About the work
Annie is a musical by Charles Strouse (music), Martin Charnin (lyrics), and Thomas Meehan (book), premiered on Broadway in 1977. Based on the American comic strip Little Orphan Annie, it became one of the greatest family successes in Broadway history, winning seven Tony Awards including Best Musical.
Plot
In New York during the Great Depression, the optimistic orphan Annie lives in the bleak orphanage run by the alcoholic Miss Hannigan. Invited to spend Christmas with the billionaire industrialist Oliver Warbucks, Annie wins his heart. Warbucks resolves to adopt her while also searching for her biological parents. Miss Hannigan's brother Rooster and his girlfriend try to pass themselves off as Annie's parents to claim the reward, but the deception is exposed. Annie finds a new home with Warbucks.
Cultural significance
Annie became the epitome of the family-friendly Broadway musical and was made world-famous through several film adaptations. The song Tomorrow ranks among the most frequently sung of all musical numbers and became an anthem of irrepressible optimism. The work ran for more than 2,300 performances on Broadway and is still performed worldwide by professional and amateur companies alike; its blend of Depression-era nostalgia and heart-warming hope has shaped generations.