YORK company NE Musicals York are to freshen up the evergreen musical Annie this spring.

"I know it's Annie and it's been done to death, but it is the world's most loved Broadway musical and we've put a new opening to the show, while still keeping all the amazing values," says artistic director Steve Tearle.

"In the contemporary twist to our production, we first meet Annie at 87 and the show is done though her telling the story of her life as an orphan to her grandson Henry. Our new contemporary take will leave you wanting more...tomorrow!"

Featuring music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin and book by Thomas Meehan, Annie will run at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, from April 30 to May 4 with such songs as It's A Hard Knock Life, Tomorrow, Easy Street and Little Girls in its score.

Based on Harold Gray's comic-strip heroine Little Orphan Annie, the original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years, setting a record for the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre) and winning seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

In Annie, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts with her pluck and positivity, despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s' New York City. She is determined to find her parents, who abandoned her on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. However, with the help of her fellow orphans, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC.

In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, as she finds a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

"We've pulled together a terrific cast," says Steve, who is joined in the production team by musical director Jessica Douglas and choreography captain Elle Roberts. "Libby Anderson and Lana Harris will alternate the role of Annie; Emma Louse Dickerson, who was in Oliver!, Grease and Follies, will play Grace; Lee Harris will be Miss Hannigan, and Perri Ann Barley, from Oliver!and A Christmas Carol, will star as Lily St Regis."

Tearle has given himself the "Daddy" of all roles, Oliver Warbucks, after playing Fagin in Oliver! and Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof, while Kevin Bowes follows up his Scrooge in A Christmas Carol with the part of Rooster Hannigan.

"Add fantastic cameos from all the orphan characters and the ensemble, and this promises to be an amazing event," says Steve.

"Look out too for the look of our Annie, which will be a collaboration of styles involving amazing designs from Adam Moore, of Tech 24, that will take you back to New York City 1943."

Tickets for the 7.30pm evening performances and 2.30pm Saturday matinee are on sale at £13 to £18 on 01904 501935 or at josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.

Charles Hutchinson