Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Snyder
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Classic family musical skillfully retold with diverse cast.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Annie Live!
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
ANNIE LIVE! closely depicts the classic story that started as a comic strip and has been reproduced over the years on Broadway and in movies. Annie is a determined and sassy orphan (newcomer Celina Smith) who lives at Miss Hannigan's derelict orphanage. She believes that her parents are still alive and will one day return to take her home. She gets a rare opportunity to spend time at the estate of Oliver Warbucks ahead of the holidays. As the relationship between Annie and Mr. Warbucks grows, the billionaire uses his connections and resources to attempt to track down Annie's parents, offering a $50,000 check if they come forward. When two con artists, Rooster (Tituss Burgess) and Lily, learn of the money reward, they devise a scheme to obtain it. Warbucks acts on his hunch about the two criminals. Ultimately, Annie's persistence shows that dreams do come true.
Is It Any Good?
This modern production delights with stellar performances and diverse representations. The dancing and singing talent is exciting to watch in this large-scale production of Annie Live! Fans will enjoy seeing some of their favorite celebrities in these time-honored roles and will likely fall in love with the breakout star, Celina Smith. The musical's message about optimism also feels like great timing.
Some may feel that Henson's acting in the role of Miss Hannigan is over-the-top, but her skilled portrayal brings a cartoonish feel to the harshness of the character, distracting from the more provocative issues and softening the blow for young viewers. Other flaws include quite a few forgivable camera and lighting mishaps, and giving Harry Connick Jr. a bald head doesn't quite work. And it's hard to only get two brief appearances from beloved dog Sandy. Overall, multigenerational families will likely enjoy watching this production together because it's got something for everyone. And perhaps most significantly, members of a much wider audience can now enjoy seeing themselves represented in this classic story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about privilege in Annie Live! Why do you think some have so much and some have so little? Is it fair? How can we work toward a world that is more balanced?
Why are historical depictions important? What do you learn about life in the 1930's in this musical? Do you think you would have wanted to live back then?
A lot of work goes into putting on a production like this. Which part of the performance -- singing, dancing, or acting -- did you enjoy most? How did the set, costumes, hair, and makeup add to the experience? What role would you want to play?
TV Details
- Premiere date : December 2, 2021
- Cast : Celina Smith , Harry Connick Jr. , Nicole Scherzinger , Taraji P. Henson , Tituss Burgess , Megan Hilty
- Network : NBC
- Genre : Kids Musical TV
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Friendship , Holidays
- TV rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
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