Book by THOMAS MEEHAN Music by CHARLES STROUSE Lyrics by MARTIN CHARNIN Original Broadway Production Directed by Martin Charnin. Presented on Broadway by Mike Nichols. Produced by Irwin Meyer, Stephen R. Friedman, Lewis Allen, Alvin Nederlander Associates Inc. The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Icarus Productions. Based on "Little Orphan Annie" by permission of the Tribune Media Services Inc. Annie is based on the 1924 comic strip Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray (which in turn was inspired from the poem Little Orphant Annie by James Whitcomb Riley). The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years, setting a record for the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre). It spawned numerous productions in many countries, as well as national tours, and won seven Tony Awards, including for Best Musical. The musical's songs "Tomorrow" and "It's the Hard Knock Life" are among its most popular musical numbers. This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.co.uk. Every member of the audience, regardless of age, must be in possession of a valid ticket to gain entry to the theatre. Tickets purchased are not exchangeable or refundable unless the performance is cancelled.