TheaterWorks is opening its 2026-2027 MainStage Season with a Broadway classic that still knows how to charm a crowd.
“Annie” runs July 10 through July 26, 2026, at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, located at 10580 N. 83rd Drive. Presented in its full Broadway version, the beloved musical arrives with a 44-actor cast, local young talent, and the kind of built-in heart that has kept audiences coming back for generations.
More than four decades after its Broadway debut, “Annie” still has that rare theater magic: instantly recognizable songs, big-hearted characters, and enough optimism to make even the most skeptical audience member soften up a little. This is the musical with “Tomorrow,” “Maybe,” and “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” after all. It does not tiptoe into nostalgia. It belts it.
“Annie is truly a timeless story for every generation,” says TheaterWorks Director of Patron Experience Paul Pedersen. “… Whether you’re eight years old or eighty-eight years old, there’s something magical about this story that speaks to everyone. It’s filled with humor, heart, optimism, and some of the most recognizable songs ever written for the stage.”
Leading the production is Valley director and choreographer Molly Lajoie, whose credits stretch across the Phoenix metropolitan arts scene. A University of Notre Dame and AMDA New York graduate, Lajoie currently serves as a Faculty Associate in Arizona State University’s Music Theatre and Opera Program and as Director of The Phoenix Theatre Company’s Summer of Dance.
For Lajoie, this one is personal. “The musical ‘Annie’ was a huge part of my life as a child,” says Lajoie. “From the moment I would put the record on and hear the trumpet play the first notes of the overture, I was transported. It has remained one of my favorite shows, and I have been waiting for the time I would finally get to work on it! I could not be more excited to immerse myself, my actors, and an audience in this beautiful story.”
Music direction comes from TheaterWorks Resident Music Director Lincoln Wright, while the title role goes to Azra Kearns, who TheaterWorks audiences may remember from her performance as Matilda in the company’s 2022 production of “Matilda.”
Joining her is Shani Barrett as the dreadful Miss Hannigan, returning to TheaterWorks for the first time since appearing as Diana Morales in the company’s 2018 production of “A Chorus Line.” The cast also features Scott Hyder as Oliver Warbucks, Lynn D’Ambrosi as Grace Farrell, Vinny Chavez as Rooster, Savoy Antoinette as Lily St. Regis, and Everly McClurg as Molly.
The production’s 44 performers make this a true multi-generational affair, with 17 young actresses playing Annie’s fellow orphans. Translation: plenty of pint-sized stage power, big ensemble energy, and Valley talent getting its spotlight.
And yes, Sandy is part of the story too. Bailey, an eight-year-old Golden Retriever from Sun City West, steps into the role for his theatrical stage debut, adding one more reason this production is primed to win hearts.
As the resident theater company of the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, TheaterWorks continues to anchor West Valley arts through professional productions, educational programs, and community engagement initiatives that bring live theater to audiences of all ages.
Tickets start at $38 and are on sale now through theaterworks.org or the TheaterWorks Box Office at 623-815-7930, option 0. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Insider Takeaways
- “Annie” runs July 10 through July 26, 2026, at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts in Peoria. TheaterWorks is opening its 2026-2027 MainStage Season with the full Broadway version of the musical.
- The production features a 44-actor, multi-generational cast, including 17 young actresses as Annie’s fellow orphans.
- Azra Kearns, remembered by TheaterWorks audiences as Matilda, takes on the title role.
- Tickets start at $38 and are available online or through the TheaterWorks Box Office.
To learn more, visit theaterworks.org.
