See How the ‘Annie Live!’ Cast Stacks Up Against Their Predecessors (PHOTOS)
Annie Live! is sure to be a must-watch holiday event for the whole family, bringing the classic Broadway hit to life like never before. The NBC special featuring newcomer Celina Smith as the titular orphan has released the full official cast for the anticipated live production.
The star-studded lineup includes Harry Connick Jr. as Daddy Warbucks, Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan, Nicole Scherzinger as Grace, and Tituss Burgess as Rooster, with Megan Hilty as Lily St. Regis after the originally cast Jane Krakowski tested positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19.
President Roosevelt will be played by actor/activist and real-life polio survivor Alan Toy, the first actor with paralysis to ever play the role. Playing Annie’s orphan friends are Felice Kakaletris as Molly, Cate Elefante as Kate, Sophie Knapp as July, Tessa Frascogna as Tessie, Arwen Monzon-Sanders as Duffy, and Audrey Cymone as Pepper.
Rounding out the production’s ensemble are Wendi Bergamini, Jadaya Bivins, Brittany Conigatti, Ben Davis, Zachary Downer, Karla Garcia, Kayla Goins, Luke Hawkins, Christopher Hernandez, Afra Hines, Trinity Inay, Jeff Kready, McKenzie Kurtz, Jenny LaRoche, Brandt Martinez, Morgan Marcell, Liz McCartney, Anastacia McCleskey, Giana Rice, Eliseo Roman, Lily Tamburo, Sherrod Tate, Kennedy Thompson, Tanairi Vazquez, Jacob Keith Watson, Alex Wong, and Corde Young.
Scroll through the gallery below to see all the famous faces who’ve brought the legendary musical to life over the years and how they stack up against the new live cast!
Annie Live!, Premiere, Thursday, December 2, 8/7c, NBC
Aileen Quinn as Annie (Annie, 1982)
The movie musical served as Quinn’s breakout role. Quinn last appeared in the Will & Grace revival in 2020.
Quvenzhané Wallis as Annie (Annie, 2014)
The young actress, who received a Best Actress Oscar nomination in 2013 at only nine years old for her role in Beasts of the Southern Wild, took on the role of Annie one year later in the 2014 remake.
Celina Smith as Annie (Annie Live!, 2021)
The 12-year-old breakout star beat out thousands of young hopefuls for the lea role in the latest NBC live musical.
Albert Finney as Oliver Warbucks (Annie, 1982)
Before passing away in 2019 at the age of 82, Finney appeared in several television shows and movies throughout his decades-long career, including Erin Brockovich and, most recently, the James Bond film Skyfall.
Jamie Foxx as Will Stacks (Annie, 2014)
The Oscarwinner took on the modern-day Daddy Warbucks counterpart Will Stacks in the 2014 film.
Harry Connick Jr. as Oliver Warbucks (Annie Live!, 2021)
The Emmy and Grammy-nominated singer/actor will transform into the NYC millionaire (thanks a striking bald cap) in the upcoming musical production.
Carol Burnett as Miss Hannigan (Annie, 1982)
The comedy legend showed off her villainous side in one of her most iconic roles as the notorious head of Annie’s orphanage.
Cameron Diaz as Miss Hannigan (Annie, 2014)
The remake swaps out the original orphanage in exchange for a foster home, run by Diaz’s Miss Hannigan, a former singer miserable over her current life.
Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan (Annie Live! 2021)
Known for playing a slew of badass women, Henson is sure to dive into the craziness and villainy of the musical’s antagonist.
Ann Reinking as Grace Farrell (Annie, 1982)
The Broadway star took on the maternal role of Grace for the musical’s original film adaptation.
Rose Byrne as Grace Farrell (Annie, 2014)
Byrne broke out her singing chops as Will Stacks’ personal assistant, Grace, once again acting as a mother figure for the titular orphan.
Nicole Scherzinger as Grace Farrell (Annie Live!, 2021)
No stranger to musical theater, The Pussycat Dolls frontwoman was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for her role as Grizabella in the West End revival of Cats.
Tim Curry as "Rooster" Hannigan (Annie, 1982)
Curry took on the role of Miss Hannigan’s scheming brother Rooster just a few years after his iconic performance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Bobby Cannavale as Guy Danlily (Annie, 2014)
While not an exact copy of the character, Will Stacks’ campaign manager Guy takes on Rooster’s role of helping Miss Hannigan pretend to find Annie’s “real parents” in hopes of bumping up his boss’ spot in the polls.
Tituss Burgess as "Rooster" Hannigan (Annie Live!, 2021)
Best-known for his role as the lovable Titus on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, the Broadway star will take a walk on the evil side for his turn as the goofy antagonist.
Bernadette Peters as Lily St. Regis (Annie, 1982)
The Broadway legend traded in her signature red curls for blonde locks as Rooster’s right-hand-woman in the 1982 film.
Megan Hilty as Lily St. Regis (Annie Live!, 2021)
The Tony-nominated actress, most recently seen in Lifetime’s Patsy & Loretta, will fill in last minute after Jane Krakowski’s surprise COVID-19 case.
Conversation13 Comments
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G
This is a disgusting comment. Racism at its worst.
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O
You forgot the 1999 movie with Kathy Bates.
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A
Also, Victor Garber, Alan Cumming, Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth and Alicia Morton as Annie!
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B
I know that I was just too lazy to write it I just wanted the writer of this article to know that he forgot a version. If that version seriously has been forgotten by a lot of people they need to log in to Disney plus because they are missing out on the best crap possible. In my opinion it's the best version to date and whether this new version will top it is yet to be seen.
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A
Well, it's certainly the version that lead the director to go on to Chicago which won Best Picture and I think, best director, as well. ETA: Actually, he was only nominated and his name is Rob Marshall.
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G
Where is Punjab??? I loved him in the helicopter!!
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C
Annie is woke now.... so sorry
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G
Annie,the play, was "woke" ,as in "reimagined" in 2013 before "woke" was a thing. (see above where any was played by Quvenzhane Wallis. Get used to it. Hamilton is "woke" with people of different races playing people that were white (altho Hamilton was born in the West Indies.) And you will have the vapors if you go to see "Six",a play about Henry the VIII's wives,some of whom are played by black women. No one will pout over not having you in any audience. Must be hard being so terrified of change and creativity. Modern revivals and reinterpretation of works of art have been common as long as the arts have been performed. So ,it's not really woke, it's just normal.
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B
The 2014 fell my think was really overrated because it updated the musical into the present day and it yesterday and a re imagine the songs into hip hop pop songs while retaining the familiarity of them. It's one of my favorites was Little Girls I loved how it started out as the same but then turned into something different entirely. It's really well-thought-out you know it kept the same basic premise but set it in present day so it could speak to a modern audience. Is this new version on NBC of course is going back to the original depression era setting so so I'll be curious to see how it will speak to a modern audience while still being a period piece.
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G
Totally agree with you Matt
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G
What a shame the media has turned this iconic movie into. I refuse to watch any remake of it. It’s clear as day. I have once again watched the left side show their true colors, when they are the ones always making it a racial issue in regards to ANYTHING nowadays. Hilarious. Wake up America. Annie was a white red headed girl. Now all of the sudden film makers flip it and advertise it non stop on commercials. #makeAmericaGreatAgain
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A
Your last sentence tells me you're a certain kind of supporter who probably wants him back in the Oval Office. You're not also one of those who chant "Let's Go Brandon!" too, are you?
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O
She's not real. Also let's keep in mind that Jesus is not white and he's always portrayed that way. Who cares
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