"The first time I heard the song 'Tomorrow,'" original Annie star Andrea McArdle recently told 半岛体育, "was actually Laurie Beechman singing it. She recorded all the demos. And, I was too young to go to the backers' auditions, 'cause they were held in bars, like Sardi鈥檚, and I was underage and couldn鈥檛 get in. That鈥檚 how we raised all the money for Annie. Laurie singing 'Tomorrow' at bars!"
How fitting that McArdle, whose booming, crystal-clear rendition of the Annie anthem brought her overnight fame in the original Broadway production of that Tony-winning musical, is one of the first stars to play the newly renovated Laurie Beechman Theatre, named for the late Cats star. McArdle will also dedicate a portion of her June 4鈥�5 shows at the Manhattan nightspot to the late Charles Strouse, the Tony-winning composer of Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, and Applause, who passed away earlier this month.
"Charles was the absolute happiest person when he was behind that piano," McArdle shares, "when he was playing you what he wrote, when he was selling it to you. He just laid it all on the table. Part of his appeal was he had no clue he was as brilliant as he was. He could鈥檝e used more ego. I just wish for him, wish he knew or felt, that kind of reverence we have for him."
When asked her favorite Strouse compositions, McArdle answers, "Outside of Annie, I do love 'Gotta Lotta Living to Do,' but my favorite would have to be 'Once Upon a Time.' So many of his songs, like 'Tomorrow,' were actually pop-based songs. 'Tomorrow' is not even a Broadway-style song, it鈥檚 a pop song, which was what was new about that musical at the time. It鈥檚 very accessible. What he鈥檚 left us with鈥攖hey鈥檙e standards. They鈥檙e incredible hits."
Even though it has been several decades since McArdle earned her Tony nomination for playing the lovable red-headed orphan, she still manages to breathe new life into her signature tune.
"[There is] something about singing ['Tomorrow'] when you're mature鈥攜ou know I now have grandkids," McArdle says, "and to see what it does to every single generation that I鈥檝e hit with that song. I鈥檓 amazed every time at the reaction I get when I sing it. And my perspective has certainly changed with it. I now realize why the song endures鈥攊t鈥檚 a timeless message. Plus, I realize now, structurally speaking, it is a great song!"
At the 7 PM performances at the Beechman, attendees can expect to hear "Tomorrow" as well as two other gems from Annie: "Maybe" and "NYC." McArdle will also share stories from her theatrical journey, including her early days in Annie as well as roles in Starlight Express, Les Mis茅rables, Beauty and the Beast, Jerry鈥檚 Girls, and State Fair. Also expect a tribute to the late Beechman, a longtime colleague and friend.
"I鈥檓 super-excited to share these stories, these memories about Charles and Laurie, at my upcoming shows at The Laurie Beechman Theatre," McArdle adds. "Seems like the perfect venue for me to celebrate them!"
Tickets start at $40 with a $25 food/beverage minimum. The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located at 407 W. 42nd Street, within the West Bank Cafe. For tickets to Live at the Beechman, visit .
Sandy and Andrea McArdle in Annie
