Three weeks before the curtains rose for audiences at the Landmark Theatre, the cast of the national tour of ‘Annie’ was hard at work in Syracuse, rehearsing and getting ready to take their tour across the country.
The production travels with 64 people and two dogs - including managers, performers, technicians, an educator, as well as an animal trainer - and an additional 25 team members were in town on the creative and production side.
Altogether, the team’s 1,300 nights in local hotels and visits to local restaurants, bars, grocery stores and other attractions added to an economic benefit of more than $1.5 million, Landmark officials said this week.
Last year, four national touring companies — “Cats,” “Tootsie,” “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory,” and the Blue Man Group — spent extra weeks in rehearsals at the Landmark and the Redhouse Arts Center.
Part of the draw - a $16 million renovation that brought the Landmark facilities up to the standards necessary for touring Broadway shows and the biggest music concerts. The seats and marquee also got a $2 million facelift in recent years.
The other incentive - the Empire Music and Theater Production Tax Credit Program, which gives aid to touring musical and production companies so that they can stay longer at locations within the Empire State to practice rehearsals and perform. The program gives production companies $8 million per year to allocate funds towards rehearsals and activities that economically give back to local businesses in Upstate New York.
Sophie Stromberg, Vivianne Neely, Valeria Velasco, Kenzie Rees, Riglee Ruth Bryson and Bronte Harrison in the National Tour of ANNIE. Photo Credit_ Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade .jpg
The economic impact is expected to grow this week, as downtown restaurants serve both theatergoers and production staff through the weekend.
“We could not be more excited,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, who proclaimed this week as “Annie National Tour Days” in honor of the cast and crew. “We have an incredible venue and we are looking forward to people being able to enjoy the show.”
Show details
What: “Annie”
Where: Landmark Theatre, Syracuse
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday.
Tickets: $30 to $70 online at Ticketmaster.com
Details: Directed by Jenn Thompson, the national tour features the iconic book and score written by Tony Award®-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin. Annie has reminded generations of theatergoers that sunshine is always right around the corner, and now the beloved musical returns in a new production – “just as you remember it and just when we need it most,” according to producers.
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