VENICE, Florida — Venice Theatre will hold open auditions on Saturday, November 22 for dogs hoping to land the role of Sandy in its upcoming production of Annie. The sessions will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Pinkerton Theatre at 140 Tampa Avenue West, with check-in in the main theatre lobby.
Dog actors will audition for the director, music director and choreographer. They will interact with adults and children involved in the production to test their ability to follow direction and respond to a simulated performance environment. Each dog will walk through the performance space under stage lighting.
The theatre is seeking medium to large dogs with brown, tan or reddish coloring. Breed, age and gender are not factors. Dogs that loosely resemble the title character are encouraged to try out. Most participants can expect to spend about 30 minutes at the theatre.
The role of Sandy will be shared by several dogs on a rotating schedule depending on availability. Sandy must be calm, friendly and steady in loud or busy situations. Dogs should be comfortable with children, crowds, music and lights, and be able to follow basic commands such as sit, stay, come and lie down.
During auditions, dogs will be asked to show basic obedience with both their owner and other people. They will also interact with adults and children, walk on and off leash under stage lights, and demonstrate the ability to stay calm and separate from their owner when needed.
Sandy appears on stage for nearly 20 minutes throughout Annie, which is based on Little Orphan Annie and features a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. The production is scheduled to begin rehearsals on December 29, 2025. Opening night is set for February 27, 2026, and the show will close on Saturday, April 4, 2026, with a break from March 15 to March 23. April 4 will include a double performance.
Owners may request a perusal script by emailing auditions@venicetheatre.net to better understand the show’s needs and prepare their canine performers.
