EAST HADDAM, Conn. (Sept. 3, 2026) – Goodspeed Musicals is thrilled to announce that Emily Skinner will play the iconic role of Miss Hannigan in the 50th Anniversary production of Annie. The world’s most famous orphan makes her triumphant return to The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn, from Oct. 30 to Dec. 27.
Emily Skinner has been nominated for Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and BroadwayWorld awards for various performances and has performed extensively at theatres throughout the country. Her Broadway credits include: Side Show; Jekyll & Hyde; James Joyce’sThe Dead; A Christmas Carol; The Full Monty; Dinner at Eight; Billy Elliot; Prince of Broadway; The Cher Show; New York, New York; and Suffs. She also appeared in The Great American Mousical, directed by Julie Andrews, at Goodspeed’s Terris Theatre. The remaining cast will be announced at a later date.
Annie features a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, who also directed the original Broadway production. It is based on “Little Orphan Annie” by permission of Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Annie will be directed by Drama Desk-nominated Jenn Thompson (The Goodspeed: Gypsy, Anne of Green Gables, The Music Man, Oklahoma!, Bye Bye Birdie). She directed the recent three-year North American tour of Annie, including its acclaimed engagement at Madison Square Garden. A former actor, Thompson was a member of the original Broadway company of Annie, playing Pepper. Patricia Wilcox will choreograph the production (The Goodspeed: Gypsy, The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie; Broadway: Motown the Musical, A Night with Janis Joplin). Music direction will be by Goodspeed’s Resident Music Director Adam Souza (The Goodspeed: Over 25 productions including A Chorus Line, Ragtime, Gypsy, Maggie, The 12, The Mystery of Edwin Drood; Broadway/National Tours: Wicked, Kinky Boots, Spamalot, Les Misérables).
Leapin’ Lizards! The musical that stole America’s heart comes home to celebrate its 50th anniversary on the stage where it all began! With pluck and positivity, Annie escapes Miss Hannigan’s orphanage in search of her parents and finds a new family with her lovable mutt Sandy and billionaire Oliver Warbucks. This dazzling new production bursts with joy and timeless songs like “Tomorrow,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” and “Maybe.” You can bet your bottom dollar—it’s the can’t-miss event of the season!
Marquee Partners for this production are Mable and Richard Seymour, Russell Tait and Lee Anderson, and RADM. Louise C. Wilmot USN (Ret.) and James E. Wilmot.
Annie is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Annie will run Oct. 30 – Dec. 27, 2026. [Official Press Opening: Nov. 11, 2026.] Curtain times are Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2 p.m.), Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.).
Tickets are available through the Box Office (860.873.8668), open seven days a week at 11 a.m., or online at goodspeed.org. For show highlights, exclusive photos, special events and more, visit us at goodspeed.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
ABOUT GOODSPEED MUSICALS
Goodspeed Musicals is a nonprofit arts organization that has achieved international acclaim and is the first theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards for outstanding achievement in musical theatre. Under the leadership of Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director, and Vanessa Logan, Managing Director, Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the celebration, development and advancement of musical theatre. Goodspeed creates powerful, world-class productions of enlightening new and established works to delight, inspire and challenge audiences on its two stages – The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn., and The Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn. From Goodspeed, 21 musicals have gone to Broadway (including Man of La Mancha, Annie, Shenandoah and Holiday Inn) and 92 world premieres have been launched. Goodspeed’s Festival of New Musicals, GoodWorks commissioning program and the Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove at Goodspeed are distinguished cornerstones of the organization that highlight its commitment to nurture creators and the creative process. Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. The organization is supported in part by the Burry Fredrik Foundation; the Connecticut Office of the Arts, which also receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; Masonicare at Chester Village; The Norma Terris/Albert D. Firestone Foundation; The Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation; The Shubert Foundation; and the State of Connecticut, Department of Economic and Community Development. Additional support is provided by United Airlines, the official airline of Goodspeed Musicals. For more information, visit www.goodspeed.org.
