One of our most loved musicals is set to return this summer and with it the Strictly judge we love to hate. ANNIE is the musical and stepping back into the shoes of Miss Hannigan is the fab-u-lous CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD.
It’s a story which has had many lives, but on stage is where it works best, and if you need any proof, just ask the thousands who saw the show on its last visit to the Wales Millennium back in August 2019 (pre-covid days). Craig was here then and was a real show-stealer, next to little orphan Annie that is.
Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Her luck soon changes when she’s chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Meanwhile, spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family…
Annie the Musical was originally based on Harold Gray’s comic strip ‘Little Orphan Annie’. With unforgettable Tony® award-winning book and songs such as ‘Tomorrow’ ‘Easy Street‘ and ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, it’s easy to see why the show is a huge success on stage, and of course the big screen.
The original movie outing (and still the best) is John Huston’s 1982 film starring Albert Finney as the billionaire Oliver Warbucks is an absolute classic.
Craig is probably best known as a judge on all 20 series of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing. He returns to the part of Miss Hannigan having played the role to critical acclaim in this production in both the West End and on tour. His other West End Theatre credits include Munkustrap in Cats, Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and Harry in Crazy for You at the Prince Edward Theatre.
Craig also directed and choreographed Strictly Ballroom The Musical, which will visit Wales Millennium Centre next January. The show also features another Strictly favourite, KEVIN CLIFTON. Take a look at our feature HERE. Craig also worked on the and the 2016/17 tour of Sister Act The Musical as well as the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour. He also choreographed the film Paddington 2.
Craig will play the role of Miss Hannigan on the Cardiff leg of the tour and also play the role in Leicester, Birmingham, Oxford, Dartford, Stoke, Llandudno, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Nottingham, Woking, Bradford, Southend, Bromley and Norwich. As previously announced, Paul O’Grady will play the role of Miss Hannigan in Newcastle, Edinburgh, Southampton, Liverpool, Dublin and Bristol.
ANNIE gets to the Wales Millennium Centre from the 3rd to 8th July, tickets are on sale now. For more information and tickets, go HERE.
Annie has Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin and a Book by Thomas Meehan. It is directed by Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster with set and costume design by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Richard Brooker.
