Joanna had the voice . The minute I heard her sing I knew. She was Annie, hands down. Not very many little girls can sing like that. And the girl who replaced her couldn’t .
Evie S No Joanna had an understudy and it wasn’t Brittany. I don’t know why they chose Brittany over the actual understudy. I’ve heard the moms of some of the other girls say it was because Brittanys mom slept with the director. But I don’t know if that’s true or not . I do know that some Moms will do anything to make their daughters stars though.
Britney did too she did have a voice and I liked it but I still understand why they didn’t use the understudy I heard were the public comments and I can understand that but that still doesn’t make any sense so I really don’t know what to say I am like so I am hard to do this because like yeah and I think you should really give me a like on this comment if you really think I should be annie
Some people theorize that Joanna was fired b/c of her age, b/c the producers thought that at age 12 and on the threshold of puberty, she would outgrow the role too quickly. From that standpoint, an 8-year-old is a wiser "investment", although I think that Joanna was a much better singer, and it was a shame that she didn't get to do any Broadway performances.
@@littlesongbird1 I was thinking I was getting mixed up, I guess history does repeat itself, is this a curse? did it happen with the 2012 revival as well?
@@matthewpayne411 don't think it did...there were rumors that girl who replaced her had a mom who was having an affair with the producer..there was also one that Joanna was hard to work with (which I call BS! They could have just let her stay till her contract was up) another that Nell Carter wanted a shorter Annie to seem more intimidating. Personally I don't get why they couldn't just have Brittany take over the role when Joanna out grew it.
I’m still so sad about this. Joanna deserved better, she was amazing and it was truly cruel and unnecessary what they did. However, the cruel comments about a literal 8 year old are unnecessary too. She was just doing what she was told, of course she was happy too. The people to blame are the adults producing the show. If you watched the documentary you’d see how immature and obnoxious the adults were. They were so rude behind their backs and made really concerning comments. That’s one of the many issues with the entertainment industry.
I agree. There was one obnoxious and unprofessional guy during the audition process who said he was being screeched at and he could find more talented kids on the street. Total jerk. These are children, and talented ones at that. If he couldn’t see that, he was in the wrong profession.
Unfortunately, this is not unheard of in show business at all. Nasty, nasty business. As much as I love acting, I want nothing to do with it professionally partly because this is how it rolls.
I agree...when I was younger I loved to sing (still do I guess) and my mom told me some neighbors told her I should be in commercials etc and of course my grandma always thought I would have made a great Annie if given the chance but now that I am older and have met people who worked in the industry (one of whom just passed away and worked on Broadway for years) and saw "Life after Tomorrow" I am glad that I was kept out of performing.
@@dannydougin3925 I didn't say it was like this in "every production", I said it wasn't unheard of. I don't know where you assumed I was making a claim that all productions are like this. I also don't know where you automatically assumed that I must not have "thick enough skin". You don't know me one bit or how I handle insults/turn downs/stress and have no business making an assumption like that. Just like I don't know you and would have no business making an assumption about your character either and why you said that.
The whole thing was handled so sleazily--firing a sick kid by FAX? In the middle of the NIGHT? And the replacement was waaaaaay too small to play Annie, who is supposed to be 11, and was also was not a great singer. Sad to say, this was the sort of show you rooted to flop.
Exactly. To me a wiser move would have been to keep Brittney as in the wings so to speak and trained to possibly take over it once it Joanna aged out (they did that with a couple of times during the original broadway and some of the national tours and to me that would have been a much nicer way of handling it as it would have been more like Joanna handing the torch off to her).
"Life After Tomorrow" is a documentary about former Annie's who were replaced because they got too old, too developed, or various other reasons. The positive is that they all got their time in the spotlight, which most actors never receive. The negative is that all still have a hole in their lives because it was there, then gone; for most, never to be had again. But they never forgot their choreography.
The producers really shot themselves in the foot when they fired Joanna. The bad publicity resulted in the show closing after only six months-239 performances.
People can comment what they like, but if you look at the video of the Turning Point that followed the audition process, most of the people there should not work with kids, the way they were talking about the girls when they were not in the room was appalling. Not to mention the disregard for talent with bringing kids forward that did not wing well just because they liked the "look". It is the adult's responsibility to be professional.
M B Equestrian I couldn't agree more. Yes, it's a business, but these were little girls and they deserved to be treated with respect and sensitivity...not like prize cattle. And some of the finalists were questionable. Maybe they needed to hire better casting directors.
@@枒 Agreed brittny could sing and was a good actress especially for 8 but she's 8 and really Annie needs to be a bit older. I love that Andrea stood up for Joanna.
@@littlesongbird1 the irony is they thought that by doing this, they would re-create the circumstances that gave Andrea McArdle the part of Annie in the first place. Then they lost her support for it!
I AM CRYING! How could they do this to a 12-year-old? They must select very carefully so this doesn't happen down the road. Ugh. What a tough break for a kid to absorb.
Sadly, There is many legal and logistical issues that need to be dealt with also. If the original Annie couldn't do the show from the start, They might have to recast the role because there needs to be the "Original Primary Broadway Annie". There isn't an understudy for opening night. Especially when marketing and programs development is involved. It literally "Who is the real Annie on Broadway and will perform the role of Annie when it opens? Can I have her photo and name for the $3 million marketing plan for the show?". Putting a new Annie in after the first girl takes the Broadway stage would literally kill the show.
3:22 what? Like... he fired Joanna! He is just being nice because the press is there... Joanna was a very great! She is waaay better than the other girl that replaced her.
I met Joanna. She lived in Philly where I worked for MAC. I knew immediately who she was from her audition on American Idol, which she was disqualified from for having a *former* record deal, and we ended up talking about this. She said being fired from Annie far exceeded the pain from American Idol. She is very sweet.
over 20 years later and I still think that was the worse mistake anyone has ever made.. they replaced her with a far less talented girl and crushed her dream.
*Pop Idol/American Idol* was one of the worst things to happen to music since The Beatles broke up. It is yet another reminder of why one of the 10 Commandments is about graven images.
I did say that she was the right age because they could keep her for a year or two so I am that’s really a good idea and I’m going to audition to be annie so give me a like if you want me to be annie on this comment
Right but in the original Annie comic Annie was very young. And it's better for her to be younger because it shows more of a vulnerability and that's what thats what the role needed
Weird thing with Joanna- she has repeatedly end up on the wrong end of management decisions and cosmic luck: she had a deal with Geffen Records, but was released when the label made budget cuts(question: why would David Geffen ever NEED to make budget cuts? The guy's richer than several gods); later she was a contestant on American Idol, but was forced out because she supposedly had "personal connections" with two exes at the production company that does the show. This begs the question: Is there a Pacitti Curse going here?
Joanna's story of getting the part, then getting fired after 106 performances, would make a good Lifetime movie, don't you think? For those of you who don't know, Jane Bailey Patterson was cast as the orphan understudy in October of 1997 for the tour when Alexandra Kiesman joined hte Broadway Kids, then J.B.P. was cast as Duffy in the summer of 1998 when Bianca Collins left the show.
I remember what a big deal they made about the search for Annie and how, once Joanna won, she seemed to be everywhere and I thought she was so amazing the few times I saw her singing on TV. Then when the news broke about her being fired, I felt so bad for her. To go from having your face on posters and being interviewed to having it taken away just before reaching Broadway....it must have been gut wrenching. And her replacement, I just didn't get why they picked Brittney over Joanna. Brittney was cute, but she seemed rather awkward in clips of her performing and I had read that her reviews were just ok. I would assume that Joanna must have acted & sung extremely well in her auditions otherwise they would not have picked her so I just wonder what it was that made them fire her. The only thing that makes sense is that maybe they though that since she was 12, she would grow out of it too fast (although I think Annie is supposed to be around 10 and Joanna looked younger than 12 so she could have pulled it off) & they figured it was better to go with an 8 year old who could play the role for longer. But if that's the case, then why not just tell Joanna that face to face rather then fire her via fax (or a note slid under her family's hotel room door depending on what story you read)? Aging out is a valid concern & wouldn't be something she could control, but to just fire her for no good reason is wrong & surely had her questioning herself. The fact they were so underhanded about it (doing it while she was out sick & via a note) makes me think there was some behind-the-scenes scheming going on. Either that or they were too cowardly to break the heart of a little girl in person.
I feel bad for Britny too. She wanted the role just as much as Joanna, bit her whole time as Annie became overshadowed and she was compared to Joanna the whole time.. If the producers had it together no one would have got hurt. A 12 year olds voice will obviously be better then an 8 year olds, but Britny looked more natural and damn adorable. It was an absolute needless mess for all involved. Joanna would have loved being an orphan if she never was offered Annie I’m sure. You can’t take something like that away from a child once you offer it.
I agree and too many people probably blamed Brinty but she had nothing to do with it and it wouldn't surprise me if she felt bad for Joanna. A better approach would have been to keep ker as the second understudy and consider using her after a year or two when Joanna aged out.
I was only 5 years old when this happened and I just heard about this story about a year ago and it just gets me even though it was like 25 years ago. Luckily the NBC production did not do some savage cattle call audition. They seem to have hired there Annie far more ethically.
" I'm not Annie anymore" - Joanna Fired because of her sickness?! Dude, I felt bad for her! She didn't do something that was against the production, she was robbed.
I mean, yeah show business is tough, but damn, that's pretty messed up. I mean, okay she was sick for a while, but the girl who replaced her isn't as good as she is, and she looks a little young for the role. Johanna WAS Annie. Her voice, her acting, her talent... I just felt so sorry for her, I can't imagine how heartbreaking that must have been, to lose the role she had dreamed of and worked so hard for.
Yeah like I understand it's showbiz but the producers just threw her away like cattle because of how she didn't live up to their high expectations and that they couldn't wait for her to recover so they just threw her away because money. I'm kind of glad that more of this stuff is being brought to light.
Wow this young lady is an inspiration to us all. To be treated like that at such a young age and still have the strength to go for her dreams is amazing xxx Such an amazing talent. Is there any update on what she is doing now xxx
What a girl that Joanna is! That last part where she says I may have good time or bad times but I’ll keep reaching and reaching and reaching! That’s my girl!
This is really sad. I don’t think they thought this through very much. At my stage school I was given a role then it was taken away because some girls complained about the people running it having favourites! I was heart broken despite it being a small part as I had worked hard especially as one kid said she didn’t want to do it with me right in front of my face. If I was upset imagine Joanna as she had put in so much work and it was just snatched away . Really sad.
So... I needed to add a comment LOL. Brittny Kissinger WAS actually Joanna’s understudy for the role of Annie. During the stop at the Colonial Theatre (just weeks before opening on Broadway), there were Playbills printed that claimed Brittny as the understudy to the title role in addition to Alexandra Kiesman. As much as I disagree with the means of how Joanna was fired, the more I see Brittny in the role of Annie, the more I begin to prefer her. Her chemistry with Conrad John Schuck was incomparable and worked wonderfully. Her stature when compared to Nell Carter (and, actually, Sally Struthers) made Hannigan also seem more menacing. Personally, I think Brittny could have used more rehearsing before replacing Joanna. She sang songs in so many different keys in order to find the right key she needed and this all needed to be rehearsed, so it’s not her fault. She didn’t ‘suck’, she was and is the youngest Annie to date and she did marvelously well and continued to improve! The Kristen/Andrea scenario is different as well. As Dorothy Loudon explained it, Kristen was replaced long before the show hit Broadway. Although this was a nightmare for opening night and the Broadway run, the 20th anniversary production went on to see a fantastic nearly 2 year post-Broadway tour, with Brittny continuing her role until the production closed in March of 1999. Nell Carter left the production in early January 1998 and Sally Struthers took over. Nell’s song ‘You Make Me Happy’ was removed and cut from the show completely and the show returned to a degree of normalcy (still omitting the Hoover number). I still love ’You Make Me Happy’ AND ‘Don’t Mess with Mother’ and agree they should be in more productions and would have loved to hear Sally sing either, but Hannigan is not a star character and nor should she be. ANNIE is the titular character and no one deserves above the title billing. I think Nell was delightful, but this wasn’t the right show for her to come back with. It’s as if they wanted to recreate Dorothy Loudon’s history, but Nell didn’t have the ‘vaudeville steam’ that Loudon and Fitch had in the 70s. Like I said, this production was more successful as a road tour than a Broadway show. Brittny or Joanna, Annie is Annie. Brittny is fantastic and she only got better and better.
omg someone that actually GETS it! it's funny how so few seem to realize kissinger was a listed second understudy for multiple cities before she replaced joanna in connecticut the second to last tour stop before broadway.
I´m baffled by the notion that a broadway production would have only one child actress and an understudy?? Isn´t there a law against that? I can´t imagin an eight year old playing 8 performances a week. What about school etc.? Just asking. I know of a certain production about a ten year old boy. They had five boys play the role. Just asking. In most european countries you can´t have children working in a theater after 10.00 pm.
It’s totally heartbreaking for an child was fired it gotten so overwhelming and heartwarming. Gotten to better at the end The main reason no one should ever do that to a child who dreamed to become an actress. Let’s figure something else instead of a child fired I’m telling you dreams do come true Annie is a dream of tomorrow
Let me tell you a story. Bear with me- its worth it. A frined of mine, shorter in stature but a genius performer, audtioned up the ladder four times for a Broadway show for the likes of Debbie Allen and others. She was just about to sign the contract when she was informed that because the show had children in it who would be played by older young actors, they had to 'cast the show taller' to accomidate the height of the 'children'. She lost the role.. She told me it was the only time she left the theater and leaned against the side of the building and just sobbed. For all the magic, Broadway is a cutthroat business.
Broadway is absolutely barbaric and sometimes I think it's borderline abusive to let children even be a part of it but then a bit but then again when you have child characters you need child stars so it's a necessary evil to have children in Broadway shows I suppose though if I had a child I would never let them do it it's too cruel.
I don’t think Joanna should have been let go. She was brilliant! The people loved her! As soon as she falls ill, they replace her? Sad! But you have to consider Brittany’s side, too. That must have been a dream come true for her as much as it was for Joanna.
But, I experienced this with the role when I was younger.. I was told by my director that I was going to be Annie and I had nothing to worry about because I was clearly the best. Vocally and physically, I fit the role the best out of all the other girls.. but the director ended up going with a girl too young for the part just because she was 'cuter' (which isn't really what Annie's supposed to be).. Not on as big of a scale as this obviously, but still b/s.
I don't now if Joanna's family won the case but being an actor myself, I don't think they could have won. In every contract, you agree that the producers have the power to fire and hire as they like as long as the actor is still being payed for the time they would have been playing the role. I don't think it was fair to fire the poor little girl, but it was legal.
Hi, Megan. I know this is a bit late to reply to your post, and you may have seen it already (it came out in 2006), but if not, try to check out a movie called "Life after Tomorrow," in which 40 different women were interviewed about their experiences as either orphans or Annies. They discuss just EVERYTHING you can imagine about life both onstage and off. I only discovered it 2 years ago and now I own it on DVD! I recommend it highly. Peace, Allison
I feel for Both Brittney and Joanna on this. Producers did say their side in a kindel book. both sides made mistakes the agents and the managers in handling the situation and not wanting Joanna's feelings hurt. You got a play people put money into. the producers tried some ways of trying to keep things quiet and not hurt feelings which in some ways was bit sneaky. It is common to have orphan or two be understudies. Then Joanna got sick and did not know Brittney became the understudy too. Alexander did go on once. By the time Joanna was to join them again they were trying to work out a deal to share the role . Joanna's manger were faxing demands in they were not prepared to deal with. Both sides accused each other of going to the press.; what happened was a mother or stage hand innocently told the press who was hanging at the stage door oh Joanna's not here to day cause they did not know what was going on in the office. Both girls were working into the role when they did it . Martin and Daddy worked with Joanna at the producers request on connecting with Daddy more. She was slowly getting there. By the time Joanna's agent had a lawyer contact them by fax and the producers decided to let Joanna go . they still paid her to end of her contract. Yes both sides made mistakes and with timing and money being of essence they did not see time to have the girls work into the role. Though Brittney did and given have the chance Joanna would have too. I'm sure Brittney had pains from it too . People act like she should not be counted as an Annie too. Brittney is not invite to Annie things and such. I can imagine Brittney being hurt too. That is just as cruel as Joanna's situation. Both girls should be included and people need to let it pass .Stirring the pot is cruel to both girls.
What was the name of that book? I would love to read it. I agree it was not handled right and no doubt there was pain all around bad publicity which didn't help the run.
A little off topic here but I recall on the full doc some people commenting that Martin was wrong for wanting to call back Holly or even offer her a part because he felt she had potential and just needed to over come her stage fright but she had taken off 3 roles since her Annie auditions which kind of proves that he knew she had potential.
I saw the 8 year old in the role. Sorry, but she wasn't that good. They should have left Joanna in the role from what I've seen. Those gorgeous eyes. The beautiful voice. It's such a young age to be devastated like that. They should never have labeled it a "contest."
@@danieltice3428 But that doesn't make sense i mean they had to train Britney for the part so what difference would it have been if Alexandra played the role and Britney became her understudy.
littlesongbird1 train one girl for one role or replace a girl who already knows 6 roles, hire and train a new girl to learn those 6 roles and tell me which is easier and more cost effective? welcome to show BUSINESS.
Oh I was the age of Annie when it first came around in the late 70s early 80s I was told that if I grew at all or gained weight at all I would no longer be considered therefore I tried to keep from gaining weight and maturing as much as possible the entertainment industry can be very damaging to kids it’s a wonderful industry and it’s a great feeling a family when you’re in a good situation but it can be very hard
I watched this Video earlier on today I nearly cried a little when I saw how upset Joanna Pacitti was at being told that She was no longer playing the Role of Annie. In a way it's almost like they fired Joanna for no reason what so ever. To be honest I think that every Girl who has played the Role of Annie is Very Special in Her own way and I think it is very upsetting to know that a Person's Dream's can be taken away from them just like that.
***** No, she got bronchitis so her understudy went on while she was off. The producers liked the understudy better so they fired Joanna, replacing her with the understudy. This is a terrible way of producing a show, especially when you're working with kids.
@@sunsetmoonrise5141 I realize this is 6 years old but from what I heard: Brittney was promoted to 2nd understudy at some point during the tour. Alexandra filled in for the first night and than Brittny stepped in. The reason they wouldn't have just given Alexandra the part was because she was "too valuable to replace" as she understudied all of the roles including Annie (so think like even if the actress for Duffy was out she would have had to fill in for her). I agree that Brittney was cute and very talented but yes much too young to take on the role full time at that age. I feel they should have just kept her as second understudy and possible fill in for the role once Joanna aged out and she had aged up a bit. I also feel that Martin had little to do with this as he seemed to like Joanna as Annie because she had to the voice and the tough girl with heart of gold that he liked. The producers had tried to pressure her for other choices but he said those ones were too cutesy or had no sadness. I really feel that this was a situation where Martin's hands were tied and the producers were to blame and not him.
I know first hand how painful it is to be kicked out of something you felt so passionate about, and then to watch it proceed without you, your former friends happily still a part of it. I can't imagine only being 12 and having to experience that.
The dog is bigger than Brittney - that is ridiculous- Joanna definitely should have not got the treatment she had gotten - how could people do this to a 12 year old - what ever happened to this world
+Terrill White She was a kid, when I was in sixth grade, I got taken out of my school's choir because I was a 1 year member, when everyone else was 2 year members and I cried. It's hard, but that's show business for you
Exactly. She's 12 years old and has had the opportunity of a lifetime unexpectedly snatched away from her, and now she has to discuss her disappointment in front of a camera. Do you really expect her to be happy and coherent?
I really think this illustrates why show business and acting is a terrible industry for children. As a mother of two young girls, I simply would never let them enter into this world. It breaks even adults, and so many child stars develop severe problems. It's a shame.
A lot of the women who were in the Annie play as kids would agree with you and I do as well. Show business is no place for kids. It's too rough and can cause damage to a child that can take them years to recover from if they ever do. They're not old enough to think ahead about how, in show business, you could be fired at any minute for any little thing and they're also not old enough to realize it's not the end of the world. To a child; getting fired IS the end of the world and will leave them wondering "what did I do wrong?? What's wrong with me?" as if kids are good at anything; it's figuring out ways for everything to be their fault.
This is nothing new with theater though. No matter where you go, looks play a big factor and it's pretty clear from watching this that they just wanted a cuter Annie. It sucks that they'd do this to a kid but then again, they do this to everyone. Show business can be cruel, lol.
The problem with show business is that show leaders and executives must do what is best for the show, theatre, investors, cast, and teams. If there are issues with casting not clicking or not bring in the crowds that something major needs to happen to resolve the problem or the show will fail. Besides that, you cannot keep replacing cast members because you need your main cast and then the understudies. From a marketing and PR standpoint, you need to promote who is starring in the show and cannot cause confusion if your main stars take extended leaves from the role or leave the role. That is why many shows do not put tickets on sale until casting line-ups are posted also for the shows scheduled. In terms of promotions and marketing, why would feature a soon to be gone star in multi- millions of dollars’ worth of advertising if they will not be doing the show soon?
LOL look at these comments. @ Johnny K: Dude, it wasn't really about the money. You "artists" can be insufferably indignant sometimes when you let your emotions get the best of you. The way I understood it, the producers realized that Joanna wasn't the "right" Annie due to, in a very bizarre turn of events, them liking the backup much better than the original. Though audition were officially over, another audition came about when needing to find a replacement. Enter Brittny Kissinger. I do think was irrational to fire her, despite it being "their money" (the producers). It's like when your star basketball player gets hurt leading up to the NCAA tournament, enough to hospitalize him, and you need to insert someone in his place -- you don't know when that star player will recover fully, nor do you know if he'll be ready to play without a hitch. As the coach, you put in the backup for the entire tournament, who is a different player, but nonetheless capable. During tournament play the backup (now starter) is doing well, so well that you actually see him in a different light -- thinking that he can carry the team to glory. The injured star player still can play, but you much prefer the backup (now starter) because "he's on a roll." You don't want to disrupt the "good." The producers did not replace Joanna because they wanted a more cute Annie. They replaced her out of of necessity; they fired her because they realized that Brittny was the Annie they wanted. I guess, in the end, the girl who was the "right" Annie was chosen ... Auditions weren't over. Joanna was the girl they thought was The One, but, after seeing Brittny realized they made a mistake. That's how business works. That's how employment works if it's based on meritocracy. The art of Annie: The Musical and the role of Annie did not suffer for it. BUT the producers did offer Joanna to share the role with Brittny, but apparently her parents & herself felt that the role rightfully belonged to her alone. It's a sketchy area to walk through. The commentary makes it sound like it was all about money and panic (the narrative trying to be created is "Insensitive Greedy Producers vs Sweet Innocent Child ... cause that's what the media does in situations like these ... they tend to exaggerate/spin facts) and I do think the "other side" (producers), were more in the right than the wrong. You have to remember that Brittany wasn't some child movie star to fill in aka stunt casting. She made it through auditions as the rest of the girls to become one of the orphans and later was given the role of Annie. The producers wouldn't let her do it if they thought she couldn't handle the part or enchant the audience. >>Cute might work in community theater but not on Broadway. That makes little sense. Apparently "cute" worked on Broadway because, as the video commentator mentioned, the show had no problem selling tickets. I don't know what performance reviews Brittny was given, though. Annie is Annie whether it's spunky, cute, feisty or any mixture of that. Most of the audiences are tourists as well so saying "cute might work in community theater" is you just disapproving of what the producers did. The main differences between a well run community theater and a Broadway way production are (1) performing the show 7 days a week anywhere between a few months to even 2 years, (2) getting paid for it, (3) casting prospects having more talent and experience and (4) actual 'professional' critics commentating on the show. Oh, and much better technical aspects. Other than those things, your statement reeks of pomposity and delusion (see below). Also, the whole "it's Broadway" is overblown -- Broadway has become much more of a brand than a place of "the top" musicals & plays. Many musicals & plays brought to The Great White Way are taken from other cities, where it had a trial run. If it did well with cities like Chicago, LA or Seattle then producers move it to Broadway. Sometimes the cast transfers, though not all. Broadway, today, is really just an importer of successful musicals first performed in other cities, not really a maker/creator of such shows. Again, Broadway is more of brand. A "feather in the cap" for a show & performer, and a poacher of musicals made successful by performers in other cities. And there's one city that beats NYC for plays: Chicago.
Bway shows have often workshopped and previewed outside of New York, nothing has changed there. I agree with most of what you say, but I'd say Bway certainly is the place of "the top" musicals. For a lot of the reasons you mention in the third-to-last paragraph. But the best shows aren't really "imported" by New York, they were always meant for there, just previewed and workshopped elsewhere.
I know this comment is five years old, but it's a perfect explanation for anyone who doesn't understand why this wasn't just an issue of adults being mean.
OMG. She was wonderful. What a disgusting thing to do to a child. Are these old bastards even still around? When money rules over art, art is lost. Regardless, Joanna was electrifying but they disgarded her for "cute." Cute might work in community theater but not on Broadway.
Julian Child yes they are unfortunately. Martin charnin (the old guy with the glasses) was the one in charge of the Annie national tour auditions in 2013. Thank god he never ended up firing the girl he chose to play Annie. 🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️
Just because she had something wrong with her throat, doesn’t mean that they had to fire her. Yes of course she needed someone take up the role for a while so she could get better but then when she was better, she should’ve been allowed to come back.
I love the musical Annie because it is one my favorite broadway show of all time I remember a lot of girls played the lead in the musical was Andrea McArdle, Shelley Bruce,Sarah Jessica Parker Allison Smith Aileen Quinn Alyson Kirk and more too!!! I remember Joanna Pacitti did the revival of Annie in 1997 she got sick and couldn’t go on before the opening of the musical they fired her at the age of 12 years old and gave it to a newcomer the understudy Brittny Kissinger for the lead!!! It was a sad thing to do when you try give your part to the understudy to someone else when you can’t play Annie no more!!!!
I hope that those responsible are kicking themselves since the show closed earlier than expected after firing Joanna. Brittny was cute but her singing stunk in my opinion. She couldn’t carry a tune like Joanna.
the show was only scheduled to be on broadway april-sep but was moved march-october. it was called a "stop in tour". it was never planned as an open ended run.
as adults we apply for jobs and we sometimes don't get hired or we get laid off..And we deal with it. But these were CHILDREN..There should have been more sensitivity. Plus, I am sorry but Annie is supposed to sort of be a leader/among the orphans. Old enough to be like a big sister to the littlest ones. 7 was too young. And Joanna's voice: incredible. Brittney was also very talented but Joanna's voice was much more powerful: after all she was years older. Too bad they couldn't have worked out a way for them to share the role.
I really don’t think it had anything to do with her being sick. I think they wanted a younger girl who could be Annie for at least 2 years or 3. But sadly that’s show business. It’s very similar to the almost Dorothy in the wizard of oz. although Judy got the part first but because Shirley temple had a bigger audience and was also a little girl which fit more of the appearance of Dorothy in the book, but when they went to go hear Shirley sing, she just wasn’t hitting the notes they needed for the part. Plus fox wouldn’t let her out of her contract anyways for MGM. Not getting the Wizard of oz really devastated temple too but such is show business.
I think Joanna was a much better Annie. It may have been because Brittney was younger, but Joanna had the voice, had the talent that Brittney just didn't fit as well. She's talented, but Joanna was so much better.
I’m glad the show flopped after they fired Joanna. I heard they only fired her because Britney’s mother was having an affair with the director. It’s crazy. And there was no reason, really. Joanna was clearly more talented.
![Annie [1977] The original cast performs a medley on the Tony Awards](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZU2ZaaDQOag/mqdefault.jpg)
Joanna had the voice . The minute I heard her sing I knew. She was Annie, hands down. Not very many little girls can sing like that. And the girl who replaced her couldn’t .
Theps Theps she was obviously a terrible actress or they wouldn’t have had to replace her
Snopes Shop she got bronchitis, and they needed an understudy. they fell in love with the understudy.
Evie S No Joanna had an understudy and it wasn’t Brittany. I don’t know why they chose Brittany over the actual understudy. I’ve heard the moms of some of the other girls say it was because Brittanys mom slept with the director. But I don’t know if that’s true or not . I do know that some Moms will do anything to make their daughters stars though.
Theps Theps Okay! Sorry for my misinformation, I didn’t know, thanks for informing me!
Britney did too she did have a voice and I liked it but I still understand why they didn’t use the understudy I heard were the public comments and I can understand that but that still doesn’t make any sense so I really don’t know what to say I am like so I am hard to do this because like yeah and I think you should really give me a like on this comment if you really think I should be annie
Some people theorize that Joanna was fired b/c of her age, b/c the producers thought that at age 12 and on the threshold of puberty, she would outgrow the role too quickly. From that standpoint, an 8-year-old is a wiser "investment", although I think that Joanna was a much better singer, and it was a shame that she didn't get to do any Broadway performances.
Both the girls are talented but Joana’s voice is incredible! Much more controlled and thorough.
joanna is my aunt
I think that it was so sweet that they gave that dog to Joanna, that was really nice :)
Only because the dog wouldn't work with the new kid.
This story actually horrifies me. How u could do this to a twelve year old?¿
That's show business...the original Annie that started off Broadway recast Annie before it went to broadway.
@@littlesongbird1 I was thinking I was getting mixed up, I guess history does repeat itself, is this a curse? did it happen with the 2012 revival as well?
@@matthewpayne411 don't think it did...there were rumors that girl who replaced her had a mom who was having an affair with the producer..there was also one that Joanna was hard to work with (which I call BS! They could have just let her stay till her contract was up) another that Nell Carter wanted a shorter Annie to seem more intimidating. Personally I don't get why they couldn't just have Brittany take over the role when Joanna out grew it.
@@singhfamilyroadshow investors with millions of dollars on the line don't care at all about a poor little girls feelings
@P PA I agree I thought this was heartbreaking when I first heard it. I don't get why the couldn't just her finish her contract and then recast her.
I almost cried when she said
"I'm not Annie anymore"
I’m still so sad about this. Joanna deserved better, she was amazing and it was truly cruel and unnecessary what they did. However, the cruel comments about a literal 8 year old are unnecessary too. She was just doing what she was told, of course she was happy too. The people to blame are the adults producing the show. If you watched the documentary you’d see how immature and obnoxious the adults were. They were so rude behind their backs and made really concerning comments. That’s one of the many issues with the entertainment industry.
is that doc Life After Tomorrow? and what kind of concerning comments?
I agree. There was one obnoxious and unprofessional guy during the audition process who said he was being screeched at and he could find more talented kids on the street. Total jerk. These are children, and talented ones at that. If he couldn’t see that, he was in the wrong profession.
It's so nice that Joana was given the dog! Probably made her cry more though. Joana was an amazing Annie!
Unfortunately, this is not unheard of in show business at all. Nasty, nasty business. As much as I love acting, I want nothing to do with it professionally partly because this is how it rolls.
I agree...when I was younger I loved to sing (still do I guess) and my mom told me some neighbors told her I should be in commercials etc and of course my grandma always thought I would have made a great Annie if given the chance but now that I am older and have met people who worked in the industry (one of whom just passed away and worked on Broadway for years) and saw "Life after Tomorrow" I am glad that I was kept out of performing.
Not always like that in every single production. Good thing you want nothing to do with it-- you don't have thick enough skin to get far.
@@dannydougin3925 I didn't say it was like this in "every production", I said it wasn't unheard of. I don't know where you assumed I was making a claim that all productions are like this. I also don't know where you automatically assumed that I must not have "thick enough skin". You don't know me one bit or how I handle insults/turn downs/stress and have no business making an assumption like that. Just like I don't know you and would have no business making an assumption about your character either and why you said that.
The whole thing was handled so sleazily--firing a sick kid by FAX? In the middle of the NIGHT? And the replacement was waaaaaay too small to play Annie, who is supposed to be 11, and was also was not a great singer. Sad to say, this was the sort of show you rooted to flop.
Exactly. To me a wiser move would have been to keep Brittney as in the wings so to speak and trained to possibly take over it once it Joanna aged out (they did that with a couple of times during the original broadway and some of the national tours and to me that would have been a much nicer way of handling it as it would have been more like Joanna handing the torch off to her).
"Life After Tomorrow" is a documentary about former Annie's who were replaced because they got too old, too developed, or various other reasons. The positive is that they all got their time in the spotlight, which most actors never receive. The negative is that all still have a hole in their lives because it was there, then gone; for most, never to be had again. But they never forgot their choreography.
I prefer Joana's singing and acting!
Joanna was far superior in the role. Their loss
She was SO much better than Brittany
Did you see her?
The producers really shot themselves in the foot when they fired Joanna. The bad publicity resulted in the show closing after only six months-239 performances.
@@Keviva007 Agreed. They could have just let Joanna play till the end of her contract and then cast Brittany (I mean she wasn't even the understudy)
I AGREE!!
People can comment what they like, but if you look at the video of the Turning Point that followed the audition process, most of the people there should not work with kids, the way they were talking about the girls when they were not in the room was appalling. Not to mention the disregard for talent with bringing kids forward that did not wing well just because they liked the "look". It is the adult's responsibility to be professional.
M B Equestrian I couldn't agree more. Yes, it's a business, but these were little girls and they deserved to be treated with respect and sensitivity...not like prize cattle. And some of the finalists were questionable. Maybe they needed to hire better casting directors.
Yes, but financial pressure exerts a toll and some don’t have grace or tact when anxious.
Joanna was so much better as Annie IMO, not fair that she was asked to leave
I dont think anyone disagrees, no offense to the other girl but she just wasn't as good.
@@枒 Agreed brittny could sing and was a good actress especially for 8 but she's 8 and really Annie needs to be a bit older. I love that Andrea stood up for Joanna.
@@littlesongbird1 the irony is they thought that by doing this, they would re-create the circumstances that gave Andrea McArdle the part of Annie in the first place. Then they lost her support for it!
@@Attmay I have always wondered what the real reason was for firing Joanna. IF it was to create publicity it back fired big time.
I AM CRYING! How could they do this to a 12-year-old? They must select very carefully so this doesn't happen down the road. Ugh. What a tough break for a kid to absorb.
Sadly, There is many legal and logistical issues that need to be dealt with also. If the original Annie couldn't do the show from the start, They might have to recast the role because there needs to be the "Original Primary Broadway Annie". There isn't an understudy for opening night. Especially when marketing and programs development is involved. It literally "Who is the real Annie on Broadway and will perform the role of Annie when it opens? Can I have her photo and name for the $3 million marketing plan for the show?". Putting a new Annie in after the first girl takes the Broadway stage would literally kill the show.
@@brianhaflin9799 Joanna was fired two weeks before the show opened on Broadway. I don't think that's the reason.
3:22 what? Like... he fired Joanna! He is just being nice because the press is there... Joanna was a very great! She is waaay better than the other girl that replaced her.
I met Joanna. She lived in Philly where I worked for MAC. I knew immediately who she was from her audition on American Idol, which she was disqualified from for having a *former* record deal, and we ended up talking about this. She said being fired from Annie far exceeded the pain from American Idol. She is very sweet.
over 20 years later and I still think that was the worse mistake anyone has ever made.. they replaced her with a far less talented girl and crushed her dream.
*Pop Idol/American Idol* was one of the worst things to happen to music since The Beatles broke up. It is yet another reminder of why one of the 10 Commandments is about graven images.
Ot breaks my heart that Joanna lost the role!!! I was supporting her from the start!!!
Brittny was quite young to play this role
I did say that she was the right age because they could keep her for a year or two so I am that’s really a good idea and I’m going to audition to be annie so give me a like if you want me to be annie on this comment
Yes. Andrea Mcardle was 14
Right but in the original Annie comic Annie was very young. And it's better for her to be younger because it shows more of a vulnerability and that's what thats what the role needed
Joana was amazing! That's so disappointing that they recast her! I feel SO sad! 😣
Joanna is now in a rock band with Dr. Phil's son.
What’s it called?
@@DylanRomanov I don't know.
What a voice Joanna had at 12!!
Weird thing with Joanna- she has repeatedly end up on the wrong end of management decisions and cosmic luck: she had a deal with Geffen Records, but was released when the label made budget cuts(question: why would David Geffen ever NEED to make budget cuts? The guy's richer than several gods); later she was a contestant on American Idol, but was forced out because she supposedly had "personal connections" with two exes at the production company that does the show.
This begs the question: Is there a Pacitti Curse going here?
Imagine having that much singing ability but being thrown under the bus by record companies for acts who are mid or worse.
Joanna's story of getting the part, then getting fired after 106 performances, would make a good Lifetime movie, don't you think?
For those of you who don't know, Jane Bailey Patterson was cast as the orphan understudy in October of 1997 for the tour when Alexandra Kiesman joined hte Broadway Kids, then J.B.P. was cast as Duffy in the summer of 1998 when Bianca Collins left the show.
It was their loss. It's only gonna affect them.
I remember what a big deal they made about the search for Annie and how, once Joanna won, she seemed to be everywhere and I thought she was so amazing the few times I saw her singing on TV. Then when the news broke about her being fired, I felt so bad for her. To go from having your face on posters and being interviewed to having it taken away just before reaching Broadway....it must have been gut wrenching. And her replacement, I just didn't get why they picked Brittney over Joanna. Brittney was cute, but she seemed rather awkward in clips of her performing and I had read that her reviews were just ok. I would assume that Joanna must have acted & sung extremely well in her auditions otherwise they would not have picked her so I just wonder what it was that made them fire her. The only thing that makes sense is that maybe they though that since she was 12, she would grow out of it too fast (although I think Annie is supposed to be around 10 and Joanna looked younger than 12 so she could have pulled it off) & they figured it was better to go with an 8 year old who could play the role for longer. But if that's the case, then why not just tell Joanna that face to face rather then fire her via fax (or a note slid under her family's hotel room door depending on what story you read)? Aging out is a valid concern & wouldn't be something she could control, but to just fire her for no good reason is wrong & surely had her questioning herself. The fact they were so underhanded about it (doing it while she was out sick & via a note) makes me think there was some behind-the-scenes scheming going on. Either that or they were too cowardly to break the heart of a little girl in person.
I feel bad for Britny too. She wanted the role just as much as Joanna, bit her whole time as Annie became overshadowed and she was compared to Joanna the whole time.. If the producers had it together no one would have got hurt. A 12 year olds voice will obviously be better then an 8 year olds, but Britny looked more natural and damn adorable. It was an absolute needless mess for all involved. Joanna would have loved being an orphan if she never was offered Annie I’m sure. You can’t take something like that away from a child once you offer it.
I agree and too many people probably blamed Brinty but she had nothing to do with it and it wouldn't surprise me if she felt bad for Joanna. A better approach would have been to keep ker as the second understudy and consider using her after a year or two when Joanna aged out.
@@littlesongbird1 Yep, even keeping Joanna for a few months and then aging her out would have been so much better.
Ugh... Gets me every time I see this. Joanna was fantastic, the other little girl wasn't even close. Such a stupid decision...
I was only 5 years old when this happened and I just heard about this story about a year ago and it just gets me even though it was like 25 years ago. Luckily the NBC production did not do some savage cattle call audition. They seem to have hired there Annie far more ethically.
" I'm not Annie anymore" - Joanna
Fired because of her sickness?! Dude, I felt bad for her! She didn't do something that was against the production, she was robbed.
I mean, yeah show business is tough, but damn, that's pretty messed up. I mean, okay she was sick for a while, but the girl who replaced her isn't as good as she is, and she looks a little young for the role. Johanna WAS Annie. Her voice, her acting, her talent... I just felt so sorry for her, I can't imagine how heartbreaking that must have been, to lose the role she had dreamed of and worked so hard for.
Yeah like I understand it's showbiz but the producers just threw her away like cattle because of how she didn't live up to their high expectations and that they couldn't wait for her to recover so they just threw her away because money. I'm kind of glad that more of this stuff is being brought to light.
This is incredibly cruel. I do understand, however, that this is Broadway. This is the unfortunate side of the industry.
Wow this young lady is an inspiration to us all. To be treated like that at such a young age and still have the strength to go for her dreams is amazing xxx
Such an amazing talent.
Is there any update on what she is doing now xxx
What a girl that Joanna is! That last part where she says I may have good time or bad times but I’ll keep reaching and reaching and reaching! That’s my girl!
hmm I never knew about this. I thought Brittany was awesome when I performed with her. I guess I was to young to know the truth about business
Daniel Tice yes, I performed at the Wang theater. guest orphane
Daniel Tice yeah the show was awesome :) was so long ago
Seriously they fired this girl? She sounded identical to Andrea McArdle
This is really sad. I don’t think they thought this through very much. At my stage school I was given a role then it was taken away because some girls complained about the people running it having favourites! I was heart broken despite it being a small part as I had worked hard especially as one kid said she didn’t want to do it with me right in front of my face. If I was upset imagine Joanna as she had put in so much work and it was just snatched away . Really sad.
What she said at 2:55 was a bit dramatic but I do get why she is upset
I mean, she just did over 100 shows, that’s a significant chunk of a child’s year and life that’s been dedicated away. I was crying with her tbh 😂
Joanna was way better lol
I think so too, she reminds me of Andrea McArdle
So... I needed to add a comment LOL. Brittny Kissinger WAS actually Joanna’s understudy for the role of Annie. During the stop at the Colonial Theatre (just weeks before opening on Broadway), there were Playbills printed that claimed Brittny as the understudy to the title role in addition to Alexandra Kiesman. As much as I disagree with the means of how Joanna was fired, the more I see Brittny in the role of Annie, the more I begin to prefer her. Her chemistry with Conrad John Schuck was incomparable and worked wonderfully. Her stature when compared to Nell Carter (and, actually, Sally Struthers) made Hannigan also seem more menacing. Personally, I think Brittny could have used more rehearsing before replacing Joanna. She sang songs in so many different keys in order to find the right key she needed and this all needed to be rehearsed, so it’s not her fault. She didn’t ‘suck’, she was and is the youngest Annie to date and she did marvelously well and continued to improve! The Kristen/Andrea scenario is different as well. As Dorothy Loudon explained it, Kristen was replaced long before the show hit Broadway. Although this was a nightmare for opening night and the Broadway run, the 20th anniversary production went on to see a fantastic nearly 2 year post-Broadway tour, with Brittny continuing her role until the production closed in March of 1999. Nell Carter left the production in early January 1998 and Sally Struthers took over. Nell’s song ‘You Make Me Happy’ was removed and cut from the show completely and the show returned to a degree of normalcy (still omitting the Hoover number). I still love ’You Make Me Happy’ AND ‘Don’t Mess with Mother’ and agree they should be in more productions and would have loved to hear Sally sing either, but Hannigan is not a star character and nor should she be. ANNIE is the titular character and no one deserves above the title billing. I think Nell was delightful, but this wasn’t the right show for her to come back with. It’s as if they wanted to recreate Dorothy Loudon’s history, but Nell didn’t have the ‘vaudeville steam’ that Loudon and Fitch had in the 70s. Like I said, this production was more successful as a road tour than a Broadway show. Brittny or Joanna, Annie is Annie. Brittny is fantastic and she only got better and better.
omg someone that actually GETS it! it's funny how so few seem to realize kissinger was a listed second understudy for multiple cities before she replaced joanna in connecticut the second to last tour stop before broadway.
I´m baffled by the notion that a broadway production would have only one child actress and an understudy?? Isn´t there a law against that? I can´t imagin an eight year old playing 8 performances a week. What about school etc.? Just asking. I know of a certain production about a ten year old boy. They had five boys play the role. Just asking. In most european countries you can´t have children working in a theater after 10.00 pm.
John Schuck also played Pippi Longstocking's father, so that obviously didn't hurt when it came to casting him.
It’s totally heartbreaking for an child was fired it gotten so overwhelming and heartwarming. Gotten to better at the end
The main reason no one should ever do that to a child who dreamed to become an actress. Let’s figure something else instead of a child fired I’m telling you dreams do come true Annie is a dream of tomorrow
Let me tell you a story. Bear with me- its worth it. A frined of mine, shorter in stature but a genius performer, audtioned up the ladder four times for a Broadway show for the likes of Debbie Allen and others. She was just about to sign the contract when she was informed that because the show had children in it who would be played by older young actors, they had to 'cast the show taller' to accomidate the height of the 'children'. She lost the role.. She told me it was the only time she left the theater and leaned against the side of the building and just sobbed. For all the magic, Broadway is a cutthroat business.
Broadway is absolutely barbaric and sometimes I think it's borderline abusive to let children even be a part of it but then a bit but then again when you have child characters you need child stars so it's a necessary evil to have children in Broadway shows I suppose though if I had a child I would never let them do it it's too cruel.
I like Johanna better.
I don’t think Joanna should have been let go. She was brilliant! The people loved her! As soon as she falls ill, they replace her? Sad! But you have to consider Brittany’s side, too. That must have been a dream come true for her as much as it was for Joanna.
But, I experienced this with the role when I was younger.. I was told by my director that I was going to be Annie and I had nothing to worry about because I was clearly the best. Vocally and physically, I fit the role the best out of all the other girls.. but the director ended up going with a girl too young for the part just because she was 'cuter' (which isn't really what Annie's supposed to be).. Not on as big of a scale as this obviously, but still b/s.
That's show business - you have to have the package
joanna’s vocals 🤩
giving the dog to her, omg that is so amazing, can you imagine being gifted a dog that you trained
so she gets to keep him :)
I feel that like the trainer really felt bad for what Joanna went through and giving her the dog was his way of trying to help her feel better.
I don't now if Joanna's family won the case but being an actor myself, I don't think they could have won. In every contract, you agree that the producers have the power to fire and hire as they like as long as the actor is still being payed for the time they would have been playing the role. I don't think it was fair to fire the poor little girl, but it was legal.
Hi, Megan. I know this is a bit late to reply to your post, and you may have seen it already (it came out in 2006), but if not, try to check out a movie called "Life after Tomorrow," in which 40 different women were interviewed about their experiences as either orphans or Annies. They discuss just EVERYTHING you can imagine about life both onstage and off. I only discovered it 2 years ago and now I own it on DVD! I recommend it highly.
Peace,
Allison
I feel for Both Brittney and Joanna on this. Producers did say their side in a kindel book. both sides made mistakes the agents and the managers in handling the situation and not wanting Joanna's feelings hurt. You got a play people put money into. the producers tried some ways of trying to keep things quiet and not hurt feelings which in some ways was bit sneaky. It is common to have orphan or two be understudies. Then Joanna got sick and did not know Brittney became the understudy too. Alexander did go on once. By the time Joanna was to join them again they were trying to work out a deal to share the role . Joanna's manger were faxing demands in they were not prepared to deal with. Both sides accused each other of going to the press.; what happened was a mother or stage hand innocently told the press who was hanging at the stage door oh Joanna's not here to day cause they did not know what was going on in the office. Both girls were working into the role when they did it . Martin and Daddy worked with Joanna at the producers request on connecting with Daddy more. She was slowly getting there. By the time Joanna's agent had a lawyer contact them by fax and the producers decided to let Joanna go . they still paid her to end of her contract. Yes both sides made mistakes and with timing and money being of essence they did not see time to have the girls work into the role. Though Brittney did and given have the chance Joanna would have too. I'm sure Brittney had pains from it too . People act like she should not be counted as an Annie too. Brittney is not invite to Annie things and such. I can imagine Brittney being hurt too. That is just as cruel as Joanna's situation. Both girls should be included and people need to let it pass .Stirring the pot is cruel to both girls.
What was the name of that book? I would love to read it. I agree it was not handled right and no doubt there was pain all around bad publicity which didn't help the run.
@@littlesongbird1 geez were did my post go. its kindle book called no biz like show biz. from golfer to producer in just 57 years.
@@horselightning Thanks.
I just don’t understand why they liked Brittany so much and if they liked her so muchTHEY SHOULD OF PICKED HER AT THE DANG AUDITION!
A little off topic here but I recall on the full doc some people commenting that Martin was wrong for wanting to call back Holly or even offer her a part because he felt she had potential and just needed to over come her stage fright but she had taken off 3 roles since her Annie auditions which kind of proves that he knew she had potential.
This is amazing!
I saw the 8 year old in the role. Sorry, but she wasn't that good. They should have left Joanna in the role from what I've seen. Those gorgeous eyes. The beautiful voice. It's such a young age to be devastated like that. They should never have labeled it a "contest."
Why didn't Joanna's understudy get to be Annie?
Cathryn Usher alexandra was too valuable to the production. to replace and train a swing costs thousands of dollars.
@@danieltice3428 But that doesn't make sense i mean they had to train Britney for the part so what difference would it have been if Alexandra played the role and Britney became her understudy.
littlesongbird1 train one girl for one role or replace a girl who already knows 6 roles, hire and train a new girl to learn those 6 roles and tell me which is easier and more cost effective? welcome to show BUSINESS.
@@danieltice3428 I thought the understudy for Annie only knew Annie's role.
littlesongbird1 normally, yes. alexandra was the annie understudy plus the swing orphan.
I honestly don't understand why they chose Brittny over Joanna. Brittny was good, but Joanna was Broadway great. Poor girl.
Oh I was the age of Annie when it first came around in the late 70s early 80s I was told that if I grew at all or gained weight at all I would no longer be considered therefore I tried to keep from gaining weight and maturing as much as possible the entertainment industry can be very damaging to kids it’s a wonderful industry and it’s a great feeling a family when you’re in a good situation but it can be very hard
i think that brittney did good but i still love joanna!
Andrea Hit the nail on the head
I watched this Video earlier on today I nearly cried a little when I saw how upset Joanna Pacitti was at being told that She was no longer playing the Role of Annie. In a way it's almost like they fired Joanna for no reason what so ever. To be honest I think that every Girl who has played the Role of Annie is Very Special in Her own way and I think it is very upsetting to know that a Person's Dream's can be taken away from them just like that.
***** No, she got bronchitis so her understudy went on while she was off. The producers liked the understudy better so they fired Joanna, replacing her with the understudy. This is a terrible way of producing a show, especially when you're working with kids.
@@sunsetmoonrise5141 I realize this is 6 years old but from what I heard: Brittney was promoted to 2nd understudy at some point during the tour. Alexandra filled in for the first night and than Brittny stepped in. The reason they wouldn't have just given Alexandra the part was because she was "too valuable to replace" as she understudied all of the roles including Annie (so think like even if the actress for Duffy was out she would have had to fill in for her). I agree that Brittney was cute and very talented but yes much too young to take on the role full time at that age. I feel they should have just kept her as second understudy and possible fill in for the role once Joanna aged out and she had aged up a bit. I also feel that Martin had little to do with this as he seemed to like Joanna as Annie because she had to the voice and the tough girl with heart of gold that he liked. The producers had tried to pressure her for other choices but he said those ones were too cutesy or had no sadness. I really feel that this was a situation where Martin's hands were tied and the producers were to blame and not him.
I know first hand how painful it is to be kicked out of something you felt so passionate about, and then to watch it proceed without you, your former friends happily still a part of it. I can't imagine only being 12 and having to experience that.
The dog is bigger than Brittney - that is ridiculous- Joanna definitely should have not got the treatment she had gotten - how could people do this to a 12 year old - what ever happened to this world
What happened to the rest of the turning point clips?
They need to introduce awards for animal actors, the dog was incredible !!
At 6:30 that is NOT the look of a producer with a hit on his hands.
The Tomorrow finale was SO fast! Was the MD coked up?
"I just have to remember that I'm the real Annie and the sun WILL come out tomorrow!"...oy vey...dramatic much?
Terrill White I loved her back then, but I cringed at that, haha!
Terrill White she was just a kid... cut her some slack
C'mon, She was a kid.
+Terrill White She was a kid, when I was in sixth grade, I got taken out of my school's choir because I was a 1 year member, when everyone else was 2 year members and I cried. It's hard, but that's show business for you
Exactly. She's 12 years old and has had the opportunity of a lifetime unexpectedly snatched away from her, and now she has to discuss her disappointment in front of a camera. Do you really expect her to be happy and coherent?
I really think this illustrates why show business and acting is a terrible industry for children. As a mother of two young girls, I simply would never let them enter into this world. It breaks even adults, and so many child stars develop severe problems. It's a shame.
A lot of the women who were in the Annie play as kids would agree with you and I do as well. Show business is no place for kids. It's too rough and can cause damage to a child that can take them years to recover from if they ever do. They're not old enough to think ahead about how, in show business, you could be fired at any minute for any little thing and they're also not old enough to realize it's not the end of the world. To a child; getting fired IS the end of the world and will leave them wondering "what did I do wrong?? What's wrong with me?" as if kids are good at anything; it's figuring out ways for everything to be their fault.
lets stop hating on both of the girls. they are both amazing!!
Their loss.
This is nothing new with theater though. No matter where you go, looks play a big factor and it's pretty clear from watching this that they just wanted a cuter Annie. It sucks that they'd do this to a kid but then again, they do this to everyone. Show business can be cruel, lol.
Both children were fabulous in the role of Annie ❤❤
Did Joanna perform all the way to the end of her contract (except when she was sick) or did they fire her midway?
They fired her midway. Her contract would have ended a few months after she got better.
The problem with show business is that show leaders and executives must do what is best for the show, theatre, investors, cast, and teams. If there are issues with casting not clicking or not bring in the crowds that something major needs to happen to resolve the problem or the show will fail. Besides that, you cannot keep replacing cast members because you need your main cast and then the understudies. From a marketing and PR standpoint, you need to promote who is starring in the show and cannot cause confusion if your main stars take extended leaves from the role or leave the role. That is why many shows do not put tickets on sale until casting line-ups are posted also for the shows scheduled. In terms of promotions and marketing, why would feature a soon to be gone star in multi- millions of dollars’ worth of advertising if they will not be doing the show soon?
It's a hard knock life.
Joana has to be a Broadway Star!
The sole show should never be placed on one child's head.
that’s the whole point of annie
Tbh, she's still my favorite Annie.. so..
LOL look at these comments.
@ Johnny K: Dude, it wasn't really about the money. You "artists" can be insufferably indignant sometimes when you let your emotions get the best of you.
The way I understood it, the producers realized that Joanna wasn't the "right" Annie due to, in a very bizarre turn of events, them liking the backup much better than the original. Though audition were officially over, another audition came about when needing to find a replacement. Enter Brittny Kissinger. I do think was irrational to fire her, despite it being "their money" (the producers). It's like when your star basketball player gets hurt leading up to the NCAA tournament, enough to hospitalize him, and you need to insert someone in his place -- you don't know when that star player will recover fully, nor do you know if he'll be ready to play without a hitch. As the coach, you put in the backup for the entire tournament, who is a different player, but nonetheless capable. During tournament play the backup (now starter) is doing well, so well that you actually see him in a different light -- thinking that he can carry the team to glory. The injured star player still can play, but you much prefer the backup (now starter) because "he's on a roll." You don't want to disrupt the "good." The producers did not replace Joanna because they wanted a more cute Annie. They replaced her out of of necessity; they fired her because they realized that Brittny was the Annie they wanted.
I guess, in the end, the girl who was the "right" Annie was chosen ... Auditions weren't over. Joanna was the girl they thought was The One, but, after seeing Brittny realized they made a mistake. That's how business works. That's how employment works if it's based on meritocracy. The art of Annie: The Musical and the role of Annie did not suffer for it. BUT the producers did offer Joanna to share the role with Brittny, but apparently her parents & herself felt that the role rightfully belonged to her alone. It's a sketchy area to walk through.
The commentary makes it sound like it was all about money and panic (the narrative trying to be created is "Insensitive Greedy Producers vs Sweet Innocent Child ... cause that's what the media does in situations like these ... they tend to exaggerate/spin facts) and I do think the "other side" (producers), were more in the right than the wrong.
You have to remember that Brittany wasn't some child movie star to fill in aka stunt casting. She made it through auditions as the rest of the girls to become one of the orphans and later was given the role of Annie. The producers wouldn't let her do it if they thought she couldn't handle the part or enchant the audience.
>>Cute might work in community theater but not on Broadway.
That makes little sense. Apparently "cute" worked on Broadway because, as the video commentator mentioned, the show had no problem selling tickets. I don't know what performance reviews Brittny was given, though. Annie is Annie whether it's spunky, cute, feisty or any mixture of that.
Most of the audiences are tourists as well so saying "cute might work in community theater" is you just disapproving of what the producers did. The main differences between a well run community theater and a Broadway way production are (1) performing the show 7 days a week anywhere between a few months to even 2 years, (2) getting paid for it, (3) casting prospects having more talent and experience and (4) actual 'professional' critics commentating on the show. Oh, and much better technical aspects. Other than those things, your statement reeks of pomposity and delusion (see below).
Also, the whole "it's Broadway" is overblown -- Broadway has become much more of a brand than a place of "the top" musicals & plays. Many musicals & plays brought to The Great White Way are taken from other cities, where it had a trial run. If it did well with cities like Chicago, LA or Seattle then producers move it to Broadway. Sometimes the cast transfers, though not all. Broadway, today, is really just an importer of successful musicals first performed in other cities, not really a maker/creator of such shows.
Again, Broadway is more of brand. A "feather in the cap" for a show & performer, and a poacher of musicals made successful by performers in other cities. And there's one city that beats NYC for plays: Chicago.
Bway shows have often workshopped and previewed outside of New York, nothing has changed there. I agree with most of what you say, but I'd say Bway certainly is the place of "the top" musicals. For a lot of the reasons you mention in the third-to-last paragraph. But the best shows aren't really "imported" by New York, they were always meant for there, just previewed and workshopped elsewhere.
+TickleMeElmo55 it's called a "comment", not a short story
I know this comment is five years old, but it's a perfect explanation for anyone who doesn't understand why this wasn't just an issue of adults being mean.
OMG. She was wonderful. What a disgusting thing to do to a child. Are these old bastards even still around? When money rules over art, art is lost. Regardless, Joanna was electrifying but they disgarded her for "cute." Cute might work in community theater but not on Broadway.
Julian Child yes they are unfortunately. Martin charnin (the old guy with the glasses) was the one in charge of the Annie national tour auditions in 2013. Thank god he never ended up firing the girl he chose to play Annie. 🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️
People should know that if the producers don’t like someone they can fire them. That’s how show business works
How did the new annie get the REAL annoes part?!? Because the nee one sucks
JOANA WAS SO MUCH BETTER OH MY LORD
Just because she had something wrong with her throat, doesn’t mean that they had to fire her. Yes of course she needed someone take up the role for a while so she could get better but then when she was better, she should’ve been allowed to come back.
Oh poor girl I’m sure she will go on to do great things
8?!
I love the musical Annie because it is one my favorite broadway show of all time I remember a lot of girls played the lead in the musical was Andrea McArdle, Shelley Bruce,Sarah Jessica Parker Allison Smith Aileen Quinn Alyson Kirk and more too!!! I remember Joanna Pacitti did the revival of Annie in 1997 she got sick and couldn’t go on before the opening of the musical they fired her at the age of 12 years old and gave it to a newcomer the understudy Brittny Kissinger for the lead!!! It was a sad thing to do when you try give your part to the understudy to someone else when you can’t play Annie no more!!!!
I hope that those responsible are kicking themselves since the show closed earlier than expected after firing Joanna. Brittny was cute but her singing stunk in my opinion. She couldn’t carry a tune like Joanna.
the show was only scheduled to be on broadway april-sep but was moved march-october. it was called a "stop in tour". it was never planned as an open ended run.
as adults we apply for jobs and we sometimes don't get hired or we get laid off..And we deal with it. But these were CHILDREN..There should have been more sensitivity. Plus, I am sorry but Annie is supposed to sort of be a leader/among the orphans. Old enough to be like a big sister to the littlest ones. 7 was too young. And Joanna's voice: incredible. Brittney was also very talented but Joanna's voice was much more powerful: after all she was years older.
Too bad they couldn't have worked out a way for them to share the role.
She was on American idol in season 8 but was let go because they said she had personal connections to executives at 19 entertainment
I really don’t think it had anything to do with her being sick. I think they wanted a younger girl who could be Annie for at least 2 years or 3. But sadly that’s show business. It’s very similar to the almost Dorothy in the wizard of oz. although Judy got the part first but because Shirley temple had a bigger audience and was also a little girl which fit more of the appearance of Dorothy in the book, but when they went to go hear Shirley sing, she just wasn’t hitting the notes they needed for the part. Plus fox wouldn’t let her out of her contract anyways for MGM. Not getting the Wizard of oz really devastated temple too but such is show business.
Felt so bad Joanna got replaced she had amazing voice
greatest show ever
Joanna was FABULOUS!
that is so heartbreaking Idk if I can cope with that if I was her
That’s stupid that they fired her bc it wasn’t going thier way they just ruined her dream
I think Joanna was a much better Annie. It may have been because Brittney was younger, but Joanna had the voice, had the talent that Brittney just didn't fit as well. She's talented, but Joanna was so much better.
They both really talented! Brittney is really talented for en 8 years old.
This is why I kind of don't like kids in show business. It's way too harsh for them to understand.
I’m glad the show flopped after they fired Joanna. I heard they only fired her because Britney’s mother was having an affair with the director. It’s crazy. And there was no reason, really. Joanna was clearly more talented.
At least Joanna finally got a several million dollar settlement from Macys but it took four years.