Rosanne Sorrentino
Encyclopedia
Rosanne Sorrentino is a former child actress, best known for playing the role of the bossy orphan Pepper in the 1982 film
of the musical Annie
.
, Long Island
, New York
. She made her professional stage debut in the 3rd National Tour of Annie
in 1980-81, playing the title role of Annie.
Sorrentino was "bitten by the acting bug" in 1976, when she played a schoolgirl in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
's summer workshop production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. The play was written by Jay Presson Allen
, the wife of Lewis Allen, one of Annie's producers. Rosanne was also a member of her school chorus at Lindenhurst High School and it was under the direction of her school music teacher, Liz Costa, that she developed her love for singing. She was also involved with the Charles Street Players in Lindenhurst High School. Her greatest role being that of Grizabella in their rendition of "Cats".
Although Sorrentino received critical acclaim for her stage portrayal of Annie, she was considered too old - at the age of 13 - to be cast as Annie in the film version. Instead, after auditioning, she was offered, and accepted, the role of Pepper - the oldest, and bossiest, orphan.
Annie (film)
Annie is a 1982 American musical film directed by John Huston and choreographed by Arlene Phillips. The film is an adaption of the 1977 stage musical of the same name, which in turn was based on the 1924 Little Orphan Annie comic strip by Harold Gray. The movie features music by Charles Strouse,...
of the musical Annie
Annie (musical)
Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years with a blonde Annie as the poster...
.
Early life
Rosanne Sorrentino was born on January 15, 1968, in OceansideOceanside, New York
Oceanside is a hamlet located in the south part of the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. The population was 32,109 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. She made her professional stage debut in the 3rd National Tour of Annie
Annie (musical)
Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years with a blonde Annie as the poster...
in 1980-81, playing the title role of Annie.
Sorrentino was "bitten by the acting bug" in 1976, when she played a schoolgirl in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with facilities located in Manhattan, New York City – at 120 Madison Avenue, in a landmark building designed by noted architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club – and in Hollywood, California...
's summer workshop production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. The play was written by Jay Presson Allen
Jay Presson Allen
Jay Presson Allen was an American screenwriter, playwright, stage director, television producer and novelist. Known for her withering wit and sometimes-off-color wisecracks, she was one of the few women making a living as a screenwriter at a time when women were a rarity in the profession...
, the wife of Lewis Allen, one of Annie's producers. Rosanne was also a member of her school chorus at Lindenhurst High School and it was under the direction of her school music teacher, Liz Costa, that she developed her love for singing. She was also involved with the Charles Street Players in Lindenhurst High School. Her greatest role being that of Grizabella in their rendition of "Cats".
Although Sorrentino received critical acclaim for her stage portrayal of Annie, she was considered too old - at the age of 13 - to be cast as Annie in the film version. Instead, after auditioning, she was offered, and accepted, the role of Pepper - the oldest, and bossiest, orphan.
Soundtrack
- Annie (1982) soundtrack: It's The Hard-Knock Life, Sandy, Maybe (Reprise), You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile, Finale Medley: I Don't Need Anything But You/We Got Annie/Tomorrow).
Documentary
- Life After Tomorrow (2006) - appeared as herself in this documentary about life after appearing in Annie.