OK, TIME FOR THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF BROADWAY BALANCES
AMERICA. OUR SERIES THAT TAKES YOU BEHIND
THE SCENES OF SOME OF THE MOST BELOVED MUSICALS AS THEY TRAVEL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND INTO YOUR LOCAL THEATERS.
SO, LOOKING FORWARD, YOU KNOW? IT'S TRULY NOT A HARD KNOCK LIFE
FOR BALANCING ACT CORRESPONDENT, AMBER MILT, BUT IT IS FOR THE
YOUNG HOPEFULS WHO ARE VYING FOR THE LEADS IN THE UPCOMING
REVIVAL OF THE MOST BELOVED STORY ANNIE.
WELL, AMBER, IS IN NEW YORK CITY AT THE CASTING CALL WITH THE
EXCLUSIVE. THE EXCITEMENT IS BREWING BECAUSE IT'S ALL UP FOR
GRABS. (SINGING)
LEEPIN' LIZARDS THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG LADIES ALL HERE AT
PEARL STUDIOS IN MANHATTAN. WHO MAY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO LAND
ONE OF BROADWAY'S MOST CHERISHED ROLES.
(PIANO PLAYING) (CHILDREN SINGING) IT'S A HARD
KNOCK LIFE FOR US. IT'S A HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US. INSTEAD OF
TREATED, WE GET TRICKED. INSTEAD OF KISSES WE GET KICKED. IT'S A
HARD KNOCK LIFE. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME
AS THAT THE CHILD IS HAPPY TO BE THERE AND THEY ARE READY TO
WORK. DEFINITELY WE WANT TO LET THEIR PERSONALITY COME TO THE
FLOOR. WHERE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE BEING THEMSELVES. SO
I WANT TO SEE THAT THE CHILD ACTOR HAS THAT SENSE OF LIFE
BEHIND THEIR EYES. AND THAT THEY CAN HELP TELL THAT STORY.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PERFORMING AND SINGING AND DANCING.
IT'S ABOUT TELLING STORIES. SO ALL YOU ALL ALRIGHT?
(CHILDREN IN UNISON) YES! YOU'VE HAD A GOOD WEEK?
(CHILDREN IN UNISON) YES! ALRIGHT YOU WANT TO JUST SHAKE
IT OUT A LITTLE BIT. (CHILDREN LAUGHING AND JUMPING)
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHAT SETS HER APART,
IT'S HOW SHE DEFINES THE CHARACTER.
THE ICONIC ANNIE EXISTS IN MY MIND, EXISTS IN THE MIND OF ALL
OF THE AUTHORS SO THERE ARE COMPONENTS VOCALLY HOW THEY
MOVE, CERTAINLY HOW THEY LOOK, THEIR ATTITUDE.
AND MARTIN CHARNIN KNOWS OF WHAT HE SPEAKS.
AS THE CO CREATOR AND ORIGINAL DIRECTOR OF ANNIE IN 1977, HE
WROTE THE ICONIC ANTHEM OF OPTIMISM THAT WILL ONCE AGAIN BE
SUNG FROM COAST TO COAST THIS COMING YEAR AS THE UPDATED
MUSICAL HITS THE ROAD. (CHILDREN SINGING) THE SUN WILL
COME OUT TOMORROW. SO YOU GOTTA HANG ON TIL TOMORROW.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU COME AWAY FEELING GOOD BECAUSE
THIS A MUSICAL ABOUT HOPE. THIS IS A MUSICAL ABOUT LOVE, VERY
MUCH SO. THIS IS MUSICAL ABOUT GROWTH AND CHOICES.
YOU CAN TELL THESE KIDS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
(CHILDREN SINGING) (MUSIC)
AND TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. AS THE SHOW MUST BEGIN REHEARSING
VERY SOON, THE TEAM MUST SEE IF THESE GIRLS HAVE THE OVERALL
CHOPS TO MAKE IT. (CHILD SINGING)
LIZA GANNARO. WHO'S FATHER WAS THE ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHER IS A
VETERAN WHEN IT COMES TO CASTING.
1, AND 2 AND 3. 4 AND 5 AND 6, 7, 8.
I'M LOOKING FOR THE DANCEABILITY.
RYTHM, BASIC COORDINATION, ABILITY TO PICK UP PHRASES OF
CHOREOGRAPHY OF STEPS, STYLE AND PERFORMANCE ABILITY.
WHERE AS A KID WHO MAYBE CAN PICK IT UP AND DANCES IT REALLY
WELL BUT IS NOW GOING TO COME ACROSS THE FOOT LIGHT.
SO YOU ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE BALANCE IS.
BALANCE IS THE KEY FOR ALL INVOLVED BUT ESPECIALLY FOR THE
PARENTS WHO ARE SHEPHERDING THEIR CHILDREN ON THIS JOURNEY.
JULIE, AS A MOTHER, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOT TO BE DIFFICULT YOU ARE
SPENDING A LOT OF TIME HERE. HOW DO YOU FIND THE BALANCE BETWEEN
YOUR OWN LIFE AND WORKING WITH YOUR CHILD AND FOR HER
PROFESSIONAL CAREER. IF IT'S SOMETHING THEY LIKE, AND
THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT, THAT MAKES IT EASIER TO BALANCE FOR
ME. BECAUSE THEN SHE TAKES ON THAT
RESPONSIBILITY HERSELF. THEY HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN
STRENGTH, INNER STRENGTH AND A GREAT BELIEF IN THEIR OWN
ABILITIES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. BUT YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PARENTS
THAT HAVE SPORTS, OURS DOES THIS.
AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PUZZLE IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE OF
THE SHOWS MOST BELOVED STARS, SANDY. ALSO KNOWN AS SUNNY THE
DOG. WHEN I'M TRYING TO FIND FOR HIM
IS THE GIRL WHO ALSO HAS THE HEART OF LOVING DOGS.
IT JUST HAPPENS NATURALLY ON STAGE. WE DON'T HAVE TO FORCE
IT. THIS WAY. AND HOLD HER BY YOUR
SIDE. AND WHEN YOU GET BACK TO THE END
POINT, SHE'S GOING TO SIT AND YOU ARE GOING TO SAY GOOD GIRL!
AND YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE HER A TREAT.
OK? BILL TAKES THE TOP PICKS THROUGH
SOME SIMPLE CUES WITH SUNNY, A RESCUE FROM TEXAS WHO HAS
ALREADY APPEARED ON BROADWAY. GOOD GIRL!
DOES SUNNY EVER GET NERVOUS? SHE GETS NERVOUS WHEN THE KIDS
GET NERVOUS. WE NEED A KID WHO IS CONFIDENT
AND WHO WILL PROJECT THAT SO THAT THE DOG DOESN'T HAVE TO
WORRY. (CHILD SINGING)
TOMORROW, TOMORROW, I LOVE YA TOMORROW. YOU'RE ALWAYS A DAY
AWAY. GOOD.
GOOD GOOD GOOD. GOOD JOB. STAY.
VERY GOOD. I FEEL SAD ABOUT HER. AND I FEEL
SAD ABOUT HER AND YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T GET ANYTHING OUT OF HER.
AFTER A LONG DAY OF PUTTING THESE TALENTED GIRLS THROUGH
THEIR PACES, THE PANEL MUST NOW MAKE THEIR DECISIONS.
WELL, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE WANTED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
WITH YOU ABOUT IS WE WANT YOU TO BE IN THE SHOW.
IS THAT OK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE?
YES. (LAUGHING)
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY ANNIE? YES.
(LAUGHING) OK.
YOU CAN PLAY ANNIE. (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC) ISSE SWICKLE FROM DAVIE,
FLORIDA HAS CAPTURED THE ROLE OF ANNIE.
YOU SEE THESE LOVELY LOCK? BUH BYE!
(LAUGHING) ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH THAT? NO.
OK. NO, I LOVE YOUR ATTITUDE, IT'S
GREAT. THAT CHILD REVEALED AN AWFUL LOT
OF HER OWN INDIVIDUALITY IN THAT MOMENT. I MEAN SHE WAS NOT
COACHED. THAT WAS THAT LITTLE GIRL FINDING OUT. SO THE DRAMA
WAS HER DRAMA. AND THAT'S THE DRAMA THAT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO
TAP AND PUT UP ON STAGE. AND FOR ISSIE AND HER FAMILY,
WHAT A DRAMATIC AND EXCITING CHANGE THEY NOW FACE. WE'VE
SUPPORTED HER, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT AND YOU KNOW, JUST AS
PARENTS WE'LL, FIGURE IT OUT. IT WILL WORK.
WE'LL MAKE IT WORK. WE'LL FIGURE IT ALL OUT.
WE'RE FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE WORK TOGETHER AND AT LEAST I CAN
LEAVE AND COME AND GO AS I PLEASE, SO WE ARE JUST GOING TO
FIGURE IT OUT. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS AND NEVER QUIT.
BECAUSE ONE DAY YOU ARE GOING TO REACH THAT POINT WHERE YOU ARE
GOING TO BE ON BROADWAY. WOW! WHAT AN AMAZING STORY.
AND LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, THAT'S AN EXCLUSIVE. YOU HEARD THE NEWS
HERE FIRST. ISSIE SWICKLE, OUR LOCAL SOUTH
FLORIDA GAL IS THE NEXT ANNIE. THAT'S RIGHT JULIE.
SO EXCITING. AND WE'RE SO LUCKY BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO GET HER
INTO THE STUDIO BEFORE SHE HEADS BACK TO THE BIG APPLE. SHE IS
GOING TO BE VERY BUSY FOR REHEARSAL AND THE LAUNCH OF THE
TOUR. AND VOILA!
WELCOME. WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
I MEAN, IS THIS A DREAM COME TRUE?
I MEAN TELL ME, YOU ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A BIG JOURNEY.
IT'S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY BUT AMAZING AT THE SAME TIME.
ARE YOU EXCITED? I'M SUPER EXCITED.
READY TO JUMP OUT OF THOSE LITTLE SILVER BALLET SLIPPERS
THERE. YEAH.
(LAUGHING) AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING I LOVE
JULIE, IS WHAT HER MOTHER SAID AT THE END AND HER FATHER
TOGETHER. THEY'VE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF
YOU AND I KNOW MOM IS LEAVING WITH YOU FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR. YOU
ARE SO BLESSED, YOU MUST BE SO THANKFUL TO MOM.
I AM. AND DREAMS DO COME TRUE DON'T
THEY? YES.
NOW, OLGA AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT, THIS IS MOST GORGEOUS
HAIR WE'VE EVER SEEN BUT OLGA SHARED WITH ME THAT YOU MAY HAVE
TO GET A HAIRCUT! IS THAT CORRECT?
YES. HOW DO FEEL ABOUT THAT?
I'M NOT, IT'S NOT SO PLEASANT BUT IT'S, I'LL HAVE TO DO IT AND
IT'S GOING TO BE OK BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S GOING TO GROW BACK.
YES. AND IT'S HAIR.
AND IT'S TOTALLY WORTH IT. RIGHT.
DID YOU EVER THINK THAT THEY WERE GOING TO COME UP TO YOU AND
SAY, YOU'RE ANNIE? NO.
DID YOU DREAM IT? YES.
YAY! DREAMS DO COME TRUE. I LOVE
THAT. WELL, I TELL YOU. THEY ARE GOING
TO BE IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND MY GIRLS WANT TO GO SEE YOU. I KNOW
YOU ARE GOING TO GO TOO. MY GIRLS ARE GOING TO FLY IN FROM
LOS ANGELES OR WHEREVER THEY ARE TO COME SEE YOU. WE CAN'T WAIT!
SO WE ARE GOING TO BE FRONT AND CENTER RIGHT THERE WITH YOUR
MOM. I PROMISED HER BECAUSE I REALLY
AM DYING TO SEE. I AM TOO.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO FLY IN FROM LOS ANGELES, BECAUSE IT'S GOING
TO LOS ANGELES. YEAH.
THAT'S THE WONDERFUL THING. YOU ARE GOING TO BE ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY RIGHT? YOU KNOW, SHE HAS A 13 BROTHER.
ARE YOU GOING TO MISS HIM? YEAH!
AW! I LOVE THAT. I'M GOING TO MISS HIM A LOT.
THAT IS GREAT. BUT YOU'LL HAVE MOM BY YOUR
SIDE. TELL US ABOUT THE REST OF THE
CAST. THE CAST IS AMAZING AND THERE'S
ANOTHER SPECIAL GIRL ON THERE BESIDES THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL WHO
IS GOING TO PLAY ANNIE. ANGIE, IS MY GOD DAUGHTER, SO
YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO BE THERE FOR BOTH OF YOU.
I'M SO HAPPY TO BOTH OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS SWEET HEART.
THANK YOU. AND YOU KNOW, THEY SKY IS THE
LIMIT FOR YOU. (SINGING)
THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW, BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR THAT
TOMORROW THEY'LL BE SUN. YOU ARE THE NEXT BIG STAR.
I'M TELLING YOU THAT. GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO SAY BEST OF LUCK TO ENTIRE CAST AND CREW AND
PRECIOUS ISSIE AS THEY HIT THE ROAD. REMEMBER TO HEAD TO OUR
WEBSITE FOR THE LINK BROADWAY BALANCES AMERICA.
AND I CAN SEE YOUR EYES WATER JUST LIKE MINE.
OH MY GOSH! AND IT HAS ALL THE SHOW
INFORMATION, TOUR DATES, AND MUCH MORE.
MAKE SURE TO SEE THIS YOUNG LADY BELT OUT TOMORROW ON THE
UPCOMING TOUR. AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, YOU
ROCK! YOU ROCK.
THANK YOU. RISING STAR RIGHT HERE.BROADWAY BALANCES AMERICA
BROUGHT TO YOU BY BRAODWAY ACROSS AMERICA
BRINGING THE BEST OF BROADWAY TO A CITY NEAR YOU.