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Escaping Death Row- The Stage Actor That Went From Their Final Hours To Broadway Stardom
An iconic performer in the smash hit Annie had quite a reversal of fortunes in their life
Everybody loves a good redemption story. Coming back from long or even insurmountable odds inspires and can take many forms. However, rarely is it so aptly applied than in the case of an actor in the hit play Annie, who literally went from a death sentence to becoming a star in the Broadway production of the timeless classic hit.
The actor in question was a stray dog from Connecticut that went on to play the part of Annie’s dog, Sandy, for more than six years. Incredibly, it literally went from being scheduled for euthanasia to being saved by a teenaged theater employee, who saw him and took a chance on him for a play even though the animal was technically not a perfect fit for the role.
In 1976, a production of Annie was being planned at a local theater in East Haddam, Connecticut. Working with a limited budget, producer Michael Price wanted a real dog for the role of Annie’s trusted companion, but knew he couldn’t afford a thoroughly trained canine. Hoping for the best, he summoned 19-year-old Bill Berloni, an intern, and made him an offer. In exchange for finding a dog to play Sandy, the teen…
