For Immediate Release

LUCKY 28 STARS-IN-THE-MAKING PICKED FOR ANNIE THE MUSICAL The Favourite Family Musical Arrives 31 May Season Now Extended to 24 June

Hong Kong (1 May 2012) Twenty-eight of Hong Kong’s talented young actresses have been picked from a pool of 250 hopefuls for the coveted roles of the orphans in the forthcoming UK production of ANNIE, the musical opening at the Lyric Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts on 31 May 2012. By popular demand, the season has now been extended to 24 June, with no further extension possible.

The successful girls, who are aged from seven to 13, will perform in rotation as Annie’s nine fellow orphans at the New York City Municipal Orphanage - the small and cute Molly, the ‘Tom-boy’ characters Pepper and July, as well as Kate, Duffy, Violet, Eleanor, Rosie and Becky.

Sixteen Hong Kong schools are represented, comprising local, international and ESF (English School Foundation) schools, with the girls coming from all corners of Hong Kong and the New Territories.

They were put through their paces by the show’s Director and Choreographer Roger Hannah, who flew from the UK to Hong Kong recently for the auditions and to begin rehearsals. The girls get to sing some of the show’s best tunes including It’s The Hard Knock Life, You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile and A New Deal for Christmas, while performing some demanding choreography.

“From an incredible pool of talent, I have picked 28 super-talented stars-in-the-making!” enthused Mr Hannah. “I have been very impressed by the calibre of the candidates who came to the audition, and would like to thank everyone for coming along. It’s always a difficult decision, and I am confident Hong Kong audiences will be astounded by the orphans’ performances.”

The role of Annie will be played in rotation by three UK-based children who will tour with the production.

The ANNIE orphans made their first public appearance today at Times Square, Causeway Bay. As some of the most famous orphans in the world of fiction, they celebrated Mother’s Day by giving out flowers to mothers, and were joined by a group of Annie look-alike fans in their distinctive red curls.

The orphans were also introduced for the first time to Annie’s adorable dog Sandy – in fact two Sandy’s, both selected and trained in Hong Kong, were making their first public appearance at Times Square as preparation for their theatrical debut.

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The 28 orphans will be joining Britain’s hilarious star of stage and screen Su Pollard, who plays Miss Hannigan, the dastardly gin-soaked Principal of the New York Orphanage, as well as David McAlister, a veteran of the West End stage and TV dramas, who will play the role of the kindly billionaire businessman Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks.

“A musical that tugs at your heartstrings” The Times, UK

Producer James Cundall, Chief Executive of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions said, “For young actresses to have the chance to star on stage with actors of this calibre in an international production will be a dream come true and the chance of a lifetime. Early in her acting career the Hollywood star Catherine Zeta Jones appeared as an orphan in the London production of ANNIE so you never know where an opportunity such as this could take you!”

Su Pollard is best known for her brilliantly funny portrayal of Peggy in the hit BBC TV series Hi-de-Hi! The BAFTA Award-winning comedy was a prime time favourite on UK television for eight years in the 1980s, turning its cast into household names, and is still frequently repeated on TV channels around the world as a ‘classic’ sit-com. As well as countless other TV roles, Su has appeared in numerous musicals and plays in London’s West End (Godspell, Me and My Girl, Shout!) and around the UK (Grease, Little Shop of Horrors), and has performed her own cabaret show The Su Pollard Show on a UK tour, in New York City and on board the QEII cruise liner. Most recently Su has been performing the role of Miss Hannigan to great acclaim in the UK, and in 2010 was nominated for Best Leading Lady in a musical for her portrayal.

David McAlister has enjoyed success in nearly every area of the entertainment industry from opera at Covent Garden (Franco Zefferelli’s Pagliacci) to his own cabaret show at London’s Ritz Hotel; from TV comedy (Harry Enfield & Chums) to TV classics (Brideshead Revisited); from radio drama (The Archers, The Lord of the Rings) to TV drama (The Bill, Miss Marple, Doctor Who); from film (Who Dares Wins) to the hugely popular British TV soaps including Eastenders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, for which he was nominated Best Villain.

His West End performances include the lead role in The Mousetrap, A Month in the Country with Ingrid Bergman, The Sound of Music and the lead role of Noel Coward opposite Joanna Lumley in Noel & Gertie at London’s famous King’s Head Theatre. He has a vast array of regional UK theatre credits, and since his first acclaimed performance in the role of Daddy Warbucks in 2007, David has now completed five nationwide tours of ANNIE.

“ANNIE is one of the major productions Lunchbox is bringing to Hong Kong in the Year of the Dragon,” says James Cundall. “The show comes direct from a highly successful UK tour and features a cast and company of 52. The remainder of the cast have a combined total of 16 West End musical productions to their credit.”

Inspired by the famous comic strip Little Orphan Annie which first ran in the New York News in 1924, this heart-warming rags-to-riches story of plucky young Annie’s journey from the hard-knock New York orphanage to the luxurious home of billionaire businessman Oliver Warbucks, has become one of the best-loved family musicals of all time. The show boasts one of Broadway’s most memorable scores, fantastically visual choreography, a side-splittingly funny script and, of course, the adorable dog Sandy.

ANNIE made its Broadway debut in April 1977 and played 2,377 performances before closing in 1983. The show won seven Tony Awards, including for Best Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan), Best Original Score (music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin), and Best Choreography. The classic film musical was released in 1982.

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“An irresistible show” The Daily Telegraph, UK

Fifty million people of all ages have been delighted by two Broadway runs of ANNIE, two Australian tours, two West End stints, five National U.S. companies, two hit movies and dozens of international productions, playing seasons all over the world. This UK production of ANNIE has been seen by over 3 million people during the last 10 years of touring to every major city in Great Britain.

Now, 35 years after its Broadway debut, the timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience a classic musical about never giving up hope. ANNIE is a delightful theatrical experience for any age.

ANNIE plays from 31 May to 24 June 2012, and is presented in Hong Kong by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Limited, in association with Playhouse Productions Limited.

“One of the most enchanting musicals I have ever seen” Sunday Times, UK

* * * ANNIE Date: 31 May – 24 June 2012 Venue: Lyric Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

VIP A Reserve B Reserve C Reserve Tue - Thu Evening - 7:30 pm $850 $750 $550 $350

Fri & Sat Evening - 7:30 pm $950 $850 $595 $395

Sun Evening - 7:00 pm $850 $750 $550 $350

Sat & Sun Matinee - 2:00 pm $850 $750 $550 $350

Ticket prices are exclusive of HK Ticketing booking fees.

*Extra show: Friday, 8 June - 4pm

Ticketing Information

Tickets priced from HK$350 to HK$950 are available now by calling or visiting the following hotline, site or outlets:

- HK Ticketing hotline: 31 288 288 - HK Ticketing website: www.hkticketing.com - HK Ticketing outlets: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong Fringe Club, Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, The Academy’s Landmark Heritage Campus-Bethanie and all Tom Lee Music outlets.

For more information, visit www.lunchbox-productions.com.

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Official Hotel: Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Official Ocean Carrier: OOCL Official Media Partner: South China Morning Post Official Radio: Digital Broadcasting Corporation Hong Kong Limited Official Outdoor Media: CONVEY

Special thanks: Dog trainer - iPETchannel.com Ltd.

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The above press release is issued by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Ltd. through PRO Marketing Services Company Limited

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For further Information and interview requests, please contact: PRO Marketing Services Company Limited Catherine Cheung & Carolyn Yip Ph: (852) 2851 1482 Mob: (852) 9466 4743 Email: [email protected]