Andrea McArdle Drops Out of 'Annie Live!' Role A Week Before The Premiere

Thursday evening was a busy one as primetime offerings ranged from the usual sitcoms on CBS and dramas on CW to live musical performances on NBC, football on Fox and a dramatic tell-all on ABC. Of  the varied primetime offerings, however, Fox’s coverage of Thursday Night Football’s Dallas Cowboys-New Orleans Saints game took the spotlight.

Alexandra Daddario is engaged.

Celina Smith nailed her performance as Annie during NBC’s “Annie Live!” on Thursday.

who took over the role from Jane Krakowski after she contracted a breakthrough COVID case) as Lily St. Regis.“Annie Live!” is executive produced by Bob Greenblatt, Neil Meron and Alex Rudzinsky, with Lear deBessonet and Rudzinski sharing directing duties.

The soundtrack for Annie Live! has just been released!

Harry Connick Jr. is wearing a bald cap while playing Daddy Warbucks in the NBC production of Annie Live! and fans on Twitter are roasting the look.

aired Thursday, and fans took to social media to share their love for the hotly anticipated TV production.While live TV productions of Broadway musicals have something of a shaky reputation — with the oft-maligned and getting a lot of criticism at the time — it seems has managed to truly delight viewers.Starring newcomer Celina Smith in the title role, the production featured the theatrical talents of Taraji P.

Annie Live! is NBC’s 10th annual telecast of a Broadway musical (following The Wiz!, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Rent Live!). The show has gone through a variety of adaptations. First, the 2014 Annie film starring Quvenzhané Wallis and now Annie Live! starring Celina Smith in the titular role. So how does it stack up among the rest? Well, it’s somewhere in the middle with several positive elements and equally negative ones. 

Daniel D'Addario Chief TV CriticNBC’s holiday-season live-musical franchise is so proudly square that it’s surprising it took this long for them to get to “Annie.”The recent tradition, launched by the producers Neil Meron and the late Craig Zadan, of ceding a night of network primetime to a scrappy, let’s-put-on-a-show broadcast seems to have found its perfect match in “Annie.” The family-oriented musical has never had the remotest claim on coolness.

Annie Live! is set to premiere tonight on NBC, and we have the full list of stars and performers you’ll see taking the stage!

Gordon Cox Theater EditorFor audience members checking in at the final dress rehearsal of NBC’s “Annie Live!” on Dec. 1, there was an additional stop along the usual security gauntlet.

Annie Live! is set to air on NBC tomorrow night!

NEW YORK -- There's a famous saying in showbiz: “Never work with children or animals.” NBC is wisely ignoring that as it mounts a live version of the hit Broadway musical “Annie.”The tale of the spunky young orphan with her dog Sandy set during the Depression will be NBC’s first live musical since its triumphant “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” in 2018.

Annie Live!. One Last Time: An Evening With and : “A new concert special honoring the musical legacy and enduring friendship of Tony Bennett and ,” per CBS. 8 p.m.

Celina Smith is showcasing her singing skills!

Andrea McArdle starred as the titular orphan in the original Broadway production of “Annie”, and was tapped for a role in NBC’s upcoming live version of the hit musical.

Andrea McArdle, Broadway’s original Annie, is stepping away from her role as Eleanor Roosevelt in NBC’s upcoming Annie Live! special due to a family matter.