Two of Sally Struthers’ favorite things are children and animals.
But “Annie” is right up there, too.
“It’s the perfect play,” she said. “It’s not silly and stupid. It’s about President Roosevelt and the New Deal. It’s about something.”
The TV/stage star will reprise her role as feisty orphanage maven Miss Hannigan in a Theater of the Stars production of “Annie,” opening Saturday and playing slightly more than a week at the Fox Theatre.
Struthers, who first encountered the booze-loving Miss Hannigan in the 1998 Broadway touring production of the show, doesn’t mince words when she recalls the musical she co-starred in preceding her first “Annie” run – “Grease.”
“I thought if I heard that ‘ramalamadingdong’ song [“We Go Together”] one more time, I would take out my AK-47. Three years of ‘ramalamadingdong’!,” Struthers said with bemused exasperation.
In recent years, the woman forever known to one generation as Archie Bunker’s daughter on “All in the Family” and to another as gossipy neighbor Babette on “Gilmore Girls,” has been traveling frequently to perform in regional productions: “Legally Blonde” in Maine, “Cinderella” in her home base of California, “The Full Monty” in North Carolina are a few recent stops.
Last week, Struthers, 63, took a break from rehearsals in Atlanta for a quick phone chat about her return in the Tony-winning show that always promises that despite it being a "Hard Knock Life," the sun will come out "Tomorrow."
Q: Is it hard for you to play a character who hates children, when a big part of your life has been about showing them compassion?
A: It’s delicious! I love the irony for having stumped for children for 25 years and then playing someone on stage who can’t stand them. I’m in heaven working with the dogs before the show and then the orphans onstage.
Q: Is it true that there is a dog introduced during intermission?
A: Yes, we announce before the show that there will be a dog onstage during the Hooverville scene and will then be up for adoption. He’ll be in the lobby and you can meet him during intermission.
Q: The show is returning to Broadway this year for its 35th anniversary. Are you interested in making the commitment to play the role there?
A: They plan to open in September. I’ve talked to [show creator and lyricist] Martin [Charnin] about it. They’re not making any decisions yet, but my name is in the hat.
Q: Why do you think this play is so enduring?
A: You could remove all of the memorable songs from this play and the dialogue is brilliant. It’s got appeal to children and adults. It’s got history in it. It has jokes little kids like. But Charles Strause also wrote really memorable songs for the show.
Q: Isn’t there a famous story about when you first tried out for "Annie" you thought you had nothing to worry about since Charles had written the theme song to “All in the Family”?
A: I’d known Charles for years, and then I walked in and he was rude! I broke out in flop sweat. It was shocking to me, made me lose my footing in the audition. But it turned out OK.
Q: Are you still working with Save the Children?
A: I’m not a spokesperson anymore, but I’m still sponsoring kids. I got tired and literally ill. After almost 30 years, when it made me lose my health, I thought maybe it was time to take care of me, too.
Q: Since you do so much regional work, what do you have planned for the rest of the year?
A: I’m booked through mid-September. I’m going home [to California] for the ‘Always… Patsy Cline’ musical. I play Louise Seger, who met Patsy at a honky-tonk one night and then Louise wrote the book, ‘Always… Patsy Cline.’ A man [Ted Swindley] got hold of that book and turned it into a two-woman musical. I’m also going to Jacksonville to do ‘Hello, Dolly!’ and then somewhere in New Jersey for ‘9 to 5.’
Q: Have you performed at the Fox much?
A: I’ve been there twice. It’s a beautiful place. They don’t have many theaters like that anymore.
Q: Do you like being on the road all the time, or would you prefer a more permanent engagement?
A: I love being anywhere I have a job. I don’t like being at home worrying if I have to pay the mortgage.
Theater preview
“Annie”
Jan. 14-22 (except Jan. 16). Times vary. $25-$65. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
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