Beloved musical Annie has returned to Sydney at the Capitol Theatre.
Adapted from the 1924 comic strip Little Orphan Annie, the tale was transformed into a legendary musical with a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin.
Annie has been on Broadway, the West End stage, been subject to many revivals, and won Tony awards for Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Book of a Musical.
It has earned itself passionate fans and a famous reputation courtesy of the heartwarming story and iconic songs.
IMAGE COURTESY: Shane O’Connor
One such fan is Kristina MacNamara, who has been cast in the ensemble for the Sydney and Melbourne tour.
Living in Northbridge, Kristina has been involved with dance and theatre for most of her life, but fully committed herself to the industry in 2018. A student at the Neutral Bay School of Dance, alum of Brent Street, an acting coach, a singing teacher, a yoga instructor, Kristina has a wealth of knowledge.
‘In my later 20s I rejigged my life and made a second surge into the industry,’ explains Kristina. ‘You have to be 100% in or it doesn’t work.’
Since, Kristina has been involved with Chicago, West Side Story, American Psycho, the Great Gatsby, Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Follies. She had auditioned for Annie previously, but she wasn’t ready at the time. Now, Kristina is on the ensemble for the 2025 session.
As a child, Kristina watched the movie constantly.
‘It was to the point when as a child I thought “is this unhealthy”?’ says Kristina, laughing. ‘The show lends itself to the underdog, and everyone likes a kid getting a chance.’
Growing up in an orphanage run by the evil Miss Hannigan, Annie emerges from the slums to stay in a mansion owned by billionaire Oliver Warbucks for a holiday. On a mission to find her birth parents, Oliver helps Annie by offering a reward. Evil Miss Hannigan enlists the help of her brother to foil the quest and take the reward money.
‘It is timeless, and kid friendly,’ says Kristina. ‘There is something about kids in the audience watching kids on stage, you see yourself up there… It is heartwarming to see bold kids defy odds and go from what they want.’
Alongside Kristina, the cast is packed with locals. Dakota Chanel (12, Balgowlah Heights) is one of four youngsters playing the titular role of Annie. Francesca Kong (13, Riverview) is among those playing Pepper. Camille Nko’o (11, Double Bay) and Bianca Papa (11, Narrabeen) will be among those playing Duffy. Ellie Lang (8, Fairlight) and Arianna Lorusso (8, Beacon Hill) will play Molly. Yeshi Jehru (12, Dee Why) and Skye Spiden (11, Hunters Hill) will play Friday.
‘If there is anything that stands out to me from this production it’s watching confident young girls, and confident young kids, they are so impressive. Sometimes parents might not know how to get kids off their iPads, but a show like Annie is a safe bet,’ says Kristina.
