With ‘Little Girls’ causing chaos, ‘Easy Street’ looking like a dream, and ‘Tomorrow’ shining just around the corner, Tyler Civic Theatre Center’s upcoming production of “Annie” is bringing memorable songs and a timeless message of hope to the stage.

“There is a lot of amazing talent in East Texas… from the kids to the adults, this show is packed with it,” said John Durbin, who plays ‘Daddy Warbucks.’ “I have been so blown away by our cast and what we have been able to learn and do over just the past few weeks of rehearsals.”

Based on Harold Gray’s beloved comic strip Little Orphan Annie, the story follows the determined young Annie, who was left on the steps at an orphanage with only a broken locket in her possession, as she strives to escape life as an orphan in 1933 New York City. She endures the harsh treatment of the cruel matron who forces the girls at the Hudson Street Home for Girls to clean daily.

Despite her hardships, Annie remains hopeful that her parents will one day return for her. Her fortunes change when Grace Farrell, the secretary to billionaire Oliver Warbucks, arrives to invite an orphan to live in the mansion for a week, aiming to boost Warbucks’ public image.

The stage production premiered in April 1977 at the Alvin Theatre, earning seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It enjoyed a successful run of 2,377 performances before closing in January 1983.

In 1982, the story was adapted into a film, bringing Annie’s heartfelt journey to the big screen. The movie captured the spirit of the stage production, featuring memorable songs and performances that resonated with audiences of all ages. Since then, Annie has remained a cherished classic, inspiring numerous revivals, adaptations, and a lasting legacy in both theater and film.

“My sister was in Annie at (The) Brook Hill (School), and I watched every performance,” said Lilliana Navarro, who plays the titular character. “A friend’s mom told my family and me about the auditions at Tyler Civic Theatre Center, and that’s when I decided that I wanted to audition.”

The role of Annie is double-casted, as Mercer Rogers will be performing the role as well. Navarro will be in the orphan ensemble when she’s not portraying Annie.

“The whole process of rehearsals and learning the music and the dances has been most fun, and getting to know everyone,” Navarro said. “I’ve never acted with older people before, so it was great working with the adults and learning from them.”

Stepping into the role of Daddy Warbucks was a family affair for Durbin, as he auditioned for the play with his family. “I was excited to audition for Annie with my family,” he said. “Annie is such a classic, and Daddy Warbucks is such an iconic character.”

Annie marks Durbin’s fourth production since stepping into acting in 2023, inspired by watching his wife and two children perform in The Sound of Music at the Tyler Civic Theatre Center that summer. He made his stage debut as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, but Annie has pushed him slightly out of his comfort zone, offering new challenges and growth as a performer.

“Singing and dancing has definitely been the most fun and challenging part of playing Warbucks. As a musician and singer, I have sung on stage for a long time but never danced,” he said. “There is a moment in the show where Annie and Warbucks waltz together. It is one of my favorite scenes and definitely one the audience will love and remember.”

Presented with permission from Tribune Media Services, Inc. and licensed by Music Theatre International, the production of Annie is directed by Kiara Hawkins, with music direction and choreography by Nicholas Sheffield. The cast features a talented ensemble of young performers, ages 6 to 16, working alongside seasoned adult actors to bring these beloved characters to life with heart and energy.

“Over 90 auditioned… we really chose the best actors we saw for the role,” Hawkins said.

When it came to casting, Hawkins wanted to make sure there was strong chemistry between Annie and Daddy Warbucks, as well the dynamics between the children and Miss Hannigan.

“I think even just with the actors we have, they’re making it fresh,” Hawkins said. “I feel like they do a good job of putting their own takes to these classic characters. Even with little details, such as Annie not having the classic curly red hair; we kept it more subtle. We made the show more diverse as well as we could.”

The director hopes the audience will leave with a sense of hope and resilience, and knowing that there’s all types of family — especially in ‘found family.’

“I think that’s really important in this story that we see is you don’t have to be blood related to be family,” she said. “We see that even in the relationship with the orphans. All of them were sisters. They had a strong bond.”

The show opens June 13 and runs for three weeks, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and matinee shows on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in TCTC’s Braithwaite Theatre, located at 400 Rose Park Drive in Tyler. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tylercivictheatre.com.