Shadow and Act has the exclusive first look at actress Celina Smith as Annie in NBC’s upcoming holiday production, Annie Live!

Smith started her career as Young Nala in the national touring company of The Lion King and currently plays Rebecca in Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan on Nickelodeon.

She stars in the project with Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan, Harry Connick Jr. as Daddy Warbucks, Nicole Scherzinger as Grace and Tituss Burgess as Rooster.

Annie Live will air Thursday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. She started her career as Young Nala in the national touring company of The Lion King and currently plays Rebecca in Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan on Nickelodeon.

The Harold Gray comic strip “Little Orphan Annie” debuted in 1924. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1977 and went on to win seven Tony Awards. Actress Andrea McArdle won fame as the big-voiced star, and succeeding Annies include Sarah Jessica Parker, Lila Crawford, Aileen Quinn and Quvenzhané Wallis in film adaptations.

“It’s an honor to follow in the footsteps of the talented young ladies who have played Annie before me, and I can’t wait to start this journey,” Smith said in a prior statement.

You can also view and image of Henson and Miss Hannigan below:

celina smith

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