11-year-old to star in Broadway's 'Annie' NEW YORK, April 27 (UPI) -- An 11-year-old girl from Los Angeles has been cast in the title role of "Annie," the Broadway revival's producers said Friday. Lilla Crawford was cast following "a multi-city coast-to-coast search that spanned nine months and over 5,000 auditions," the producers said in a news release. The show, directed by James Lapine, is to open this fall. Oh, my gosh, it happened! My heart just stopped," the young actress said upon hearing the news. I thought it would be so cool just to be a part of 'Annie,' but to actually be playing Annie is a dream come true! "We fell in love with Lilla from the moment we saw her," said producer Arielle Tepper Madover. When she is in the room you can't take your eyes off her. She has a gorgeous voice, is a terrific actress, wonderful dancer and a sweet girl. She is everything that we could have ever hoped for in an Annie. We are so happy to have met her and think everyone will fall in love with her the way we did. Lilla made her Broadway debut last year, playing Debbie in the closing cast of "Billy Elliot" on Broadway.