Life After Tomorrow (2006)

Life After Tomorrow reunites more than 40 women who played orphans in the Broadway production of "Annie" and reveals the highs and lows of their experiences as child actresses in a cultural phenomenon. Once the curtain came down many found it could be a hard-knock-life fraught with out-of-control stage mothers separation anxiety and worst of all pubescent growth spurts that could find the moppets being replaced by smaller younger editions just waiting in the wings. As one cast member in the film remarks The younger ones are coming to take your place and you're 12. It's not like you are getting downsized at 50 you're 12! . While their lives moved on the impact of the experience remains. Features behind-the-curtain footage from the original Broadway production and performances with the reunited orphans.Includes interviews with the creators of "Annie" composer CHARLES STROUSE and director/lyricist MARTIN CHARNIN. Appearances by SARAH JESSICA PARKER (HBO's "Sex and the City") DARA BROWN (MSNBC anchor) MARTHA BYRNE ("As the World Turns") ALLISON SMITH ("The West Wing") JULIE STEVENS ("Barbie's The Princess and the Pauper") and more! Directed & Produced by JULIE STEVENS and GIL CATES Jr.System Requirements:Running Time: 75 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/BIOGRAPHY Rating: PG-13 UPC: 829567048023 Manufacturer No: 670480 Product Description

 For the Die-Hard Fan Only
I suppose when all is said and done, it does what it says on the cover. However, I think I was expecting maybe a bit more. Maybe some more footage from the past productions, more gossip from backstage, more interviews with other adult cast members to get their opinions on the children and their behaviour, etc. It's still a very interesting piece of theatre history and the way that something like this can affect different children in different ways - human nature, I suppose. Just lacks that certain something April 5, 2008

 A Wonderful Look Behind the Scenes!
I love this show. How fun! I pulled out my old color programs from the Broadway and national tours of Annie I saw growing up in the 70's and began matching up the faces and names with the women I saw on the television screen. A great DVD for any Annie fan or parent who wants a life in show biz for their child. March 16, 2008

 excellent
loved every minute of this great documentary.
though almost entirely made out of interviews,
the storys those women tell, are giving great insight
into the highs and lows of a childhood spent on
the stage. March 15, 2008

 At The End of The Rainbow
Life After Tomorrow is a documentary about what happens in life after your dreams come true. The film reunites cast members who played orphans in the Broadway production of Annie. Via interviews with high-profile "annies" like Sarah Jessica Parker, viewers get a glimpse of life inside the dream-nights at Studio 54 when you're ten, life on the road with tutors who got high, stage mothers who had affairs with stage fathers and subsequent abortions, and worst of all, growth spurts which predicated your removal from the show. As one cast member in the film remarks, "the younger ones are coming to take your place and you're 12."

This isn't a US Weekly type of documentary. There are no child star "smash-ups" here-no stories of "annies" robbing liquor marts for drug money because they weren't able to readjust to life after stardom. The tragedy here is subtle and understated. Many of these women admit to being forced off stage and continuing life with the nagging hope in their heart that they would get back to Broadway. Life happens to these actresses-they become financial planners, mothers and annoying stage mothers, but some of them are obviously stuck somewhere else-not in tomorrow, but yesterday-when they were singing and dancing in Annie. Some of them haven't self-actualized which is unpleasant to see in someone who is turning 40. Others have adjusted OK. It's interesting, but it's also a hard-knock life when you peak at 10. March 12, 2008

 Loved the movie, but I wanted to see more of the play..
For anyone who has ever wondered "What happened to that child star" here is the answer for at least one play. I loved the way the film did not really make judgements and that there was a balance in the memories (good and bad) from prior castmembers. My one request would have been, more of behind the scenes of the play itself. If you take a look at the video, be sure to check out the extras as there are some quite enjoyable additions in this area. I remember seeing Annie when it first came out and this brought back some great memories! March 9, 2008

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