BRUNSWICK— Maine State Music Theatre will present “Annie,” the popular musical based on the Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, opening on June 29.

The musical, set during the Great Depression, premiered in 1976 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. Almost a year later, the show moved to Broadway.

Annie desperately wants to escape a New York City orphanage, especially the mean-spirited matron, Miss Hannigan, who runs it. Also standing in Annie’s way is Miss Hannigan’s outrageous brother, Rooster, and Rooster’s floozy girlfriend, Lily.

In her search to find her family, Annie finds companionship in a mutt named Sandy and her optimistic attitude about tomorrow wins the heart of her benefactor Oliver Warbucks.

The original Broadway production of “Annie” starred Andrea McArdle as Annie. Replacements for the title role included famous child actresses Sarah Jessica Parker, Shelly Bruce and Allison Smith. The show closed after a six-year run. “Annie” had a record breaking 2,377 total performances at the then Alvin Theatre, now the Neil Simon Theatre. The record was only recently surpassed by “Hairspray’ in 2009.

The musicial will run through July 16 at the Pickard Theater in Brunswick.  Matinees are at 2 p.m., evening shows at 7:30 p.m. For specific dates and tickets, call 725-8769 or visit  www.msmt.org.