Stratford Festival 2025 opens with Annie on May 27, running until November 2 at the Festival Theatre
The sun will come out tomorrow when the Stratford Festival begins its 2025 season with the fabulous musical Annie, directed and choreographed by Donna Feore and led by Harper Rae Asch as Annie, Dan Chameroy as Oliver Warbucks and Laura Condlln as Miss Hannigan.
Ever-optimistic Annie makes it her job to improve the lives of everyone around her – except maybe Miss Hannigan, who has made life a misery for all the little girls in her care at the New York Municipal Orphanage. Fed up and determined to find her parents, Annie makes a break for it one day and learns that even the outside world is tough. Dragged back home by police, she doesn’t have to wait long for her real break. Though it may not be the dream she pictured, a happy ending is in store.
Harper Rae Asch as Annie, Annie. Stratford Festival 2025. photo by Ted Belton.
“Where we came from and where we want to go define who and what we aspire to be – our vision shapes us,” says Feore. “Annie has only her ‘imagined’ parents and past to shape her vision, yet her choices always assume wonderful prospects. She embodies the best of every human reaction to adversity and she speaks to us in a language so simple and clear that it’s hard to deny her power.”
Annie also features Amanda Lundgren as Lily St Regis, Jennifer Rider-Shaw as Grace Farrell, and Mark Uhre as Rooster Hannigan, with Cydnee Abbott, Eric Abel, Carla Bennett, Devon Michael Brown, Jarret Cody, Christine Desjardins, Henry Firmston, Jordan Goodridge, Evonny Harker, Hazel Heaney, Harmony Holder, Isla Horner, Sara-Jeanne Hosie, Bonnie Jordan, Alex Kelly, Bethany Kovarik, Derek Kwan, Fae Lewis, Gracie Mack, Anthony MacPherson, Jordan Mah, Jamie Murray, Sofia Grace Otta, Olivia Padfield, Stephen Patterson,Ali Powell, Jessica Reddy, Kirstyn Russelle, Jason Sermonia, Michele Shuster and Addison Wagman.
Laura Burton returns as Music Director, marking her 46th season at the Stratford Festival. Feore and Burton are joined by Set and Costume Designer Michael Gianfrancesco, Lighting Designer Kimberly Purtell, Projection Designer Sean Nieuwenhuis and Sound Designer Haley Parcher. The production features new dance music arrangements by David Dabbon.
Annie officially opens on May 27 and runs until November 2 at the Festival Theatre. Tickets are available at stratfordfestival.ca or by calling 1.800.567.1600.
The 2025 season also features As You Like It, Sense and Sensibility, Dangerous Liaisons, Macbeth, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Anne of Green Gables, The Winter’s Tale, Forgiveness, Ransacking Troy and The Art of War. For more information, visit stratfordfestival.ca.
The 2025 season is generously supported by Ophelia Lazaridis.
Proud 2025 Season Partners: BMO Financial Group, Canada Life and RBC Royal Bank.
Support for the 2025 season of the Festival Theatre is generously provided by Daniel Bernstein & Claire Foerster.
Production Co-Sponsor is RBC Royal Bank.
Production support is generously provided by Robert & Mary Ann Gorlin, Riki Turofsky & Charles Petersen and Peter & Carol Walters.
This production is dedicated to the memory of actor Logan Brideau, who played Tobias Britt in the Festival’s 2018 production of The Music Man.
CAST of Annie (in alphabetical order)
Cydnee Abbott Pepper
Eric Abel Dog Catcher, Hull
Harper Rae Asch Annie
Carla Bennett Cecille
Devon Michael Brown Fred McCracken/Wacky, Kaltenborn
Dan Chameroy Oliver Warbucks
Jarret Cody Swing
Laura Condlln Miss Aggie Hannigan
Christine Desjardins Swing
Henry Firmston Bert Healy
Jordan Goodridge Assistant Dog Catcher, Floor Manager, Howe
Evonny Harker Clara
Hazel Heaney Daisy
Harmony Holder Molly
Isla Horner July
Sara-Jeanne Hosie Mrs. Pugh, Perkins
Bonnie Jordan Annette, Connie Boylan
Alex Kelly Judge Brandeis, Ickes
Bethany Kovarik Mrs. Greer, Co-Dance Captain
Derek Kwan Drake, Mr. Bundles
Fae Lewis Francis
Amanda Lundgren Lily St. Regis
Gracie Mack Ronnie Boylan
Anthony MacPherson Swing, Co-Dance Captain
Jordan Mah Morganthau
Jamie Murray Star-To-Be
Sofia Grace Otta Duffy
Olivia Padfield Audrey
Stephen Patterson President Roosevelt, Lt. Ward
Ali Powell Swing
Jessica Reddy Kate
Kirstyn Russelle Annette, Connie Boylan (Temporary)
Jennifer Rider-Shaw Grace Farrell
Jason Sermonia Jimmy Johnson
Michelle Shuster Understudy
Mark Uhre Rooster Hannigan
Addison Wagman Tessie
ARTISTIC CREDITS FOR ANNIE
Director Donna Feore
Choreographer Donna Feore
Music Director Laura Burton
Set and Costume Designer Michael Gianfrancesco
Lighting Designer Kimberly Purtell
Projection Designer Sean Nieuwenhuis
Sound Designer Haley Parcher
Additional Dance Music Arrangements and Orchestrations David Dabbon
Fight Director Anita Nittoly
Associate Director Monique Lund
Associate Conductor James Smith
Associate Choreographer Stephan Dickson
Assistant Choreographer Anthony MacPherson
Assistant Set Designer Freddy Van Camp
Associate Costume Designer Barbara Morrone-Sanchez
Assistant Lighting Designer Sruthi Suresan
Assistant Lighting Designer Mathilda Kane
Assistant Projection Designer Angel Everett
Assistant Sound Designer Adam Campbell
Associate Fight Director David Chinchilla
Stage Manager Cynthia Toushan
Assistant Stage Manager Stephanie Bignell
Assistant Stage Manager Marie Fewer-Muncic
Assistant Stage Manager Tiffany Fraser
Production Stage Manager Krista Blackwood
Production Assistant Katherine Hunter
Child Performer Advocate Maggie Blake
EDI Consultant Art & Sound Consulting LLC, Kira Troilo
Dog Wrangler Furry People Productions, Kathy Zubick
Technical Director Robbin Cheesman
Lead photo: From left: Harper Rae Asch as Annie, Dan Chameroy as Oliver Warbucks and Laura Condlln as Miss Hannigan, Annie. Stratford Festival 2025. Photo: Ted Belton.
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