Well, I saw my first Christmas show this weekend: “Annie” is onstage at Theatre South Playhouse in southwest Orlando. What, you don’t think “Annie” qualifies as a Christmas show? Are we about to embark on a “Die Hard”-style debate? I mean, the finale of “Annie” is a musical number titled “A New Deal for Christmas,” with FDR playing Santa. I rest my case.

In any case, Theatre South Playhouse’s production of the beloved musical has the spirit of Christmas: It’s bright and cheerful and warm. It’s also very loud; little orphans can make a mighty sound. And it doesn’t try very hard to find emotional depths in the story of the plucky girl who wins a billionaire’s heart. It’s too busy having fun.

Director Hillary Brook keeps this show moving at a brisk pace to match its cheeful vibe — even the orphans seem to be enjoying their forced servitude under the draconian rule of the nasty Miss Hannigan. A nice touch: Making the young performers playing the orphans set up the scenery to start the show.

Cliff Price’s scenic design has comic-book appeal, reflecting the origin of Li’l Orphan Annie in the funny pages, and Brook’s period 1930s costumes nicely add to the aesthetic.

Orphange overseer Miss Hannigan is played by Scottie McLaughlin, who goes for laughs and succeeds with sly style. She’s more bitter queen than terrifying monster here.

Miss Hannigan’s nose gets out of joint when Annie catches the fancy of Oliver Warbucks, who wants to adopt her. Sean Powell brings an imposing presence and bellowing-with-a-capital-B speaking voice to the role; he’s even bellowing when he sings.

So Hannigan joins a scheme dreamt up by her no-good brother, Rooster (Zeshan Khan chewing scenery with flair) and his squeeze, Lily St. Regis (raspy voiced Callie Shepherd). The trio’s “Easy Street” is a highlight of Christopher Payen’s fun and varied choreography.

Payen also scores with his choreography in “Hooverville” — the song in which New York City’s down and out tell off former president Herbert Hoover. There’s anger not only on their faces about what his administration did to the country, but anger in Payen’s movement as well.

The “Hooverville” scene in Theatre South Playhouse’s production of “Annie” shows off Christopher Payen’s choreography. (Courtesy Theatre South Playhouse)

And he creates a nicely packaged number as the orphans hoof through a reprise of “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” complete with a Rockettes-style kickline, perfect for a story that also pays homage to New York City.

Ashley Karolys Powell makes a steady Grace Farrell, and a couple of folks make strong impressions in smaller roles: Pat Clark having fun as a goodnatured FDR — yes, Annie helps the president lead the country out of the Great Depression — and especially Emily Deler, who lights up the stage as a hopeful ingenue arriving in New York to make it big.

Emily Deler makes a strong impression as the hopeful starlet in the Theatre South Playhouse production of “Annie.” (Courtesy Theatre South Playhouse)

The role of Annie is shared by two actors; I saw Delainey Silvestro, who is plucky and winsome with big eyes and a bigger smile — in other words, what you look for in Annie. She belts her way through “Maybe” and “Tomorrow.” In the latter number, she’s slightly upstaged by Woody Moorman, the dog playing Sandy, who clearly subscribes to the theory of “Who cares about tomorrow, when there’s so much kibble to be eaten today?”

As for that “New Deal for Christmas” finale, it got me thinking. With the rising cost of food and healthcare and, well, everything, I’ll bet there are plenty who would like a new deal for economic prosperity from our current government. At the very least, is it too much to ask to turn the mood from anger to hope?

If it takes a red-headed moppet belting about the sunrise to shake things up in Washington, I’m on board.

Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more entertainment news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/entertainment or sign up to receive our weekly emailed Entertainment newsletter.

In the Theatre South Playhouse production of “Annie,” the villain contingent is portrayed by Scottie McLaughlin (from left), Zeshan Khan and Callie Shepherd. (Courtesy Theatre South Playhouse)

‘Annie’

Length: 2:25, including intermission
Where: Theatre South Playhouse in the Marketplace at Dr. Phillips, 7601 Della Drive in Orlando
When: Through Nov. 23
Cost: $26.84 and up
Info: theatresouthplayhouse.org

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/15/annie-theatre-south-playhouse-review-orlando/