Annie
The Queensland Theatre Company

ANNIE by Thomas Meehan with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, from February 13th to March 7th, 1981 at the S.G.I.O. Theatre, and later, a revival at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Brisbane, from November 3 to December 12, 1981 for the Queensland Theatre Company, and a revival highlight performance at the Commonwealth Gala on October 7, 1982 before Her Majesty the Queen, and H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh.

Directed by Alan Edwards; Choreographed by Jack Webster; Musical Direction by Brian Stacey; Sets Designed by James Ridewood; Costumes Designed by Graham Maclean; Lighting Designed by Jamie Henson; Sound Designed by Peter Freeman. Assistant to the Director: Peter Duncan; Dance Directed by Hugh Monroe; Stage Managed by Ellen Kennedy; Assistant Stage Managed by Paul Atthow; Stage Management Assistant: Toby Simkin; Animal Wrangling by Geraldine Owens and Repetiteur Phil Robertson.

I was assistant to the Stage Management team and dog walker for Geraldine at the S.G.I.O., and later at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Stage Management support during daytimes (while I was ASM’s ON OUR SELECTION at the S.G.I.O. theatre at night)

STARRING David Clendinning (Oliver Warbucks); Bev Shean (Miss Hannigan); Deanne Burns (Annie) [alternating with Tereska Harbottle]; Tereska Harbottle (Annie) [alternating with Deanne Burns]; Danae Harbottle (Molly); Jane Daley (Duffy); Danelle Denny (July); Katy Hopkins (Tessie); Kate Richter (Lily); Susan Wilkinson (Pepper); Bettina Lewers (Kate); Katie McNeil (Grace Farrell); Duncan Wass (Rooster Hannigan); Peter Noble (Lt Ward / Bert Healy / Morgenthau / Justice Brandeis); Karen Crone (Annette – A Boylan Sister / Hooverville-ite / Policeman / Warbuck’s Servant / New Yorker); Margery Forde (Cecille – A Boylan Sister / Hooverville-ite / Policeman / Warbuck’s Servant / New Yorker); Jacqui Hall (A Star to Be / A Boylan Sister / Hooverville-ite / Policeman / Warbuck’s Servant / New Yorker ); Frank Lloyd (FDR); Sally Robertson (Mrs Greer); Stephen Haddan (Jimmy Johnson / Ickes / Hooverville-ite / Policeman / Warbuck’s Servant / New Yorker ); David Leith (Howe / Hooverville-ite / Policeman / Warbuck’s Servant / New Yorker ); Tony McGill (Hooverville-ite / Policeman / Warbuck’s Servant / New Yorker ); Lyn Moorfoot (Hooverville-ite / Policeman / Warbuck’s Servant / New Yorker ); Hugh Monroe (Honour Guard / Hooverville-ite / Policeman / Warbuck’s Servant / New Yorker ); Mark Penman (Bundles McCloskey / Sound Effects Man / Hooverville-ite / Policeman / Warbuck’s Servant / New Yorker ); Stephen Preston (Dog Catcher); Darien Sticklen (Dog Catcher / Frank McCracken / Hull / Hooverville-ite / Policeman / Warbuck’s Servant / New Yorker ); Lyn Treadgold (Sophie / the Kettle / Mrs Pugh / Perkins / Hooverville-ite / Policeman / Warbuck’s Servant / New Yorker ); Jack Webster (Dog Catcher / Drake / Hooverville-ite / Policeman / Warbuck’s Servant / New Yorker ); Gay, Sandy and Charlie Brown (Sandy Dogs)

The Queensland Theatre Orchestra conducted by Brian Stacey, and included Chen Yang (leader), Tom Coyle, John Fodor, Kaishik Paul, Anne Knightley, Maria Sillams, Deborah Stong, Simon Overt, Olgs Thorpe, Colin Fox, John Richard, Lachlan Easton, Stephen Brockman, Janine Grantham, Martin Crook, Peter Dart, Katie Harrison, Elizabeth Wait, Martin Wooley, Julia Chapman, Anthony Wood, Trevor O’Connell, Alan Wilkie, David Wellman, Vic Cerezo and Ken Clark, joined by Charles Bromley, Paul Pallister, Michael Morgan, John Pytro. For the regional tour Ken Poggioli (bass), Andrew Wilkie (percussion), Dave Wellman (Trumpet) and Tom Coyle (Trombone)

Sandy the dog was trained by Bill Perrett of Cobjuri All Breeds Training Complex.

For the Commonwealth Gala Performance at Her Majesty’s Theatre on October 7, 1982 (and televised concert on QTQ Channel 9) in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen, and H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh, the QTC featured 2 excerpts from ANNIE, featuring Deanne Burns, Danae Harbottle, Susan Wilkinson, Keely Hocking, Danelle Denny, Katy Hopkins and Bettina Lewers (Orphans), along with Rod Cotton (Bert Healy) and Alison Lingard, Karen Crone & Margery Forde (Boylan Sisters), with Gregory Gesch overseeing the remount. Stage Managed by Ellen Kennedy, Assistant Stage Managed by Kristin Reuter, Lighting follow-spot by Jamie Henson.

And for the Queensland Theatre Company:
(collectively over my tenure)

Executive Staff: Alan Edwards, AM MBE (Founding Artistic Director); Peter Duncan* / Gregory Gesch* (Assistant Director); Arthur Frame AM (Production Manager); Gillian Coar (Executive Officer); Christine Walsh / Ken Kennett OAM (Public Relations & Publicity Officer); June Craw OAM (Finance and Business Officer); Lewis Savage (Subscriptions Officer); Helen Mayes (Clerical Assistant); Lloyd Nickson (Director, Theatre in Education); Richard Magnus (Fundraising Chairman); Diane Leith (Administration) and Susan Bonning / Jennie Lewis (Receptionist).

Production Staff: Graham Maclean / James Ridewood (Resident Designer); Bill Shannon / Beverley Hill (Design Assistant); Caroline Gyucha (Scenic Artist); James Henson (Lighting Designer); David Lees (Electrician); Michael Wormald / Gary Cameron / Paul Parkinson / David Palm (Properties); Howard Steele (Head Carpenter); Des Dougan / Peter Vosiliunas (Carpenter); Cornelis Boogaart* (Apprentice Carpenter); Marie Perry-Watson / Lexi Wright / Jay Mansfield-Askew / Cynthia Bowen (Wardrobe Supervisor); Ken Bushby / Thelma Cope / Meredith Fogg / Margaret Reeves / Danny Healy / Arlie McGill / Anne Long / Kerry Yates (Wardrobe); Ellen Kennedy / David McCrudden / Kit Oldfield / Patrick Whelan / Kristin Reuter / Jan Levi / Victor Ashelford / Colin Wilson / Barry Melville / Toby Simkin / Brian Barnes / Vito Arena / Peter Reeve^± / Sussanne Humphries / Julianne White (Stage Management); Vicki Birch / Yvette (Capt) O’Brien (Production Secretary); Dawn Grieg (Wardrobe Hire) and Ivan/Gloria Pierce & Derrick George (Photographer).

Representation: Yolande Bird / Diana Franklin (London Representative); Michael Menzies (New York Representative) and John Krummel OAM (Sydney Casting & Repertoire Consultant).

S.G.I.O. Theatre Staff: Jim Wright (Manager); Alban Riley / Don Fergusson (Assistant Manager); Peter Petrovich / Ray Calcutt (Head Mechanist); Patrick (Paddy) Teuma / David Malacari (Head Electrician) and Dallas Black / Kay Fifas (Booking Office)

Albert Park Theatre Staff: Wayne McKenna (House Manager); Margo Morris (Box Office)

Associate Artists: Bille Brown AM; Carol Burns; Reginald Cameron OAM, Ivar Kants; Joe MacColum; Warren Mitchell; James Ridewood, Cliff Simcox; Babette Stephens AM MBE and Geraldine Turner OAM.

QTC Guild: Magda Wollner (Coordinator); Alice Beacroft, Joan Chamberlain, Bobbie Glyn Evans, Maureen Fallon, Sonja Farmer, Beryl Foote, Neil Fulwood, Dolores Garland, Elaine Heath, Edna Heathwood, Margaret Hill, Ena Huppert, June Jamieson, Eva Klug, Irene Lefman, Patrick Mellick, Hillary Mosten, Maureen Mortensen, Barbara Nielsen, Joyce Nixon Smith, Gloria Phillips, Vivienne Reddy, Marea Reed, Melina Reed, Margaret Robinson, Grace Reynolds, June Sheedy, Ann Shevill, Toby Simkin, Sybil Simpson, Elaine Skinner, Anne Smith and Jess Yeowart (Volunteers)

* Salaries were assisted by a special grant from the Theatre Board of the Australia Council, a statutory body of the Commonwealth Government.
^± Services were provided by the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
^ Services were provided courtesy of the Queensland Theatre Orchestra

The Queensland Theatre Company acknowledged the financial assistance of the Queensland State Government and the Commonwealth Government through the Theatre Board of the Australia Council without which the continued operation of the Company would not have been possible.
The Queensland Theatre Company was a founding member of CAPPA (Confederation of Australia Professional Performing Arts)

See More: Facebook.com