|
'Annie' star fired, replaced by understudy
February 27, 1997
Web posted at: 11:45 p.m. ESTPHILADELPHIA (CNN) -- Leaping Lizards! What's a little girl to do? If she's fired from "Annie," she sues.
That's apparently the case now that 12-year-old Joanna Pacitti has been fired from the lead role in the upcoming revival of "Annie," the hit musical based on the life and times of cartoon character "Little Orphan Annie."
According to press reports, Joanna was fired four weeks before opening night because the producers found her acting wooden. They have replaced her with an eight-year-old understudy.
Pacitti, chosen after a highly publicized search last year and who has played the title role in previews around the country, was in tears during an interview with CNN affiliate KYW-TV.
"I just don't want this to happen to any other little girl," she said. (10 sec. /160K AIFF or WAV sound)
"It's not gonna be me coming down the stairs in my Annie dress and my red wig." (8 sec. /192K AIFF or WAV sound)
But Pacetti said the whole experience has made her tougher and able to handle such a thing again. (8 sec. /128K AIFF or WAV sound)
Meanwhile a lawyer retained by her family says they are thinking of suing on the grounds she won a contest to be Annie and they can not take the prize from her.
Joseph F. Claffy said "a $10 to $50 million lawsuit" will be filed in the next couple of weeks against Annie producers Timothy Childs, Rodger Hess and Jujamcyn Theaters.
The 20th anniversary production of the hit musical based on the life and times of the cartoon character "Little Orphan Annie" will also star Nell Carter in the role that won a Tony award for Dorothy Loudon in the original production.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Tell us what you think!
You said it...
© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.