It's a hard knock life: Annie opened Tuesday at Bigfork Summer Playhouse

Everyone’s favorite orphan will arrive on the Bigfork Summer Playhouse stage Tuesday, when the company opens its next show, Annie.

Annie, the musical, is based on a popular comic strip by Harold Gray. The musical won seven Tony awards. The show will feature the iconic tunes of Annie including It’s a Hard Knock Life and Tomorrow.

The story is set in the 1930s and follows the orphan, Annie, in New York City as she strives to escape the orphanage and search for her parents.

She eventually finds herself in a new world and home, with billionaire Oliver Warbucks.

Janie Wallace returned to Bigfork again to direct Annie.

“It’s one of those shows that just works,” she said. “It has a lovely message of hope. I think it really hits home with the people who see it on stage.”

While the show and storyline are well known, Wallace said the Playhouse will have a bit of its own spin on things. For one, Daddy Warbucks isn’t bald.

“We’ve decided to take it a little bit out of the stereotypical Annie world,” Wallace said.

Patrons of the Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theatre will recognize some familiar faces in Annie, with eight local children joining the cast to appear as orphans, including Emma Linn as Annie. Linn appeared as Gretl in the Summer Playhouse production of Sound of Music two years ago, and was Tinkerbell in the 2014 Children’s Playhouse production of Peter Pan.

“We’re so lucky with Emma, it’s incredible,” Wallace said. “She’s such a natural sweet kid on stage.”

Working with the child actors has been good, Wallace said. They are able to rehearse while the rest of the company performs in the evening. And most of the kids are familiar with the quick timeframe the Playhouse operates on from participating in the Children’s Theatre.

“Brach’s kids are always impeccably trained,” Wallace said.

As a theatre production Annie is an interesting show that breaks both the rule of not having children or animals on stage.

“This show has both,” Wallace said.

For Wallace her favorite part of the show is in the very beginning when Annie sings “Maybe.”

“It’s such a simple, quiet moment,” Wallace said. “It’s a nice way to start the show.”

Annie will open at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse June 23.