FROM ORPHAN TO VILLAIN, CARLY LANDS DREAM ROLE IN MUCH-LOVED MUSICAL

An actress who appeared on stage as an orphan in a production of "Annie" at The Chester Gateway Theatre 33 years ago is set to perform her dream role in a new production of the hit musical at Storyhouse in Chester.

Originally staged by Chester and Wrexham based community theatre company Tip Top Productions at the Gateway Theatre in 1992, the show is set is set to return, this time being staged by Tip Top at Storyhouse from Wednesday 16^th - Saturday 19^th July at 7.30pm, there will also be a matinee performance at 2.30pm on Saturday 19^th July. The show will be directed for Tip Top by Phil Cross, with musical direction by Simon Phillips and choreography by Rhian Lyon.

In February 1992 at the age of 8, Carly Dallen auditioned along with 120 other girls and landed the role of Molly in Tip Top Productions first production of "Annie". Carly had played the role previously with another local company and couldn't wait to reprise it at the Gateway Theatre. Several weeks into rehearsals, Carly's Dad Andy was asked to join the cast and play the role of Lt Ward. Not only was Carly getting to perform in her favourite show, but she was also now getting to share the stage with her Dad. A young Carly told her parents, Carol and Andy, that once she was a grown up she would perform in Annie again, but that she would play the role of Miss Hannigan. - a dream which never left her even in to adulthood.

Carly had taken a 10 year break from performing when she saw that Tip Top Productions were performing "Annie" at the Storyhouse Chester, it was too good an opportunity to miss, Carly auditioned and finally landed her coveted role of the evil Miss Hannigan, warden of the orphanage and Annie's nemesis. 

Speaking about returning to the stage and landing her dream role, Carly said:

"Annie holds fond memories for me and having sadly lost my Dad last year, I felt like this was the right show to bring me back to performing, especially playing the role I promised him one day I would. To make it extra special this time I get to share the stage with my daughter, Laila who is playing one of the orphans so, in a way, 33 years on, everything has come full circle".

With music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and book by Thomas Meehan, "Annie" is based on the 1924 comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" by Harold Gray. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years. It spawned numerous productions in many countries, as well as national tours, and won seven Tony Awards, including for Best Musical.

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Her luck soon changes when she's chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Meanwhile, spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family. The award winning show includes the unforgettable songs "It’s The Hard-Knock Life", "Easy Street", and "Tomorrow".

Full details of "Annie" and all Tip Top Productions upcoming shows can be found at: 

www.tiptopproductions.co.uk 

...where tickets can be booked online.