Producer John Frost for Crossroads Live and director Karen Johnson Mortimer have announced the canine stars for the upcoming Australian production of the popular Broadway musical Annie. Bodhi, known for appearances in Neighbours, and Sandy will share the role of Annie’s loyal companion, Sandy. The production is set to open at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre on 27 March next year, with tickets now on sale.
Both Groodles (Golden Retriever crossed with Miniature Poodle), Bodhi and Sandy, are trained by Luke Hura, a film, television, and theatre dog trainer in Australia. Hura’s previous work includes training Koko, the star of the film Red Dog, and Buddy, who played Sandy in the 2012 production of Annie. Hura is responsible for teaching the dogs various tricks as per the script, and training the young actresses playing Annie to work effectively with their canine co-stars.
John Frost commented on the casting process of these two animalistic stars:
After rigorous paw-ditions across the country, we unanimously agreed that Bodhi and Sandy were the perfect dogs to play our Sandy. Working with dozens of children under stage lights while performing in front of adoring audiences, the dogs require a high level of training and skill in order to meet the physical demands of the role. We know Luke will have a wonderful time training Bodhi and Sandy and we have no doubt Australian audiences will fall in love with them too.
Announced just last month, Annie will commence its 2025 Australian tour at the Sydney Capitol Theatre starting March 2025. While no other legs have been announced, given the broad appeal of the musical, it would be surprising if a national tour wasn’t already in the planning stages. For information on ticket sales, visit the musical’s official website.
