Music Theater Works is proud to announce the cast and creative team for the fourth and final production of its 2025 season, Annie, in the George Van Dusen Theatre, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, December 18 - January 4, 2026. Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and book by Thomas Meehan, is directed by Producing Artistic Director Kyle A. Dougan, choreographed by Mollyanne Nunn and music directed by Michael McBride. The production includes a preview performance Thursday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., with a press opening Friday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are now on sale from $19.50 to $106 with tickets for guests 25 years old and younger available at half-price at MusicTheaterWorks.com or by calling the Music Theater Works box office at the North Shore Center, 847.673.6300. Group discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more by contacting 847.920.5360.
For more than a century, audiences around the world have been inspired by the story of Annie, the spunky, red-headed orphan whose unshakable optimism transforms everyone she meets, including billionaire Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks. Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Annie shines with some of the most beloved songs in musical theatre history, such as “Tomorrow,” “NYC” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.” In this fresh reimagining, a modern city finds new light through Annie’s hope and determination, reminding us that love, generosity and courage can change even the darkest of days … and that home is where the heart dares to hope.
The cast of Annie includes, in alphabetical order, is Catharina Araujo (she/her, Tessie); Diana Marilyn Alvarez (she/they, ensemble/U/S); Eric Amundson (he/him, ensemble/Sound Effects Man/others); Audrey Bucholz (she/her, Molly); Kristin Brintnall (she/her, ensemble/Bonnie/others, U/S Lily St. Regis); Jenny Couch (she/her, ensemble/Ronnie/others/U/S Grace Farrell); Eric Desnoyers (he/him, ensemble/Henry Morgenthau/others/U/S); Molly Dibble (she/her, Duffy); Riley Dominiak (she/her, ensemble/Connie/others/U/S); Marianne Embree (she/her, ensemble/Mrs. Greer/others); Quinn Frances (she/her, youth ensemble/U/S Molly); David Geinosky (he/him, Rooster Hannigan); Eliza Monté Gilbert (they/them, ensemble/U/S); Desiree Gonzalez (she/her, Grace Farrell); Jimmy Hogan (he/him, ensemble/U/S); Emily Holland (she/her, Lily St. Regis); J’Nae Howard (she/her, ensemble/U/S); Brielle Horwitch (she/her, Pepper/U/S Annie); Rebecca Hutchinson (she/her, youth ensemble/U/S July); Albert Johnston (he/him, ensemble/U/S); Léa Juat (she/her, Kate); Kylie Kaplan (she/her, youth ensemble/U/S Kate); Charlotte Keefer (she/her, youth ensemble/U/S Pepper); Katie Kotila (she/her, ensemble/U/S); Larrah Lambo (she/her, July); Allison Rose Macknick (she/her, ensemble/Mrs. Pugh/U/S Miss Hannigan); Michael Metcalf (he/him, Oliver Warbucks); Jojo Nabwangu (she/her, youth ensemble/U/S Tessie); Asia Posey (she/her, ensemble/Star to Be/U/S); Callan Roberts (he/him, ensemble/Bundles/Bert/others/U/S Rooster Hannigan); Katie Romanski (she/her, youth ensemble/U/S Duffy); Peter Ruger (he/him, ensemble/Drake/others/U/S); Bob Sanders (he/him, ensemble/Franklin D. Roosevelt); Elin Joy Seiler (she/her, Annie); Sarah Smith (she/her, Miss Hannigan); Raymond Cam Truong (he/him, ensemble/U/S); Korey White (he/him, ensemble/Dog Catcher/others/U/S Oliver Warbucks) and Teddy (he/him, Sandy/owner: Jojo Nabwangu).
Annie’s orchestra includes Linda Madonia (she/her, piano); Alison Tatum (she/her, violin/concert master); Emily Fischer (she/her, violin); Annika Porter (she/her), viola); Lewis Rawlinson (he/him, cello); Cara Strauss (she/her, reed 1); Lara Regan (she/her, reed 2); Eva Butcher (she/her, reed 3); Greg Strauss (he/him, trumpet 1); Amy Nelson (she/her, trumpet 2); Stephanie Lebens (she/her, trombone 1); Luke Malewicz (he/him, tuba/trombone 2); Mike Locker (he/him, guitar); Eric von Holst (he/him, bass); Justin Kono (he/him, drums) and Tina Laughlin (she/her, percussion).
Annie’s creative team includes Kyle A. Dougan (any pronouns, director); Mollyanne Nunn (she/her, choreographer); Michael McBride (he/him, music director); Andrew Lund (they/him, assistant director); Amber Wuttke (she/her, intimacy & violence choreographer); Kathy Logelin (she/her, dialect coach); Erin McCarthy (historian and dramaturg); Alex Villaseñor (he/him, youth advocate); Rachel Rock (she/her, stage manager); Carolyn Goldsmith (she/her, assistant stage manager); Jacqueline Penrod (she/her, co-scenic designer); Richard Penrod (he/him, co-scenic designer); Nga Sze Chan (she/her, props designer); Rachel M. Sypniewski (she/her, costume designer); Kristen Brinati (she/her, wardrobe head); Alice Salazar (she/her, hair, wig and makeup co-designer); Melanie Saso (she/her, hair, wig and makeup co-designer); Chelsea Lynn (she/her, master electrician and board programmer); Anthony Churchill (he/him, media designer); Stephanie Farina (she/her, sound designer); Forrest Gregor (he/him, production sound engineer); Will Hughes (he/him, Andersonville Scenic Studios); Ben Lipinski (any pronouns, Andersonville Scenic Studios); Chris Chase (he/him, production manager) and Katie Meine (she/her, company manager).
Binny’s Broadway Lounge
Music Theater Works’ donors of any level and subscribers are welcome to access Binny’s Broadway Lounge before the performance and at intermission of Annie. Binny’s Broadway Lounge, sponsored by Binny’s Beverage Depot, is located on the second floor at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie and offers complimentary drinks and snacks and does not require reservations. The Lounge is available during Annie, Friday, Dec. 19 (opens at 6 p.m.) and Sunday, Dec. 11 (opens at 1 p.m.).
Post-Show Discussions
Music Theater Works hosts members of the Annie cast and creative team for a Q+A discussion following the 2 p.m. performances on Sunday, Dec. 21 and Sunday, Dec. 28. Perfect for families and young people to ask questions about the production, the story and more. On Saturday, Jan. 3 immediately after the 2 p.m. performance Music Theater Works welcomes Historian Erin McCarthy, Ph.D., associate professor of History in the Humanities, History and Social Sciences Department at Columbia College to discuss “Annie Through a Historical Lens.”
ANNIE Special Events
From December 1 - 30, visitors can explore Frame by Frame: A History of Annie Comics at the Evanston Public Library’s Main Branch, 1703 Orrington Ave. Presented in partnership with Music Theater Works and the Hive Center for the Book Arts, the exhibition traces the evolution of the beloved Annie comic strip and its cultural legacy. Supported by a grant from the Evanston Arts Council, the display is free to attend and will be on view in the library’s Third Floor Exhibition Space.
Comic enthusiasts of all ages can also enjoy Comic Making with the Hive Center for the Book Arts at the Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton St. This interactive series introduces participants to the fundamentals of comic strip storytelling and offers the chance to create original works. Sessions will be held for grades 3 - 5 on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.; grades 6 - 8 on Thursday, Dec. 4, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. and adults on Wednesday, Dec. 10 (6:30 - 8 p.m.). These free workshops require registration and a Skokie Public Library card to participate.
On Saturday, Dec. 7, from 1 to 3 p.m., the Hive Center for the Book Arts, 840 Custer Street, Evanston, will host Comic Strip Fun, a free, hands-on workshop for children ages eight and older. Participants will learn the basics of creating characters, dialogue and panels before making their own comic strip. No prior experience is required, but space is limited, and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
ASL Interpreted Performance
The Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 2:00 p.m. performance will be ASL interpreted by Z Interpreting.
ABOUT KYLE A. DOUGAN, DIRECTOR
Kyle A. Dougan worked as casting associate and events manager for Music Theater Works, and rejoined the company in 2018 as producing artistic director, following a two-year stint in academia. He relocated to Chicago in 1999, after completing his Masters in Musical Theatre at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he produced and directed a workshop of new musicals. He also stage managed a series of new musicals with Perfect Pitch: New Musicals at Trafalgar Studios. In the Chicago area Dougan has directed, associate-directed and assistant-directed shows for Chamber Opera Chicago, Theatre at the Center, Big Noise Theater and The Music Theatre Company. He has served as artistic producer of a series of new musicals with Midwest New Musicals, as executive director of FWD Theatre Project and as co-owner of Style Theatrical Casting, a professional casting company in Chicago.
ABOUT MOLLYANNE NUNN, CHOREOGRAPHER
Mollyanne Nunn is thrilled to be returning to Music Theater Works where she was last seen in Pippin (co-choreographer/ensemble) and Mamma Mia! (ensemble). Recent theatre credits include The Love Object (The Story Theatre), A Chorus Line (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), Can-Can, The Musical (Porchlight Music Theatre), and Lysistrata Jones (Refuge Theatre Project). Other recent credits include Hairspray (Paramount), Rent and Hair (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), Swing and The Wizard of Oz (Little Theatre on the Square), Next to Normal (Towle Theatre), The Crystal Spider (Haven Theatre), and Within (Visceral Dance Chicago). She teaches Contemporary, Ballet, Tap and musical theatre at Dovetail Studios. She is also a first company member of Ardent Dance Company and rehearsal director for Identity Performing Arts. Nunn is a graduate from Columbia College Chicago where she earned her BFA in musical theatre.
ABOUT MICHAEL MCBRIDE, MUSIC DIRECTOR
Dr. Michael McBride is a Chicago-based Jeff Award-winning music director, composer, performer and educator. The common thread in all his work is empowering those around him to shine. INTERNATIONAL: The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale (GWB Productions, New Zealand), The Choir of Man (Norwegian Cruise Lines) NEW YORK: The Scarlet Pimpernel (John W. Engeman Theater). CHICAGO: Titanique (Porchlight Music Theatre/Broadway In Chicago), Rent (Porchlight Music Theatre), The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale, Sinister, Grace (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Revolution(s) (Goodman Theatre), Grease (Drury Lane Theatre), Big Fish (Boho Theater, Jeff Award — Best Music Direction), The Choir of Man (Apollo Theater Chicago), Passing Strange (Theo), Billy Elliot, Brigadoon, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Carousel (Music Theater Works). REGIONAL: We Will Rock You, Legally Blonde, Escape to Margaritaville, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Robber Bridegroom, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, Man of La Mancha, Mamma Mia!, Into the Woods, The Little Mermaid (Timber Lake Playhouse). ACADEMIC: Ride the Cyclone (DePaul University), Yeast Nation (North Park University), The Old Man and the Old Moon, Fun Home, Violet, Cabaret, Tintypes, She Loves Me, Spring Awakening, Hot Mikado, Urinetown (Loyola University Chicago). COMPOSER: The Boys and The Nuns. FACULTY: Northwestern University, Loyola University Chicago, North Park University. EDUCATION: DM Composition, Northwestern University. IG: @TheRealMcBride
Music Theater Works 2026 Season
The 46th season opens with CATS, March 5 - 29, 2026 and is followed by West Side Story, August 3 - 30, 2026. The season will continue with Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville, October 8 - November 1, 2026 and concludes with Hairspray, December 17, 2026 - January 3, 2027. Memberships are now available for the 2026 season with single tickets for all the 2026 productions going on sale Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 at 12 p.m. For more information on the 46th season go to MusicTheaterWorks.com.
ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKS
Music Theater Works is a resident professional not-for-profit music theater founded in
1980. During its 45-year history it has presented more than 150 productions and intimate
presentations. Music Theater Works is a professional theater company whose mission is
to present works for the musical stage including historic repertoire, revitalizing the Golden Age of Broadway and earlier works, celebrating the Great American Songbook and introducing modern classics.
Music Theater Works presents
Annie
December 18 - January 4
The George Van Dusen Theatre
North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie
9501 Skokie Blvd.
Skokie, IL 60077
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Martin Charnin
Book by Thomas Meehan
Directed by Kyle A. Dougan
Choreographed by Mollyanne Nunn
Music Directed by Michael McBride
Show dates and times:
- Wednesday, Dec. 17 – 2 PM
- Thursday, Dec. 18 – 7 PM
- Friday, Dec. 19 – 7:00PM (Press Performance)
- Saturday, Dec. 20 – 2 PM
- Sunday, Dec. 21 – 2 PM (Post-show Talk)
- Monday, Dec. 22 – 2 PM
- Friday, Dec. 26 – 7 PM
- Saturday, Dec. 27 – 2 PM
- Saturday, Dec. 27 – 7 PM
- Sunday, Dec. 28 – 2 PM (Post-show Talk)
- Tuesday, Dec. 30 – 2 PM
ASL - American Sign Language – ASL Interpreted
- Wednesday, Dec. 31 – 2 PM
- Friday, Jan. 2, 2026 – 7 PM
- Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 – 2 PM (Post-show Talk)
- Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 – 7 PM
- Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 – 2 PM
Tickets: $19.50 to $106, tickets for guests 25 years old and younger are available for half- price.
Music Theater Works Box Office: 847.673.6300
Website: MusicTheaterWorks.com
Total Running Time, including intermission, (currently): Two hours and 30 minutes
