On 10 July 2012, Annie the Musical opened at the Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, with a cast and company of 52. It was the show’s first Singapore staging, arriving 35 years after the original Broadway debut in 1977. The run ended on Sunday, 5 August 2012.
This is a look back at that production: who was on stage, what worked, and why a Depression-era story about an optimistic orphan suited a Singapore audience.
A British tour with a Singapore chorus of orphans
The production came to Singapore from a UK tour, presented by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Base Entertainment Asia. Roger Hannah directed and choreographed it. The title role was shared by three young British actresses, Katie Howard, Charlie Hall and Ella Crossland. Alongside them, 27 young Singaporean actresses performed in the cast.
Those Singapore girls were cast through open auditions. Over 300 girls tried out for the orphan roles of Molly, Pepper, Duffy, Kate, Tessie and July, who ranged in age from six to 14. Three girls were chosen for each part and took turns on stage.
The grown-ups
British comedy star Su Pollard played the scheming orphanage matron Miss Hannigan. Ahead of the run, she described the character as misunderstood and driven to drink by loneliness. That reading showed on stage: the role was nasty but oddly sympathetic. David McAlister, a UK stage and screen veteran, played Daddy Warbucks.
Not every reviewer rated the leads equally. One theatre critic felt McAlister’s singing showed some discomfort. The same critic thought the young Annie on opening night played her part with the finesse of a veteran, despite a slightly hoarse voice.
The songs and the scene-stealer
The score carried all the favourites: “Hard Knock Life”, “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile”, “NYC” and, of course, “Tomorrow”. The company also added a local touch, raising a toast with a hearty “yum seng”.
The child performers were the draw. They delivered confident singing and intricate choreography. The littlest orphan, Molly, was played by six-year-old Singaporean Chloe Choo. Her dancing and high-pitched delivery won some of the loudest applause on opening night, and a second reviewer also said she stole the show.
Opening night was also reported as a success with the audience: one entertainment outlet said it drew a standing ovation. Another review praised the orphans’ teamwork, noting that British and Singaporean girls blended into one ensemble with no sense of rivalry.
Why the story landed
Annie is set in the Great Depression of the 1930s, and it is built on hope. For a Gen-Y adult, that era can feel distant, but the story still lands. The show’s central idea is that bad times need not get you down. Reviewers at the time noted that it arrived amid global economic worries.
The production did not try to be the flashiest musical in town. One reviewer judged the staging less lavish than some rivals, while another thought the production values matched any big-budget show. Either way, the strength of the show lay in its warmth and in the energy of its young cast. It worked as a family outing, and even sceptics were won over by the final numbers.
Tickets and the run
In 2012, tickets ranged from S$65 to S$175 and were sold through Base Entertainment Asia. The season lasted four weeks, from 10 July to 5 August 2012, at a running time of around two and a half hours. The cast had come to Singapore after a short residency in Hong Kong that same year.
This was a limited season. Anyone looking for Annie in Singapore today should check current listings with local theatre promoters for any new productions.