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Questions and Answers
Why did 'Daddy' Warbucks lose his fortune and eventually die in the plot of 'Little Orphan Annie'?
What led to the creation of the musical adaptation of 'Little Orphan Annie' in 1972?
Why did Martin Charnin, Thomas Meehan, and Charles Strouse decide to adapt 'Little Orphan Annie' into a musical despite initial doubts?
What was the inspiration for setting the 'Little Orphan Annie' story in the 1930s in the musical adaptation?
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What aspect of Annie's character appealed to the writers and led them to create a three-dimensional story in the musical adaptation?
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Study Notes
Annie's History
- Annie, the 1977 musical, is a classic and one of the most popular musicals ever written.
- The musical has had three Broadway productions, almost non-stop national tours, and three major motion picture adaptations.
Origins of Little Orphan Annie
- The musical is based on Harold Gray's comic strip "Little Orphan Annie", which was inspired by an 1885 poem originally titled "The Elf Child".
- The poem's title was changed to "Little Orphan Allie" in its third printing, but a printing error resulted in the title "Little Orphan Annie".
- Harold Gray's comic strip debuted in the New York Daily News on August 5, 1924.
The Comic Strip
- The comic strip followed the adventures of Annie, who was invited to stay with the wealthy Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks.
- Annie's biggest adversary was Warbucks' wife, the evil Mrs. Warbucks.
- The plot was formulaic, with Annie having an adventure and getting rescued by "Daddy" Warbucks at the last moment.
- The comic was popular with adults and children alike, with children connecting with Annie's scrappy and youthful nature.
Adaptations
- The comic strip led to a radio show in 1930, which went national in 1931.
- Annie appeared in two movies, both titled "Little Orphan Annie", released in 1932 and 1938, but neither were successful.
- The 1977 musical adaptation was created by lyricist Martin Charnin, book-writer Thomas Meehan, and composer Charles Strouse.
Development of the Musical
- Martin Charnin pitched the idea of a musical adaptation to Thomas Meehan and Charles Strouse, but they initially thought it was a terrible idea.
- Charnin was drawn to the richness of Annie's character, and the team eventually decided to use the main characters from the comic strip as inspiration, but to tell their own story.
- The team set the story in the 1930s, partly because they had lived their childhood in the decade.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the history of the iconic musical 'Annie', from its Broadway origins to modern adaptations on stage and screen. Explore the evolution of this classic production over the years.
