Popular British television comedian, actor, writer, and author Miranda Hart is to make her West End debut, starring as Miss Hannigan in a revival of the 1977 hit Broadway musical Annie.

The production will begin performances May 23 prior to an official opening June 5 at the Piccadilly Theatre.

This revival first debuted regionally in Leeds and has since toured extensively, both nationally and internationally, with other people playing the role of Miss Hannigan.

In a press statement, Hart commented, “Miss Hannigan is a dream role, and certainly has been for me, but I never thought it would be a reality. But here we are and I have a newly found musical theatre-esque spring in my step! I hope people will leave the theatre feeling life is a little better and dreamier and jollier after watching it, as much as we feel that performing it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some leg-warmers to put on… .”

Hart is best known on television for her hugely successful, semi-autobiographical and BBC sitcom Miranda which premiered in 2009 and continued for three series and two specials. She also appeared in Call the Midwife. In 2014 she completed her first sold out stand-up arena tour My, What I Call, Live Show culminating in five shows at London’s 02 Arena. Her first book, Is It Just Me?, was the biggest selling non-fiction U.K. hardcover of 2013. She followed it in 2014 with The Best of Miranda, and last year released her third book Peggy and Me.

Directed by Nikolai Foster, Annie will be produced by Michael Harrison The West End production will have sets and costumes designed by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Richard Brooker, and orchestration and musical direction by George Dyer. Further casting is still to be announced.

Annie has a book by Thomas Meehan (adapted from the comic strip Little Orphan Annie), music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin. The show originally premiered on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon) in 1977, when it received seven Tony awards including for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. The last West End production of Annie opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre in 1998. There have also been two film versions: in 1982 with Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters and Albert Finney, and in 2014 with Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx.

To book tickets, which go on public sale February 27 and are booking through January 6, 2018, contact the box office at 0844 871 7630 or visit AnnieWestEnd.com

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