Broadway’s Annie Casts Real-Life Shelter Dog Sunny to Play Annie’s Companion Sandy
The Broadway production of Annie has announced that real-life shelter dog Sunny has been selected to play the role of Annie’s adopted and loyal companion Sandy.
Discovered by 2011 Tony Honor recipient William Berloni, Sunny was rescued from a shelter in Houston. Berloni has trained every one of Broadway’s Sandys since the first production in 1977. In addition, the dog’s understudy Casey was rescued from a Pedigree-sponsored shelter near Nashville, Tennessee.
NBC Owned Television Stations will air a 30-minute TV special, Annie’s Search for Sandy in October 2012, featuring Berloni.
In conjunction with this casting news, it has been announced that Pedigree Food for Dogs and the Broadway production of Annie have teamed up to raise $1 million to help dogs find loving homes. For each ticket sold through December 31, 2013, Pedigree will donate $2, up to $1 million, to Pedigree Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping dogs find homes.
Annie will begin previews at the Palace Theater October 3, with an opening on November 8.