Hands up for Australian Cast Recordings! Annie CD released

BREAKING NEWS

Australian music theatre fans missed out on the much anticipated Dr. Zhivago recording last year, but thankfully Anthony Warlow’s dulcet tones have been captured in another Australian Cast Recording, released today.

Sony Music Entertainment and The Gordon Frost Organisation have announced the release of the Australian Cast Recording of the new production of Annie, which is about to embark on an Australian national tour.

The album was recorded on Opening Night, January 5, 2012 at the Lyric Theatre, Sydney and features a stellar cast including Anthony Warlow as Daddy Warbucks, Nancye Hayes as Miss Hannigan, Todd McKenney (Rooster), Chloë Dallimore (Lily St. Regis), Julie Goodwin (Grace Farrell) and radio broadcaster Alan Jones as Franklin D. Roosevelt. The title role of Annie on the recording was performed by 10 year old Ella Nicol, who is one of three young actresses sharing the role in the Sydney production.

Producer John Frost said, “I’m extremely proud of this wonderful new production of Annie, and thrilled that Sony Music and I have been able to record this brilliant cast for posterity. I hope it starts a resurgence in live recordings of Australian casts of musicals, so audiences can not only see these productions in theatres but relive the theatrical excitement at home with the cast album.”

This is the third production of Annie to be staged in Australia, the first in 1978-9 and the second in 2000. The tour has begun at the Lyric Theatre, The Star (Sydney) until March 25 before moving on to Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

Producer John Frost will present the world premiere of An Officer And A Gentleman in May this year, and various tracks from the show will be available for download from 2 February. When asked about a possible An Officer and A Gentleman Original Cast recording in an interview with AussieTheatre.com last year, Frost said “we’re in talks now with Actors Equity”.

Looks like we’re bringing back the Australian Cast Recordings – and there are plenty more to be had! Moonshadow, King Kong, Strictly Ballroom and Dreamlover are all new works in the pipeline…

Hands up who would like more Australian Cast Recordings?

I know I would.