PROJECT INFO

TITLE: From Bradenton to Broadway

PUBLICATION: NEXTGEN, a family magazine distributed in Manatee County, Florida

DESCRIPTION: Feature article about local Broadway star, Jacqueline Galvano

EXCERPT:

As little orphan Annie famously sings, “The sun will come out…tomorrow.” But for 11-year-old Jacqueline Galvano of Bradenton, it’s already shining brightly. The daughter of State Senator Bill Galvano and his wife, Julie, beat out hundreds of young actresses during auditions for Annie in New York City this summer. Not only did Jacqueline land the role as the orphan July, but she is also the understudy for Annie. (Tori Bates, another 11-year-old actress from Sarasota, is playing the title role of Annie.)

Jacqueline and her mom Julie hit the road with Troika Entertainment’s seven-month production of Annie this fall. The nationwide tour kicked off in Oklahoma City in early November and will end in Boston in May, covering about 30 states and 80 cities along the way, including a few stops in Canada.

A Dream Come True

When asked about her preview performance in Oklahoma City, Jacqueline exclaimed, “It went really well. It was so much fun!”

“I know it was a dream come true for her, and for me too,” said mom Julie. “A lot of the mothers, we all sat together and had tears in our eyes, happy tears. It was awesome.”

Anne started as a Broadway musical based on Harold Gray’s comic strip, “Little Orphan Annie.” The musical is set in 1933 when 11-year-old Annie is in an orphanage along with six fellow orphans, Molly, 6, Kate, 7, Tessie, 10, Pepper, 12, July, 13, and Duffy, 13. When the show first opened in 1977, it won the Tony Award for Best Musical. Over the last few decades, Annie has gone on to see numerous national tours, international productions and two Hollywood movies.

The 2016-2017 Annie tour will be directed by the original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time. Charnin staged the very first production of Annie on Broadway.

“He’s been directing Annie for like 40 years, so working with him is amazing,” Jacqueline gushed. “Every note he gives you is like an acting lesson that you can keep with you forever. He has an idea of what it should look like, and he won’t compliment us unless it does look like he wants it. So far, I think he likes it,” she added with a giggle.

Jacqueline said her favorite Annie song to perform is probably “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.” “The orphans sing that one, and we do a huge dance break and a kick line,” she explained. “I think it’s one of the crowd pleasers.”

“Everyone starts clapping when they do the kicks,” Julie added with a laugh.