'Annie The Musical' A Holiday Delight At Smithtown Performing Arts Center

SMITHTOWN, NY — No matter how trying times may seem, the sun will always come out — tomorrow.

The hit song, "Tomorrow," and the burst of pure joy that is young actress Skylar Levey, make the currently-running performance of "Annie The Musical" at the Smithtown Performing Arts Center a don't-miss show this holiday season.

From the start, Levey — the role is also played by Briahna Gibbon during other performances — shines as the ever-enthusiastic, spunky little redhead whose positivity leads the way, as she finds hope even in the most dire of circumstances. Her voice, ringing out pure and true, lifts hearts and has an entire audience singing along — her talent and invincible spirit are the centerpiece of an utterly engaging and delightful performance across the proverbial board.

"With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City," a description of the show reads. "She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the orphanage, 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! She finds a new home and family in billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy."

While the show is a classic, with tunes like "Tomorrow", the current performance at the Smithtown PAC feels brand-new, kissed by holiday magic and the happy ever after we've all come to hope for.

And leapin' lizards, the show is wonderful. From the audience's first introduction to the adorable little orphans, to Andrew Lenahan's compelling turn as the man forever changed by a spritely redhead who touches his heart, to Katy Trunz as the completely vile, and often intoxicated, Miss Hannigan that audiences love to hate, to the adorable pup Sandy, played by Toby Cornelius Trunz, the show is simply sublime. There's no better way to spend the holidays than with one of the most heartwarming shows ever performed, with a cast who brings the show to life with such heart and talent.

The show centers on little Annie's journey, first as a runaway who finds herself on the bitterly cold, harsh canvas of the life lived by the homeless — but even in rags and hungry, her bright light never dims.

Soon, she's brought back to the orphanage and, must to Hannigan's dismay, is chosen by Grace Farrell, played with elegance and sincerity by a gifted Marilyn Parada, to spend the holidays at the opulent mansion, surrounded by food and a wrapped in a warm coat and arms eager to embrace the wide-eyed child, ever-polite and wreathed in thanks for every single thing afforded her during her stay.

But despite having the world offered to her on a veritable silver platter, Annie wants one thing — to find her birth parents. A silver locket that they left her with at the orphanage has forever fueled her fervor that one day, if wishes do come true, they will be reunited.

Daddy Warbucks, despite his genuine love for his young charge, and wish to adopt her, realizes that loving her means letting her go — and he launches into a full-scale effort to find Annie's birth parents.

The unscrupulous Hannigan and her dastardly brother Rooster, played to evil perfection by Michael as well as his girl, Lily St. Regis, portrayed by an equally unsavory Julie Stewart, seek to cash in on the search and step in, scheming to win the spoils through their machinations.

The show features direction and choreography by Kevin Burns, musical direction by Samantha Free, set design by Michael Mucciolo, lighting design by Daniel Caplan, and costume design by Kelly Mucciolo. Production Stage Manager Dorothy Haszinger and Stage Manager Abigail Jackowski also create a show that's impossible to forget.

The cast, including Levey and Gribben, Lenahan, Trunz, Parada, Shapiro, and Stewart —as well as Matthew W. Surico as Bert Healy, Michael Sherwood in a star turn as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dan Schindlar as Drake and Will Brennan as Bundles — simply shines. They work together in a seamless show of talent to present a piece that dazzles with sincerity, emotion, and always, heart.

The orphans, played by Reese Rotella, Zoe Jordan, Willow Newman, Madeline Deaner, Jillian Wagner, Reagan Furnell, Azalea, Edwards-Wilson, Giuliana Patnaude, Gracie Sellitto, Tenley Hassett, Addison Crettol, Faye Airola are simply irresistible; an adult ensemble including Ali Crosley, Molly Sanges, Jacob Lesko, Yolanda Penfield, Carliana Biasi, Julia Durfee, Kayla Stallone, Paul Schiller complete the heartwarming cast.

Featuring timeless hits like "It’s the Hard Knock Life," "Maybe," and the lilting "Tomorrow," the show is one that makes audiences believe, if only for a few shining hours, in the possibility of genuine happy endings — with love prevailing, always.

Presented by the Smithtown PAC, located at 2. E. Main Street in Smithtown, and sponsored in part by the Stone Goat Restaurant & Brewery, the show runs through December 28 with shows on Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. Dec. 20 at 7 p.m., Dec. 21 at 2 p.m., Dec. 26 at 2 p..m., Dec. 27 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.