QuaranTune #18: "Tomorrow" from Annie

A show tune a day keeps the quarantine blues at bay...

If there's one show tune that embodies hope and optimism, it has to be "Tomorrow" where little orphan Annie, a girl who has practically nothing, proclaims spiritedly that a better day is only a day away...

Originially intended for a musical adaptation of Daniel Keyes's Flowers fro Algernon, "Tomorrow" was written by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin and actually first debuted in August 1976 at Goodspeed in the cherished musical Annie. A Broadway premiere was quick to follow, officially opening at the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre) on April 21, 1977, with Tony Award nominee Andrea McArdle originating the titular role. Strouse and Charnin's score went on to win the Tony Award for 'Best Original Score' that year and added the Grammy for 'Best Cast Show Album' to its list of accolades in 1978. "Tomorrow" rose to international acclaim in the summer of 1982 thanks to the iconic film adaptation released by Columbia Pictures, and has also been reprised in both the 1999 and 2014 remakes.

Since 1977, the popular show tune has been covered by a diverse array of artists from Grace Jones and Barbra Streisand to Elaine Paige and Lea Salonga. But here is the original track, performed by original cast member Andrea McArdle and we sincerely hope it will help you stick out your chin and grin today...

The sun will come out, tomorrow, so ya gotta hang on 'til tomorrow, come what may.
(Annie)

^{(Photo by Martha Swope/©NYPL for the Performing Arts)}