"Annie the Musical" by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin - Greater Boston Stage Company (Stoneham, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of "ANNIE THE MUSICAL" by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through June 28, 2026. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
"We haven't got room for any more gloom.”
- ("New Deal for Christmas") / Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin
Greater Boston Stage Company
Presents the Iconic Musical
"ANNIE"
Book by Thomas Meehan
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Martin Charnin
Director Tyler Rosati **
Music Director Bethany Aiken
Choreographer/Dance Captain Ceit Zweil
Cast Includes: Helen M. Brady and Livia Quist as “Annie” (alternating performances), De’Lon Grant* as “Oliver Warbucks,” Ceit Zweil* as “Miss Hannigan,” Tader Shipley* as “Grace Farrell,” Mark Linehan* as “Rooster Hannigan,” Kathy St. George* as “Lily St. Regis,” Gideon as “Sandy”.
Adult Ensemble: Christian David* as “Bert Healy,” Stephen Markarian* as “Drake/Bundles/US Rooster,” Michael Sáenz* as “FDR/US Warbucks,” Pearl Scott as “Mrs. Greer/Boylan Sister/US Grace,” Holly B. Faust as “Star to Be/Cecille/Boylan Sister/US Hannigan,” Sarah Morin as “Mrs. Pugh/Boylan Sister,” Nate Elmer^ as “Ward/US Drake,” Giselle as “Annette/McCracken.” Understudy: Michelle Moran, Laura Markarian^, William Davis-Kay
Orphans: Blue Cast
- Annie – Livia Quist
- Duffy – Maya Feldman+
- July – Aisling Murray+
- Kate – Cassidy Linskey
- Molly – Audrey Awad
- Pepper – Brenna Brien
- Tessie – Penelope Mae Kaminsky+
Orphans Red Cast
- Annie – Helen M. Brady
- Duffy – Marina Liwanag+
- July – Georgia Linehan+
- Kate – Riley McGuinn+
- Molly – Ainsley Moulton
- Pepper – Quinn Briere+
- Tessie – Bella Nevin
Additional Creative Team:
Producing Artistic Director - Weylin Symes; Scenic Design - Katy Monthei; Lighting Design - Cory Whittemore; Costume Design - Kelly Baker; Sound Design - Adam Smith; Sound Operator - Denzil Kakol; Properties Master - Adelaide Majeski; Youth Coordinators - Sami Parazin, Alexandra White; Production Manager - Meghan Ward; Production Stage Manager - Shauwna Dias Grillo*; Assistant Stage Manager - E.D. Fitzgerald*; Assistant Choreographer - Laura Markarian**; Production Assistants - Abby Parr, Kit Verweij; Scenic Builder - Misfit Toys, LLC.
*Member of Actor’s Equity Association
**Young Company Alumni
+ Current Young Company member
Performances:
May 29, 2026 through June 28, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY, 395 Main Street Stoneham, MA. 02180
TICKETS:
Box Office Hours: Mondays – Fridays, noon to 6pm Box Office # 781-279-2200 boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
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(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
"Leapin' Lizards!"
Greater Boston Stage Company (GBSC) presents the legendary musical "ANNIE" in Stoneham that features a solid cast and lively performances.
(Editor’s Note: There are two alternating GBSC casts portraying the Orphans in this production, categorized as the “Red” and “Blue” casts. This review is of the “Blue” cast which performed at the matinee on May 31st, 2026.)
It is hard to believe but the quintessential family musical "ANNIE" has been around since 1977.
So, after nearly half a century, it is occasionally difficult to find new ways to review such a legendary show that has come to represent an early American zeitgeist.
That’s the dilemma this reviewer was faced with when I sat down to review the May 31st performance of "ANNIE" by GBSC in Stoneham.
Yet, surprisingly, and to my delight, the answer came to me just as lights were being lowered to signal the start of the show’s splendid overture played by the top notch live GBSC orchestra.
Someone seated directly behind me said the following words - and believe me when I state that I have no idea as to their context – but all I heard was…
“Times have changed.”
And no, it wasn’t Bob Dylan that was seated directly behind me.
And yet, those words seemed to foreshadow the utterly charming production I was about to witness.
The GBSC production of "ANNIE THE MUSICAL" took a unique approach to the story, making it their own while still honoring the iconic story and music.
(Photo: Ceit Zweil as “Miss Hannigan” with some of her "Little Girls" in a moment from "ANNIE THE MUSICAL" by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through June 28, 2026. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
An instant hit, "ANNIE THE MUSICAL" is credited with helping to re-ignite the business of Broadway itself hot on the heels of the 1975 other musical game-changer, “A Chorus Line.”
Based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" the musical is also loosely based on the 1885 poem “Little Orphant Annie” (and no, that isn’t a typo – the word is actually “orphant”) written by James Whitcomb Riley.
Critics of "ANNIE THE MUSICAL" have a tendency to put down the show as "syrupy" or "saccharine" or, for some reason, compared to other breakfast overindulgences.
Those critics, in addition to obviously being hungry, are also not totally incorrect.
However, along with those breakfast additives, "ANNIE" is also a musical overflowing with sincerity, warmth and, above all, an innocence far removed from many newer musicals prominent along today's Broadway landscape.
Some may misconstrue "innocence" as naiveté, but it really isn't.
It is simply just a genuine concerted effort to provide a story that will entertain the entire family.
To quote an old 70s’ ad campaign, the show is "Less filling...tastes great."
Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, "ANNIE THE MUSICAL" has become a family favorite and there is a solid "fairy tale" aspect about a child overcoming overwhelming obstacles just to obtain a little happiness in her life (which also explains why subsequent sequels failed miserably).
The musical adaptation features a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse with lyrics by Martin Charnin.
(Photo: Livia Quist as “Annie” with Gideon as “Sandy” in a moment from "ANNIE THE MUSICAL" by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through June 28, 2026. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
Against the backdrop of America’s Depression era and just before Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s "New Deal," little orphan(t) ANNIE (Livia Quist) breaks free from an orphanage for young girls run by miscreant manager Miss Hannigan (Ceit Zweil, who also choreographed and was dance captain for the GBSC production).
Quist's is a phenomenal young vocalist whose renditions of the iconic tunes "Maybe" and "Tomorrow" will not disappoint and her line delivery in virtually every scene is quite noteworthy.
ANNIE is determined to locate the parents who left her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage.
Both Quist and Zweil are the vocal powerhouses of this show.
Zweil has impeccable comedic timing and is sumptuously evil as the over-the-top villain Hannigan.
Hannigan is soon reunited with her fowl...uh, foul...foul-natured brother Rooster (Mark Linehan) and his girlfriend accomplice Lily (Kathy St. George) who, together, hatch a lame-brained scheme to scam billionaire Oliver Warbucks (De’Lon Grant) who seeks to adopt young ANNIE.
Linehan and St. George have a scintillatingly sleazy comedic rapport on stage and, together performing with Zweil (complete with her finely tuned creative choreography), the troublesome trio tear up the GBSC floorboards with the equally sleazy song, "Easy Street."
(Photo: Mark Linehan as “Rooster Hannigan,” Ceit Zweil as “Miss Hannigan” and Kathy St. George as “Lily St. Regis” scheme and dream about "Easy Street" from "ANNIE THE MUSICAL" by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through June 28, 2026. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
Occasionally going toe-to-toe with Miss Hannigan is her polar opposite Grace Farrell (Tader Shipley), Warbuck's devoted assistant who becomes an instant ally to young ANNIE and will do everything to see that the young orphan finds her much-deserved happiness.
Shipley is fully committed to the role of Grace, although either as staged or as written, the instantaneous connection Grace makes with ANNIE seems to come out of nowhere and for no apparent reason.
Also, in the score, the number of songs featuring Grace as a soloist are far too limited, unfortunate for Shipley who is a gifted vocalist.
De’Lon Grant stands out as the no-nonsense billionaire Warbucks who again almost too-instantly melts in the presence of little ANNIE.
Whatever this magic ANNIE has at melting the hearts of billionaires, I wish she could spread it now in 2026.
In his performance, Grant also provides a glimpse into the backstory of the lonely life Warbucks himself led as a child growing up in “Hell’s Kitchen.”
The on-stage chemistry Grant and Quist share as Warbucks and ANNIE comes across as sincere and a mutual professional admiration, especially in their duet "I Don't Need Anything but You," Grant's solo, "Something Was Missing" and in the ensemble number "NYC."
(Photo: Livia Quist as “Annie,” De’Lon Grant as “Oliver Warbucks” and Tader Shipley as “Grace Farrell” perform with members of the adult Ensemble in a moment from "ANNIE THE MUSICAL" by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through June 28, 2026. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
The effective multi-purpose set design by GBSC allows for smooth scene changes and takes a different approach when it comes to presenting the opulence of the Warbucks estate.
Instead of trying to “outglam” Mar-a-Lago, which is the approach taken by most theatre companies, instead the walls of the GBSC set simply seem to pay homage to the original sketched out newspaper comic strip - which is a refreshing change.
This decision is just one example of many smart, creative choices made by director Tyler Rosati, choreographer Zweil and music director Bethany Aiken (who also conducts the superb orchestra).
The above team - with their immensely talented ensemble GBSC cast - brings to us an inspired musical that honors the original source material while helping it to become relevant in these “changed times.”
Similar admirable choices made in the area of costuming may take a few people by surprise, especially those expecting to see the usual ultimate reveal "ANNIE" costume made famous by the original Broadway production as an homage to the comic strip character.
(Photo: The Orphans of "ANNIE THE MUSICAL" by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through June 28, 2026. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
Zweil's choreography is creative down to the most subtle detail, and both the orphans cast and the adult ensemble execute every movement flawlessly.
In this stylish GBSC production of "ANNIE" audiences can still expect to enjoy many musical highlights which include the show's staple numbers, "Hard Knock Life" and "You're Never Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," well executed by the show's cast of adorably mischievous Orphans.
Under Bethany Aiken’s music direction, the adult GBSC ensemble has a glorious blending of harmonies exemplified in such group numbers as “NYC,” “We'd Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover” and the second act reprise of “Tomorrow.”
So, between now and June 28th, put on your best smiles and head over to Stoneham, MA. to see this heaping helping of this wonderful GBSC production of "ANNIE THE MUSICAL."
Coming up in the fall from GBSC will be the hysterical murder mystery comedy "SHEER MADNESS" which begins September 25th and runs until October 11th, 2026.
For tickets and more information, contact the GBSC Box Office at # 781-279-2200 or at boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org
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Approximately 2 hours, 30 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
The timeless tale of resilience, joy, and the power of tomorrow. Leapin’ lizards!
Everyone’s favorite family musical comes to GBSC for the first time ever! "ANNIE" is the heartwarming, Tony Award-winning classic that follows the adventures of a spirited young orphan determined to find her parents.
Set in 1930s New York City, ANNIE's journey takes her from the strict orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan to the lavish home of billionaire Oliver Warbucks.
With the help of her dog Sandy and a little “Tomorrow” optimism, "ANNIE" discovers the true meaning of family in this beloved musical filled with unforgettable songs and big-hearted charm.
ABOUT GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY
GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY(GBSC) brings vibrant professional theatre and dramatic education beyond the boundaries of Boston, featuring world and regional premieres alongside fresh interpretations of familiar work. Within this setting, GBSC uniquely fosters the artists of tomorrow by providing ongoing performance and employment opportunities to a company of current and former students. Located in Stoneham, MA. GBSC produces five Mainstage shows, presents a series of Special Events, and runs year-round classes, lessons, and fully staged productions through The Young Company for students in grades 1–12.
395 Main Street
Stoneham, MA. 02180
# 781-279-2200
boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org
greaterbostonstage.org
