Taraji P. Henson To Star as Miss Hannigan in “Annie Live” this December on NBC

This vacation season, audiences will probably be handled to an up to date particular certain to heat even the coldest and tiniest Grinch hearts. Actress Taraji P. Henson steps on display screen to play the evil Miss Hannigan in “Annie Reside,” on December 2 on NBC.  

The Academy Award-nominated Henson will star in a dwell manufacturing of one of the beloved and largest hits in Broadway historical past.  As for Henson’s co-star within the titular position, that actor hasn’t but been discovered. NBC is launching a nationwide casting seek for the redheaded essential character.

Henson says she will’t wait to tackle the position, though she is aware of she’s received large footwear to fill. 

“Carol Burnett, who introduced Miss Hannigan to life within the basic 1982 film, is somebody I’ve studied and idolized way back to I can keep in mind,” she mentioned. “So when the chance got here to me to affix NBC and this unimaginable group of producers, I jumped! Carol, I hope to do you proud!”

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The search has begun to discover a spunky and optimistic performer who has received star attraction to tackle this basic position.  Auditions will probably be digital, so “Annie” hopefuls from wherever can showcase their expertise and go to https://castittalent.com/Annie_Live for extra info and a hyperlink to add their audition. Rehearsals will probably be in October/November 2023 in New York.  Whereas Annie will certainly have crimson hair, ladies of any ethnicity are known as to audition.

Initially based mostly on a Melancholy-era caricature, “Little Orphan Annie,” the musical has been translated into eight languages, carried out in 50 nations and ran on Broadway for greater than 4 years when it premiered in 1977. The story, which has captivated audiences, hasn’t all the time been with out friction in the case of updating the story alongside racial traces.

Singer and actress Nell Carter performed Miss Hannigan within the 1997 Broadway revival of the play. Carter was dismayed, nonetheless, when an earlier business that includes a white actress as her character was performed to promote the present. 

In 1999, in a tv remake by Disney, Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald performed Annie’s caregiver and Oliver Warbucks’ love curiosity, Grace Farrell. McDonald defined that she was informed the studio is likely to be “uncomfortable” if Warbucks married Grace as a Black lady. Her co-star, Victor Garber, deliberately botched retakes in order that the studio must go away in his proposal because the story initially required. 

The newest remake of the enduring story starred Jamie Foxx as adoptive dad “Benjamin Stacks” to Quvenzhané Wallis’ portrayal of Annie. The 2014 manufacturing was successful, however it wasn’t with out on-line criticism that the lead actor was not white.

“Annie Reside” brings again NBC’s vacation musical custom this yr.  The community says they’re pulling out all of the stops to make this manufacturing “must-watch tv.”

“Once we determined to carry again NBC’s vacation musical custom, we had been in search of one thing that was critically acclaimed and universally beloved – and whereas that’s undoubtedly the case with ‘Annie,’ it completely applies to Taraji as effectively,” mentioned Susan Rovner, Chairman, Leisure Content material, NBCUniversal Tv and Streaming. “Watching her tackle this iconic position will probably be a thrill that has all of the makings of must-watch tv.”