'Annie' is in Louisville! Here are 5 things to know about your favorite childhood show

Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal
·4 min read
The 2022 Company of "Annie."
The 2022 Company of "Annie."

Leapin' Lizards! The PNC Broadway in Louisville touring production of "Annie" opened Tuesday at Kentucky Performing Arts, 501 W. Main St.

The show's multi-day run coincided with Valentine's Day, which seemed appropriate considering the amount of admiration pouring from the audience to the performers on stage and visa versa.

For generations, Little Orphan Annie has reminded generations of theatergoers that sunshine is always right around the corner, and in this fresh production of the classic a new generation is being introduced to the enduring tale.

Before you head to the theater, here are five fun things to know about the PNC Broadway in Louisville production of "Annie."

'Annie' director has a long history with the show

Director Jenn Thompson
Director Jenn Thompson

This new tour of the iconic Tony Award-winning production is directed by Jenn Thompson, who at the age of 10, stepped into the role of "Pepper" in the original "Annie" Broadway production. Now Thompson, 55, has had a successful career in theater and in various roles in television and film.

Thompson has said in an interview with Broadway World that one of the aspects she loves most about "Annie" is its iconic title character who "continues to delight generations of theatre lovers old and new by joyfully singing directly into the face of great adversity with perseverance, guts and guile."

You may like:'Hadestown,' 'Pretty Woman' 'Annie' and more top 2022-23 PNC Broadway in Louisville season

Thompson is directing the iconic book and score, written by Tony Award-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse, and Martin Charnin.

Animal actor expert Bill Berloni trained a rescue dog to play Sandy

Ellie Pulsifer and Christopher Swan in the 2022 Company of "Annie."
Ellie Pulsifer and Christopher Swan in the 2022 Company of "Annie."

In 1977, Bill Berloni found a dog at a local animal shelter to train for the role of "Sandy" in the original stage production of "Annie."

To perform live theater, Berloni worked with "Sandy" to ignore the distraction of the audience and respond to the same cues the same way night after night. "Annie" became a huge hit and Sandy became “the longest-running dog on Broadway," never missing a performance in more than seven years.

Today, Berloni, who is an expert in animal behavior and known for his dedication to rescue work, has humanely trained hundreds of animals for acting roles, including "Sandy" in the current touring production of "Annie."

When these animal actors' careers are over, they return to Berloni's Connecticut farm for their retirement years.

You may like:Kentucky Shakespeare Festival returns with new stage, flying actor. Here's what to know

'Annie' has charmed audiences for nearly half a century

Krista Curry, Nick Bernardi, and Stefanie Londino in the National Tour of "Annie."
Krista Curry, Nick Bernardi, and Stefanie Londino in the National Tour of "Annie."

"Annie" looks pretty good for 46 years old. Of course, we're talking about the stage production and not the curly redhead who is perenially 11 years old.

Based on the 1924 comic strip "Little Orphan Annie," by Harold Gray, the original Broadway production of "Annie" opened in 1977 and ran for almost six years.

The upbeat musical about a spunky Depression-era orphan who charms a bald billionaire is adored across generations and across the globe. With unforgettable songs such as "Tomorrow," "It's The Hard Knock Life," "Maybe" and "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here," the musical keeps circling the globe, from Broadway revivals, multiple touring companies in the U.S., UK and Australia, productions in dozens of countries, film versions, and of course regional and community theater performances.

There's still time to catch PNC Broadway in Louisville's production of 'Annie'

Ellie Pulsifer, center, as Annie and Company in the National Tour of "Annie."
Ellie Pulsifer, center, as Annie and Company in the National Tour of "Annie."

"Annie" will run through Sunday, with seven performances including two matinees. Dates and times are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The PNC Broadway in Louisville 2022-23 season, which opened with "Fiddler on the Roof," and "Pretty Woman," also includes "Ain't Too Proud," "Hadestown," and "Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird."

How to get individual tickets to 2022-23 PNC Broadway in Louisville shows

Ellie Puslifer as Annie and Addison as Sandy in the National Touring Production of "Annie."
Ellie Puslifer as Annie and Addison as Sandy in the National Touring Production of "Annie."

Tickets for individual shows go on sale to the general public four to six weeks prior to the opening of the show. For priority offers, updates, and news, join the EClub at BroadwayinLouisville.com.

Reach Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com or on Twitter @kirbylouisville. 

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 5 things to know as 'Annie' takes the stage PNC Broadway in Louisvile