After a long search, finally Annie Live has found its new star! The live musical from NBC has cast Celina Smith for the role, and the show is set to make its debut in December.
According to Deadline:
12 yr old Smith, who started her career as Young Nala in the national touring company of The Lion King, joins NBC production’s previously cast Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan, Harry Connick Jr. as Daddy Warbucks, Nicole Scherzinger as Grace, and Tituss Burgess as Rooster.
Annie Live! airs Thursday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m.
“It’s an honor to follow in the footsteps of the talented young ladies who have played Annie before me and I can’t wait to start this journey,” Smith said in a statement.
Smith, of Atlanta, was cast in the role following a nationwide search for a new Annie, according to NBC.
The character, long considered one of the great musical theater roles for young actresses, gets to sing the show’s most famous showstopper – “Tomorrow” – as well as “Maybe” and “It’s a Hard Knock Life,” among others.
Based on the Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie that debuted in 1924, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1977, won seven Tony Awards, and initially ran for over four years.
Celina is a riot, check out a few videos from her Instagram:
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and watch her in action performing below:
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Congratulations Celina Smith, we know you are going to be amazing!
