The musical Annie has been beloved by audiences since it first premiered on Broadway in 1977. But who wrote the music for this iconic show?
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Introduction
The musical Annie has been a family favorite since it hit broadway in 1977. The heartwarming story of an orphan who finds a home with billionaire Daddy Warbucks has charmed audiences for generations. But who wrote the music for this timeless tale?
While the majority of the music is credited to composer Charles Strouse, there are a few additional writers that contributed to the score. Martin Charnin, who also wrote the lyrics, wrote four of the songs: “Things Are Never Quite as Bad as They Seem”, “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile”, “I Don’t Need Anything But You”, and, of course, “Tomorrow”.
The song “Maybe” was written by Strouse and Thomas Meehan, who also wrote the book for Annie. And finally, “Easy Street” was co-written by Strouse and Charnin.
With such a legendary status, it’s no surprise that the music for Annie has been covered by some of the biggest names in showbiz. From Bette Midler to Carrie Underwood, everyone seems to want to take a crack at singing these classic tunes.
History
Annie is a musical that was adapted from the popular comic strip, Little Orphan Annie. The original production opened on Broadway in 1977 and was an instant success. The music for Annie was written by Charles Strouse, with lyrics by Martin Charnin.
The score for Annie includes such well-known songs as “Tomorrow,” “Maybe,” and “It’s the Hard Knock Life.” These catchy tunes helped make the musical a hit with audiences of all ages and cemented its place as a Broadway classic.
Themes
The music for Annie was composed by Charles Strouse, with lyrics by Martin Charnin. The show’s original orchestration was done by Robert Russell Bennett.
Characters
Annie is a 1982 American musical comedy-drama film directed by John Huston, produced by Ray Stark, and based on the 1977 Broadway musical of the same name. The screenplay was written by Carol Sobieski, and the music was composed by Charles Strouse.
Plot
The musical Annie has a long and varied history, with the original production opening on Broadway in 1977. The music was written by Charles Strouse, with lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The musical is based on the “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip by Harold Gray.
The original production of Annie was nominated for eleven Tony Awards, winning seven, including Best Musical. The 1997 revival was also nominated for eleven Tony Awards, winning three.
Music
The music for the stage musical Annie was composed by Charles Strouse, with lyrics written by Martin Charnin. The original production opened on Broadway in 1977 and ran for 2,377 performances. The show’s arrangement is credited to Harold Wheeler.
Reception
The original Broadway production of Annie opened to generally positive reviews, with many critics praising the score and book. The New York Times called the music ” memorable ” and praised the ” bouncy melodies “. The Wall Street Journal also praised the score, calling it ” delightful “.
Film adaptations
There have been several film adaptations of the musical Annie, each with its own distinct soundtrack.
The first adaptation, released in 1982, was produced by Columbia Pictures and directed by John Huston. The Film was adapted from the Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was based on the Little Orphan Annie comic strip. The film’s soundtrack was composed by Charles Strouse and includes such popular songs as “Tomorrow” and “It’s a Hard Knock Life”.
The second adaptation, released in 1999, was produced by Walt Disney Pictures and directed by Rob Marshall. This film was a direct-to-video release, meaning it bypassed theaters and went straight to home video. The film’s music was composed by Ralph Sall and features songs performed by celebrities such as Brittney Spears and VictorGarber.
The third adaptation, released in 2014, was produced by Sony Pictures and directed by Will Gluck. This most recent take on Annie features a more modernized approach to the source material, with a new hip-hop-influenced score composed by Greg Kurstin. The movie’s soundtrack includes such chart-toppers as “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” and “Opportunity”.
Legacy
The original music for Annie was written by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin.
Further reading
The music for Annie was written by composer Charles Strouse, lyricist Martin Charnin, and orchestrator Ralph Burns.
