THE SUN’LL COME OUT TOMORROW – BUT THE STARS COME OUT AT NIGHT AS ANNIE CLOSES OUT THE SPRINGFIELD MUNI SEASON

The Springfield Muni Opera’s season of leading ladies comes to a close starting Friday, August 3, with the youngest of the group – the beloved orphan Annie.

Based on the adventures of the plucky comic strip heroine Little Orphan Annie, this timeless favorite tells the story of little Annie (Caroline Dahlquist), who toils away in the orphanage run by mean Miss Hannigan (Tiffany Williams), but who never loses sight of her dream to find her real parents. Annie’s plans take an unexpected twist when billionaire Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks (Gus Gordon) decides to spend the Christmas holiday with an orphan. His assistant Grace (Kristen Wolfe) thinks Annie would be the ideal choice, and her arrival in Warbucks’ life will change them both forever.

This Tony Award-winning musical first appeared on the Broadway stage in 1977, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin and book by Thomas Meehan. It features some of the most popular songs ever to emerge from a stage production, including “Tomorrow” and “Hard-Knock Life.” Director Carly Shank says her goal with this production is to emphasize that families come in many different forms.

Annie is sponsored by RSM. The show runs August 3-5 and 8-12. Please note the early start time for this production with curtain time is 8:00 p.m. each night. Reserved seats are available in advance by calling (217) 793-MUNI or visiting the Sangamon Auditorium box office. Tickets (both reserved and general admission) are also available on show nights at the box office at the Muni site.

Even after the regular season is done, there is still more fun to come at the Muni before summer ends. The Muni Incredibles! will feature children who have taken part in the Muni’s Children’s Audition Program. Children have spent the summer learning what it takes to be a part of the magic of a Muni production. They will show what they have learned in two performances on Friday, August 17 and Saturday, August 18 at 8 p.m.

Tickets for these special performances are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-18. Kids two and under are free. All tickets will be available on show night at the Muni box office, and all seats are general admission; audience members may sit in the reserved seating section or may bring lawn chairs.

Get more details at themuni.org.

MUNI’S 2018 SEASON GOES PINK FOR LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL

OH MY GOD, YOU GUYS! MUNI’S 2018 SEASON GOES PINK

FOR LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL

                       

            The Springfield Muni Opera will be in the pink for the third show of the 2018 season – the Muni premiere of Legally Blonde: the Musical.

            This adaptation of the hit 2001 movie starring Reese Witherspoon still tells the story of everyone’s favorite law student, Elle Woods (played here by Zoey Zara). But now the story of Elle’s journey from sorority girl to courtroom force comes with peppy and memorable songs from husband-and-wife team Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, with book by Heather Hach (Freaky Friday).

            Elle thinks she’s about to be engaged to perfect boyfriend Warner (Dalton McGhiey), only to find instead that she’s getting dumped because Warner doesn’t think she’s serious enough. So Elle sets out to prove him wrong by applying to join him at Harvard Law School. But Elle soon finds that law school is a long way from the Delta Nus, and she has to use all of her unique skills and talents to balance the scales of justice for a famous client, and for herself.

            Just as pink is Elle’s favorite color, audience members are also encouraged to “Paint the Muni Pink” on the second Saturday of the show, July 21. Everyone attending the show that night is invited to wear pink, and there will be several opportunities to donate to the American Cancer Society. More details are available at the Springfield Muni Opera Facebook page.

            Legally Blonde: The Musical is directed by Anna Bussing Maisenbacher, and is sponsored by UCB. The show runs July 13-15 and 18-22. Showtime is 8:30 each night. Reserved seats are available in advance by calling (217) 793-MUNI or visiting the Sangamon Auditorium box office. Tickets (both reserved and general admission) are also available on show nights at the box office at the Muni site on Lake Springfield. The 2018 season of memorable leading ladies will close with the final production of the summer, Annie, opening August 3. Get more details at themuni.org.