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Charles Strouse, Broadway composer of 'Annie' and 'Bye Bye Birdie,' dies at 96
Three-time Tony Award-winner Charles Strouse, Broadway's industrious, master melody-maker who composed the music for such classic hits as "Annie," "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Applause," has died
Jenn Thompson, who appeared in the first “Annie” as Pepper and directed a touring version in 2024, recalls Strouse coming to auditions and shedding a tear when a young girl sang “Tomorrow.” One of Strouse last musicals was “Minsky’s.” A love story set against the backdrop of the fabled burlesque empire, it was the brainchild of English director Mike Ockrent, who died of leukemia in 1999 before the project was completed. Chronicling the Depression-era adventures of the celebrated comic strip character Little Orphan Annie, the musical featured lyrics by Martin Charnin and a book by Thomas Meehan.It starred Andrea McArdle as the red-haired moppet and Dorothy Loudon, who won a Tony for her riotous portrayal of mean Miss Hannigan, who ran the orphanage.
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