Annie [1977] The original cast performs a medley on the Tony Awards

[@robertbeining141]

And today, that is over 47 years ago. So memorable.

[@chrisbaerart]

I wish someone would 'find' a 'lost' recording of this entire show....in high definition. That's my dream right there. Best cast - ever. Hands down. Love them all. I still have my original LP - scratched and warbly....it's going to be with me forever.....

[@lydia3158]

There’s a recording from 1980 with Alison I forget her last name as Annie on KZbin in pretty good quality.

[@cheriemainenti7004]

I have mine too. Best cast.

[@jenniferlawrence9652]

Same

[@GoddessNeith]

Lost? I have the original broadway cast album. of course I bought it in 1977 and saw it in person in 1979. :-)

[@kimdelosier4666]

@@GoddessNeith I think she meant a long-lost film recording of the entire play from beginning to end

[@imoo6008]

What a voice...she set the bar so high that no one else has ever come close. I love her iconic tilted head when she sings :)

[@kevininjc]

10 minutes for a single musical? those were the days.

[@kevinmcguire5696]

Oh, I know that, but the fact one show had a full 10 minutes is a lot more than shows get today.

[@VelvetChainOfficial]

I had the same thought. For a single musical to be able to perform an entire 10-minute medley??? Those were indeed the days.

[@ttryon_65478]

Yea, now they just have crappy 3-4 minute medleys. Also, they replaced the Tony's this year with a grease sing along 🙄

[@wntrwondr1274]

@@ttryon_65478 grease sing along! How was it?

[@annakblanchard]

@@wntrwondr1274 stupid. just stupid.

[@ravenel2]

I have never seen anyone do as much with a tiny orphan role as the 1977 kid with the braids. So talented.

[@kimdelosier4666]

That's Diana Barrows, the original Tessie. She didn't lack personality. She was a pro.

[@corniss]

She is adorable

[@callumdoherty7204]

I’ve always been impressed with her performance in this clip. She actually seems like some vaudevillian from the 30s!

[@ellyanabarrows636]

Shes my aunt!

[@bookwoman53]

Oh my goodness!

[@ellyanabarrows636]

The girl playing tessie who has the braids and bangs is my aunt diane barrows!

[@NattyBurz]

Wow I was immediately impressed by her tbh

[@seanfarrellsullivanhasemotions]

Seriously!? Wow, that's amazing. Does she tell you any interesting stories of those days?

[@ellyanabarrows636]

@@seanfarrellsullivanhasemotions yeah and she actually helped me learn to act and sing and i got a final callback for Annie off broadway!

[@JudyB1980]

How cool!!

[@Kelly-just-kelly]

Bangs? Lol

[@zval101]

I love how in "Easy Street" each character made the choreography their own and you can really tell what type of person each character was just by simple ways such as their jazz hands. AMAZING! PERFECTION

[@sunnysister806]

I agree with you, Erika!!! They each were fantastic.

[@SDoesNotKnow]

So true! There's like no individuality in choreography on Broadway these days. Here, this is choreography as storytelling.

[@Hgood1]

I love for Dorothy Loudon’s performance.

[@alextirrellRI]

They are completely living in their performances. The entire styling of the singing and dancing is incredible.

[@jamestyler7697]

So interesting that the Tomorrow song is usually associated with this bright, sunny optimistic little girl whose cheery to the point of annoyance, when in reality the song as Andrea sings it is supposed to be quite somber in mood; sung with full awareness of how much worse things can - and probably will - get during the height of the Depression when it wasn't even a certainty if you were going to eat that day. No one has ever bettered her version, as good as they may be.

[@carllipsey1497]

Andrea is the best Tomorrow is her song and the original 1977 is the musicals best version too bad the musical couldn't be filmed in its entirety this is all we have I always wondered what Dorothy's version of little girls would look like on stage

[@eileentepper8282]

I would kill for a video of Dorothy singing Little Girls. I don't think anyone ever came close to her brilliance in that role.

[@hyperu2]

Tomorrow never comes, it's never an optimistic song.

[@mathewkromeo2934]

She's the original.

[@ttryon_65478]

@@mathewkromeo2934 yes, she was the original BROADWAY Annie. There was actual a girl named Kristin ( can't remember her last name) who was Annie before Andrea, but got fired before Broadway. So, technical if you take Kristen into perspective, Andrea was the second Annie. Also, many people like her cause of her voice, not that she was the first Broadway Annie.

[@Sodapop-gi4bu]

This is is one of the best tony performances of all time

[@films5555]

The best is still Dreamgirls’ Tony performance.

[@shaqman145]

That performance of "Easy Street" is one of the best performances of the song I've ever seen.

[@KristalynJGlitter_Mafia_Don]

it is because it is the original cast- they invented the roles

[@lonefoxcub]

shaqman145 yesss! they're totally feeling it

[@mjjm5511]

hands down!!

[@MayorMcCheeseStalker]

Plus, they're not lip-synching to a pre-recorded vocal track (as is done in film musicals) --- their singing is being performed LIVE as they dance!! Very impressive.

[@mjjm5511]

Never to he matched !!

[@senorkaboom]

I still remember watching this Tony Awards broadcast and hearing this. I was blown away at McCardle's rendition of this song, still am. I can see why this show has had such a long run, but McCardle is still the touchstone by which other Annie portrayers are judged.

[@jonathanmcardle7621]

McArdle *

[@jacklutz8925]

@@jonathanmcardle7621 I

[@jacklutz8925]

She was outstanding, wonderful

[@Ifnotnowthenwhen-r8s]

Sadly none came close to the performances she gave.

[@bethsmallwood6972]

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!! LOVE❤ IT!!!!!!

[@amyhpete]

You know that part on "Shrek" when Donkey stares at the welcome to Duloc machine just before he says, "Let's do that again!" That's exactly how I feel after watching this.

[@AutieTeleDexBaBrBo]

And nobody is Shrek.

[@debkahora]

Easy Street...perfection. Such a pleasure to watch.

[@nancybraiman6355]

I saw this cast performance of "Annie" in 1977 or 78 and it was my first trip to New York. Also saw the World Trade Center. It was a magical experience for a 12 year old and this brings back tears because I got the album for a gift and played it over and over again.

[@09cokeefe]

Andrea's voice in incredible for such a young age!

[@whimsicallymad7580]

All the performers are ON POINT. But I also wanna give it up for the audience who, by the sound of the clapping, is being super energetic and encouraging and alive, which is how theatre should be 👏🏽

[@anikatullos4120]

I saw Andrea Mcardle perform last year and to this day she still has an unrivaled stage presence. Even if she played a minor character, she'd absolutely steal the show. What a talent. She definitely belongs on stage.

[@kallen868]

Got to see her in State Fair and Annie Get Your Gun.

[@leemclaury6251]

Best “Easy Street “ I can watch it over and over .

[@amadeusamwater]

This is the best Rooster of all the ones I've seen. He really looks like a hard case. Good dancer, too.

[@josh6402]

Totally agree. Same can be said for miss hannigan... much harder than in the movie version

[@comedyfunguy]

Bob Fitch.

[@amadeusamwater]

I like the makeup job on Lily, too. She looks like she might almost have an IQ.

[@mountainmama051]

Back in 1977, I was lucky enough to see the original cast in this production on its opening week - the day after President Carter had been in the audience! One of my fondest Broadway memories! :)

[@nataleeisjustchilling2737]

How much was a ticket back then?

[@jmc5577]

You must be wealthy?

[@enbuchwald]

I was lucky enough to see the original cast of “Annie” in previews. Walked out of the theater knowing I just saw a hit.

[@kristinepfs]

Fantastic performance!! You really don't see performance like this anymore.

[@missimin]

I was having dinner in the break room one evening and a woman in there with me started a conversation and happened to mention that her daughter was starring as Annie in New York. It was Andrea's mother. She wasn't bragging or anything but she should have, her daughter had a great talent.

[@bluesun5247]

That is SO cool

[@fakerating]

Amazing cast... especially the guy who played Rooster... and Dorothy Loudon... and Andrea McArdle... wow!

[@Deer548]

Andrea McArdle is just WOW! Sensational. And little Danielle Brisebois as Molly was adorable and amazing!

[@RaulAPinto]

We just finish watching the 82's film version with my daughter and wife, and find this because my little one wanted to hear "tomorrow" on more time. Something about this version: I ABSOLUTELY love that the girls here look like REAL girls. Nowadays we have amazing child actors around, but these seem so close to what a normal child is in every sense of the word.

[@corymanter7427]

I just got home from my final school performance of Annie. I played Warbucks so this makes me smile.

[@stevefreedman470]

I saw the original with Andrea McArdle on Broadway....it was wonderful!!! Memories for sure😊👍🏿

[@jmcee6122]

Andrea's voice is so outstanding that it literally makes me cry. Her voice goes right into your heart. Amazing that she was so great even as a child. Simply the best!

[@allenjones3130]

Andrea McArdle is one of the greatest belters in musical theatre.

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

I've been a huge fan of McArdle's since I saw this as a young kid. Her voice touched me deeply then, and still does, to a degree no other performer in the role ever has.

[@scottreiburnNYC]

It’s amazing to think about how world-famous Annie has become in the pantheon of great American musicals. And here we are, watching this audience experience this music (we all know so well) for the very first time. Wow. 🤯

[@corycohen5899]

Nothing can top this!

[@Vava0812]

as a young kid I've had the pleasure to see them live on Broadway with my mother....! I and tell you, there have NEVER been another cast that was THAT GOOD as allround singers, actors and dancers!

[@juliekozlowski4902]

Saw this when I was a kid. It was so amazing. I sang Maybe and Tomorrow so much I drove my brothers crazy. Lola thanks for sharing this great memories!!!

[@sueweisberg1474]

Amazing voice from Annie Love the song Tomorrow

[@carolcheney5771]

Andrea McArdle was the BEST Annie.

[@mathewkromeo2934]

She was the original.

[@jiminskidmarks3665]

Mathew Kromeo she actually wasn’t, she was supposed to play Pepper

[@laland5752]

Yeah I heard she was supposed to play Pepper because the original Annie got sick. I always thought she would have made a better Pepper because of her raspy voice. She just sounds like a Pepper.

[@kallen868]

Perfection.

[@Chaneloweenz]

@@laland5752 she didn’t get sick she was fired cause they didn’t like how she was playing the role

[@Mitzi73]

I recognized the youngest orphan right away. Danielle Brisebois from “All in the Family” who played Stephanie.

[@billygillan2217]

What a voice,loved her in the film Rainbow,her version Some were over the rainbow truly amazing.

[@MelsLife570]

I forgot Danielle Brisbose was little Molly! Remember her from All in the Family?

[@declanjohn8517]

and since the late 80s, she's been a songwriter/musician, even nominated for an Oscar a few years ago!

[@savagescobles8628]

She’s my cousin!

[@robertgraziano]

yes.

[@Mary-ht7pm]

@@savagescobles8628 she's phenomenal!!!

[@derekllewellyn6663]

​@@Mary-ht7pmI just realized remember her name was in movie same era

[@JeanetteHernandez309]

Best Easy Street ever.

[@xXCatrinXxEve]

the imperfectness makes it perfect.

[@knaj6497]

I saw this original cast on Broadway back in '77. I had a love for the theater. My father had a lovely tenor voice and was always up for a dance with anyone who would dance with him. My aunts & uncles were huge Broadway musical junkies; so when 1 of them ran a bus to go see this, I was totally on board. I fell in love with live theater seeing Shenandoah with John Cullum, but Annie blew me away. Probably because I'm about the same age as McArdle. Dorothy Loudon's Miss Hannigan was every bit as good as the preview you see here. I didn't fully appreciate her performance at the time, not understanding the nuances of her part. Only years later did I GET how great a Broadway actress she truly was. The original cast versions of Broadway theater are truly the best. I'm ecstatic to come across this clip as it has brought back so many happy memories for me. Thank you for posting it. 💖

[@robertgraziano]

Saw it on Broadway when it was still in previews. Cried like a baby when the doggy came out of the box at the end! Gee I LOVE NEW YORK still at 75 years old!NOV.2020

[@michelleesposito8694]

usually i think the original performances are great but sometimes too stiff compared to revivals but easy street was perfection

[@Justicecouture]

Broadway performers don't perform like this anymore. It was so genuine and authentic back then. You believed the characters. Noe everyone just wants to be pretty

[@detectivefiction3701]

+Justicecouture I haven't been to a Broadway musical since 1996, but you are aware, aren't you, that *every* generation has said the exact same thing you just did? It's a phenomenon in all of the arts -- everything seemed more authentic, etc. "back then." There might be some truth in it, but I think it must be mostly a matter of perception -- because every generation has said it. I guarantee you that when ANNIE opened, some people were saying that the cast of 1959's THE SOUND OF MUSIC was "more authentic."

[@DrifterGaming]

Maybe he used the wrong word. Maybe instead of 'authentic' he meant 'raw'. Everything seems more polished these days because it is. The standards are different, not to mention that theatre is a living art and like any art, it evolves.

[@SDoesNotKnow]

@@DrifterGaming You're right. Polished is the right word. Singers and dancers are incredible now, but they are all super polished to the point where I think they're interchangeable. Nobody really has super "star" quality. Great technical performers though.

[@irisbjones]

@@SDoesNotKnow Agree. But being technically proficient doesn't give you soul. We are so "trained" now that the soulful people never make it to the stage because everyone is wowed in the audition room by the technical proficient. So a higher kick gets the gig but the dancer whose kick isn't as high (or whatever) but whose soul would have grabbed you, never gets on stage anymore. It's pretty sad, actually. We have turned art into the Olympics.

[@derekllewellyn6663]

​@@SDoesNotKnowtime travel

[@hallejenns1425]

They are amazing!

[@vswick]

Phenomenal!!! Can't stop putting on repeat.🙌

[@Uchihaking100]

R.I.P. Reid Shelton the Original Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks.

[@shishterruby8218]

Andrea and lillia Crawford are the best Annie's

[@lydia3158]

Facts

[@GoddessNeith]

Sara Jessica Parker was an excellent Annie. that's the Annie I saw on B'way in '79.

[@imoo6008]

Dorothy Louden...holy crap...incredible!

[@Mia7189]

A really good documentary for ANNIE fans is LIFE AFTER TOMORROW, which came out in 2006. It's an interview with the now grown up women who played the Orphans on Broadway.

[@CarmenZynger]

Loved this!!!! Had the cast album when I was a kid. Maybe 1978? Loved it. Sang along with Andrea McArdle. Saw her years later, and she was still singing and performing. The best! *****

[@digitalpretzel]

not too long ago i picked up the original cast album on vinyl for $1 at a garage sale.

[@MrPoochsmooch]

Among the best Musical Comedies ever written!

[@justsayin1643]

IMHO Andrea Mackardle was the best ANNIE! I didnt even know there was such a show till she was cast!

[@BreannaLee]

gives me goosebumps every time I listen! :)

[@LilyGrace95]

I'm in a production of Annie this summer - I get to sing Never Fully Dressed and I can't wait!

[@derekllewellyn6663]

It's looks like new ride made decent money made in a row of them are in

[@LilyGrace95]

@@derekllewellyn6663 Pardon?

[@gracepeterson9931]

volz519 if you watch to the end of the video you'll see that she has the curly red hair at the end. She gets it when she goes to Warbucks' house and they clean her up and give her new things, like clothes and a hairdo.

[@bethsmallwood6972]

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!!

[@naskayadaal6358]

FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE. I LOVE IT.!

[@CharlieMartin-fc4tw]

Awesome cast. Robert Fitch & Dorothy Loudon were amazing.

[@freedom584]

The original is always the best! Bravo!!!

[@gioiaferrante]

I'm in this, I can't believe how many people have this. I can't wait to get back to work. This was my first play and I happened to have the most amazing late Agent and I happened to relate to the play very well. I was adopted as a child. One thing I was forbidden to do? My mom never allowed me to use my real name. Her daughter was going to have normalcy in her life. I was so upset, but I'm so greatful and I never stopped changing my name. Thank you so very much for this gift. I'm very happy you all loved this play. Also? In my eyes? There was only one Annie I agree with all of you. She was amazing, but in this industry? People should only know the truth. Thank you dearly for this. You have this girl crying. 🙏🤭🎈🎈

[@cpetrizzi]

Most of today's "singers" would benefit from taking a page out of Andrea McArdle's playbook. Hear that? Oh wait, no autotune! Her voice is actually in tune, strong, incredible, has unbelievable depth, complex, haunting, and 100% natural. This is how a true performer needs to be unlike 99.9% of all the crap that is out there today.

[@stevenlennon12]

great cast

[@michaelmumford6351]

I was in KUs' 1984 version of ANNIE. Michael Eugene Mumford

[@erikalorenzen9416]

I get to see Andrea perform tonight 😍 so super excited *Oh my goodness. She's still got it.

[@xXCatrinXxEve]

the imperfections make the perfection.

[@irisbjones]

the perfection so strived for now leaves no room for the imagination.

[@jayrnj]

I saw this original production on Broadway a week after Dorothy Louden won her Tony for her amazing performance of Miss Hannigan. When she first appeared on stage, I and the entire audience rose to our feet and gave her a five minute standing ovation. The “Easy Street” number stopped the show. One of the most memorable Broadway musicales I’ve ever seen.

[@lj1671]

That whole cast had amazing voices

[@maria7689]

I took chorus for years in elementary school and we sang songs from Annie all the time. I wish I had seen it on Broadway.

[@himynameisanna5650]

2:30 is my favorite song (you’re never fully dressed without a smile)

[@derekllewellyn6663]

I will make it a little girl's wiggle are demo yet need to work on it more

[@chookaschookas444]

Rooster and Lily have to enter after"Fully dressed" in the show. It was fun to watch from the wings, but intimidating to know we had to follow that showstopping number.

[@geyermary]

FABULOUS!

[@volz519]

I like it better this way without the New York accents that the revival uses. They detract from the singing.

[@TheRubenchitito]

They are perfect.. It's unbelievable how perfect they are.

[@heidiambler]

I can’t deal with Andrea McArdle here. What a fucking powerhouse.

[@veilbreak5867]

the choreography is perfect for this. Its relatively simple but looks great

[@maria7689]

Amazing voice!!!

[@cassandraTPWK]

My God, FANTASTIC performance. Not one flaw. ❤❤❤❤👏👏👏👏

[@miltonsmith974]

As stated above, these performances were featured on the Tony Awards Show. For a while, actual video excerpts of the original Annie cast performing live on the Broadway stage were available on KZbin. For some reason, those excerpts have disappeared. Not sure why.

[@korifraziermorgan]

This is one of the greatest Tonys performances ever.

[@utoobuser101]

sweet. i love this version of annnie

[@jaredjlinden]

The original and still the best. And Andrea McArdle - what a powerhouse.

[@Magic9053]

This is the BEST version of Annie in Broadway and the movies HANDS DOWN !!!

[@tillyboos]

Andrea McArdle and Eileen Quinn are my two FAVORITE Annie’s. I saw McArdle on Broadway when I was a kid, and then Eileen Quinn in the movie-musical.

[@kimdelosier4666]

Quinn had a sweeter, softer voice... but in the movie she wasn't expected to quilt a 1500 seat theater for 6 shows a week like McArdle was.

[@elvirajhonson9396]

I agree but thro up Alisha Morton too

[@Grizzlied555]

Aileen Quinn.

[@beltingtokra]

Lilla Crawford is outstanding as Annie too!

[@patriciasnyder6915]

The best Annie ever.

[@MissLauraPi]

Shame that dog's like "Dude, can I go now? My hearing is like, REALLY sensitive, you know. Cause I'm a dog."

[@chrisdonovan205]

this play really has a great update history all 3 movies have a different charm both main plays era are awesome i wonder what the next Annie movie or play will be like

[@matthewbennett9928]

The next one will be a live production on NBC. It will be the fourth one they have done.

[@ladyj216]

talent!

[@Pcaara]

Oh my god, is it just me or does the girl playing annie look like arya from game of thrones???

[@giantsean]

She's singing to the hound...

[@funhere1]

Stephanie from all in the family was in this Broadway 1977 show, and her voice was used in hard knock life by jay-z, she was the shortest one 2nd 3rd from the left, and from solo dance.

[@writerswrock]

the fact that their not perfectly together makes it so much more real :) haha u really believe that its just a bunch of orphans jammin!

[@tracyhopkins8452]

Wow, that was really impressive =D made me "stick out my chin and grin" All-time favorite story, thanks for sharing!

[@craig7597]

Holy crap! That’s note at 9:28! Incredible.

[@dondee5439]

At the 1:21 mark, Andrea McArdle looks like she and Peter Billingsley (A Christmas Story) could be siblings. Maybe Ralphie had a long unknown/unmentioned older sister in the story.

[@anaxoxo2]

THIS IS MY FAVORITE KZbin VIDEO NOW OMG

[@braddavis8822]

I've always wondered.. How the found dogs mellow enough to perform so flawlessly on stage with a live audience..

[@sunnydayzie1202]

Bill berloni was a very young stage hand at the Goodspeed opera house in 1976 where Annie started out. I want to say hes about 19. He was sent to local pounds to find a dog to play Sandy. He found one that was about to be put down but didn't have the cash. He had to be there first thing in the morning when it opened to get the dog. He became Sandy's trainer. It led to a lifelong career of training animals on Broadway.

[@siljeandersrd1327]

I love esey street this song was for me

[@annafrancan]

the BEST version of Annie

[@SignatureStampsFan]

I've never seen Easy Street done to this caliber. Gold standard.