphans! Alright… for all of this one’s shenanigans the rest of you’ll be scrubbing the floors. Strip them beds too for the laundry man. Get up…get up!!! Put them things away. Time to rise and shine!
Lily, age 12+, must look older than orphans
Audition song: Easy Street – with lyrics | instrumental
Memorize the passage:
Hi. I’m Lily St. Regis from Jersey City. You know, like the hotel. I’m named after it! So you live in this dump? The city may foot your bill but this ain’t exactly Buckingham Palace. (she laughs) Your pearls ain’t even real. Rooster? I thought you said your big sis was livin’ in clover? She’s livin’ in the skids!
Rooster, age 12+
Audition song: Easy Street – with lyrics | instrumental
Memorize the passage:
Sure enough. They finally let me out. This time some old geezer said I swindled him out of eleven hundred bucks??? Why did he say I swindled him out of eleven hundred bucks? Cuz…. (with pride) I swindled him out of eleven hundred bucks. But I’m not about to sit here while some crummy orphan is living in the lap of luxury and the two Hannigan kids have ended up on the skids. I got a plan.
Warbucks, ages 15 – 17
Audition song: Tomorrow Reprise – with lyrics | instrumental
Memorize the passage:
Been away six weeks. Where is everybody? Hello! Ah…it’s good to be home. The flight wasn’t too bad. Only took eleven hours and we had to land four times. Now, first thing’s first. Has the painting arrived from Paris? Let me see it before they hang it. And any messages? Ahh… the president. I’ll get back to him tomorrow. Anyone else? All right, good to see you all again. Grace, if you’ll get your notebook and—who is that? The orphan? But that’s not a boy. Orphans are supposed to be boys.
Grace Farrell, ages 15 – 17
Audition Song: Tomorrow Reprise – with lyrics | instrumental
Memorize either Hannigan or Lily passage.
Ensemble Boys (10 – 16) and Ensemble Girls (10 – 17), this includes all characters in the show that are not leads
Audition song: Tomorrow Reprise – with lyrics | instrumental
Sides
We may have you read from the script; you do not need to have these pieces memorized!
Grace, Hannigan, Annie
Healy, Warbucks
Rooster, Lily, Warbucks
Molly, Pepper, Duffy, July, Annie, Tessie