Beloved classic ‘Annie’ to take the Bass Concert Hall stage
When the world seems to make no sense, and it seems impossible to hold onto hope, a show like “Annie” comes along to remind us to keep on trying. For literal generations, Little Orphan Annie has reminded audiences that no matter how dark things might seem at the moment, no darkness can last forever. If we just hold on, there will be a brighter day tomorrow.
The Broadway musical “Annie” will bring its uplifting message to Bass Concert Hall for a limited engagement May 2 - 4, so whether you’re a lifelong fan or you’ve never seen it before, now is the perfect time to grab a ticket.
As for Isabella de Souza Moore who stars as Lily St. Regis in this national Broadway Across America tour, this is her eighth time performing in the show.
“I loved it as a kid,” de Souza- Moore said. “I was always looking for regional productions I could be in, and it was the first professional contract I had after college graduation, and now it’s my first national tour.”
So what is it about this show that makes it so timeless?
“I think it’s the story of The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow,” de Souza Moore said. “Sometimes we go through hard times, but that story of hope, of looking toward a brighter day tomorrow, that's something everyone can relate to. Especially this little girl who has lost everything. It’s even more powerful coming from a little kid.”
With this production of “Annie,” de Souza Moore plays one of the show’s main villains, Lily St. Regis, a character who reminds us that no matter how optimistic or upbeat we might be, the world has its share of con artists.
“She is a role that has been played by so many iconic women: Bernadette Peters, Kristen Chenoweth,” de Souza Moore said. “She's always been this ditzy, high-pitched squeaky-voiced bimbo character. But with this production, we’ve kind of made her a little bit more lethal.”
No good drama is without a malefactor, and Little Orphan Annie must deal with three deceiving schemers – Ms. Hannigan, the headmaster of the orphanage, and Rooster, a ne’er-do-well grifter – before the show can have its happy ending.
“[St. Regis] is so much a part of this evil plan they concoct,” de Souza Moore explained. “In desperate times, people do desperate things. It was interesting to find a bit of nuance in that character, to give her a little bit of meat. There’s still the air-head quality there, but we’re layering the elements to give her more depth. It’s been fun to find what we found.”
These layers of depth have been a major draw to “Annie” for decades. For while the show seems lighthearted on the surface, it deals with deeper issues. Set during the Great Depression, the show deals with economic hardship and class struggles.
“This show, with its iconic title character, 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,” director Jenn Thompson said. “For decades, ‘Annie’ has continued to shine brightly, not only as an appeal to our better angels, but also as an example of the thrill of hope, hard-won: Promising a better ‘Tomorrow’ not only for Annie herself, but for all who need her message now more than ever.”
De Souza Moore echoed these sentiments and added that it’s our connections to each other that propels the characters through the show’s plot.
“At the end of the day, it’s about how connection can get us through anything,” de Souza Moore said. “Even Warbucks needs a connection. What he needs is a family in his life. Everyone in the mansion who works for him is touched by the connection he’s creating with this little girl and his secretary. It provides this hope and this joy that propels them to thinking that everything is going to be okay.”
Ultimately, like in “Annie,” connection is what will see us all through to tomorrow.
“We’re meant to be around each other and connect,” de Souza Moore said. “When I go to see shows, that palpable feeling of the audience reaction is a communal experience. It’s something so special and so important. To have that space to come and connect and react to things is really important.”
“Annie” will come to Bass Concert Hall May 2 - 4, Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35 and are available at texasperformingarts. org and BroadwayinAustin.com, by phone at (512) 4771444 or from the Texas Performing Arts ticket office at Bass Concert Hall.
