‘Annie’ brings sunshine and the return of a hometown actress to TPAC

The story of orphan Annie has captured hearts for generations — as a poem in the late 1800s, a comic strip in the early 20th century, movie adaptations and an award-winning Broadway musical. That version is at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center through Saturday. And it’s a homecoming of sorts for one of the featured actors: Julia Nicole Hunter, who plays Grace Farrell.

As the story goes, orphan Annie’s hard-knock life never would have ended without Grace Farrell. She’s the one who finds Annie and brings her to live at Daddy Warbucks’ mansion.

In the national touring production, Grace is played by Julia Nicole Hunter, who — along with her immense talent — brings a dose of Southern, Middle Tennessee spirit to the role.

“She’s also this really nurturing and kind woman. She really falls in love with Annie almost the minute she meets her. And she’s like, ‘That’s the orphan that, you know, will change Warbucks’ life,'” Hunter said.

“I think that my upbringing and my hometown shaped me to who I am today, absolutely. And I am able to bring parts of myself to the character, in that sense.”

Julia Nicole Hunter plays Grace Farrell in the national tour of “Annie.”

Hunter as Grace is featured in one of the signature songs from the musical, “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here,” which she counts among her favorites.

“It’s Annie’s big introduction to the mansion and everyone who works there,” Hunter said. “I also really love the song called ‘Something Was Missing’ that Warbucks sings to Annie. I get to watch it from the wings every night and watch the way that Annie looks at him and how he changes throughout. That song is so beautiful.”

Another favorite is the Christmas scene.

“Annie comes down the stairs in her iconic red dress, and we’re all seeing her for the first time all dressed up. (The mansion) is decorated for Christmas, and everyone’s all dressed up. And then she and Warbucks do their big dance, and we sing ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You.’ That’s one of my favorite moments on stage with everybody.”

While she has memories of seeing “Annie” growing up, Hunter says performing in the show was not on her radar as a dream role.

“I kick myself because getting to do the role now, I’m like, ‘Why wasn’t this top of the list?’ Grace has been such a joy to bring to life, and this show is honestly a dream come true. I think the message of hope that it brings to everyone is just so uplifting that I don’t know why it wasn’t on my radar before.”

Hunter says there’s another message in her performance as Grace: representation for people of color. Few Black women have been cast in the role of Grace since “Annie” the musical premiered more than four decades ago.

“I think (representation) is huge,” she said. “Growing up, it was hard because there were a lot of roles that I wanted to play, but I didn’t really think were accessible to me because the girls in it didn’t look like me. And there have been a couple of instances where little girls have come up to me and they were like, ‘I looked in the playbill and I saw that you are a woman of color, and I was so excited! And I said, “Mom — she’s Black.”‘ I’m so honored that I get to be that inspiration for little girls who look like me when I didn’t have that.”

What Hunter did have was a passion for singing in church and school choirs, including Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro — where she got her first taste of musical theater. After graduation, she moved to New York City to study at the American Musical Dramatic Academy, or AMDA.

“That was a big shock for me,” Hunter said. “I wouldn’t change it for the world. I loved it. But New York isn’t my heart. My heart is in Nashville. I’m a Southern girl at heart. I’ll always have my roots and my feet planted in Nashville. No matter how long it takes me to come back home, I always come back home.”

Hunter says the TPAC production marks her first time performing professionally here, where she grew up.

“Thinking about it makes me a little emotional, because it’s huge! I’ve been seeing shows at TPAC since I was young, and I have so many people coming out to TPAC to see the show — friends and family from everywhere. I’m so excited, and I just feel so loved and supported.”

Julia Nicole Hunter and all the cast of “Annie” will be on stage in Nashville through Saturday, March 30.

So, clear away the cobwebs and the sorrow and go to tpac.org for more information.