NBC REVEALS FULL CAST OF HOLIDAY MUSICAL SPECTACULAR "ANNIE LIVE!"

NEW YORK, NY - Nov. 16, 2021 - The musical event of the Holiday Season, "Annie Live!" will air on Thursday, December 2 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. The full cast of the star-studded broadcast has now been revealed!

As previously announced, Celina Smith will light up center stage in the title role of Annie. Smith joins an all-star ensemble including Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan, Harry Connick Jr. as Daddy Warbucks, Nicole Scherzinger as Grace, Tituss Burgess as Rooster and Megan Hilty as Lily St. Regis.

Broadway legend Andrea McArdle joins the cast as Eleanor Roosevelt. McArdle originated the role of Annie in the 1977 Broadway run of "Annie" for which she which received a Tony nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for performance.

Alan Toy will play the role of President Roosevelt. Toy is a prolific actor of stage and screen and leading a voice in the disabled community.

The ensemble will feature Felice Kakaletris as Molly, Cate Elefante as Kate, Sophie Knapp as July, Tessa Frascogna as Tessie, Arwen Monzon-Sanders as Duffy and Audrey Cymone as Pepper as well as Wendi Bergamini, Jadaya Bivins, Brittany Conigatti, Ben Davis, Zachary Downer, Karla Garcia, Kayla Goins, Luke Hawkins, Christopher Hernandez, Afra Hines, Trinity Inay, Jeff Kready, McKenzie Kurtz, Jenny LaRoche, Brandt Martinez, Morgan Marcell, Liz McCartney, Anastacia McCleskey, Giana Rice, Eliseo Roman, Lily Tamburo, Sherrod Tate, Kennedy Thompson, Tanairi Vazquez, Jacob Keith Watson, Alex Wong and Corde Young.

"Annie" is one of the most beloved and biggest hits in Broadway history and the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It has been licensed and performed in 50 countries and translated into eight languages. Based on the Harold Gray comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" that debuted in 1924, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1977 and initially ran for over four years.

"Annie Live!" will be executive produced by Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron and Alex Rudzinski, with Lear deBessonet and Alex Rudzinski sharing the directing duties. Choreography will be led by Sergio Trujillo. Jason Sherwood will oversee production design. Stephen Oremus will orchestrate the music direction. Emilio Sosa will lead costume design. The live event is being produced by Chloe Productions.