Australian musical theatre royalty Deb Krizak is back again, this time stepping into the role of the renowned Ms. Hannigan in the Australian tour of Annie. Set against the backdrop of Depression-era New York, Annie tells the heartwarming story of a spirited young orphan determined to find her family, all while enduring the comically cruel care of the child-hating Miss Hannigan.
Debora Krizak is one of Australia’s most versatile and acclaimed musical theatre performers. With past credits including The Producers, Sweet Charity, A Chorus Line, and Titanic, she has earned multiple award nominations and critical praise, including a Helpmann nod and Sydney Theatre Critics Award. A seasoned performer across theatre, cabaret, television, and cruise entertainment, Debora has also written and produced original works and represented Australia at major national events. Her dynamic stage presence and enduring talent have cemented her status as a true legend of the Australian stage.
Krizak, a woman with more than two decades of professional experience, believes she was “born to play this role,” highlighting the depth of research, acting, and comedic timing that goes into portraying Hannigan.
As Krizak prepares for her opening night in Melbourne, we had the chance to chat with her about her career resurgence, the delicate balance between family life and her craft, and the importance of resilience.
She spoke candidly about the many challenges she faced on her path to becoming the accomplished performer she is today, highlighting how rejection was a constant part of the journey. She emphasised the importance of embracing one’s individuality and turning perceived flaws into strengths – something she believes has been key to her success.
Referring to herself as “the professional loser,” Krizak conveyed the idea that failure is an essential part of growth in the industry. Her passion for the craft and commitment to continuous improvement make her an inspiring figure for working actors. With family as her top priority, she approaches each role with sincerity and purpose. While she may not be thrilled about Melbourne’s cold winter, she’s eager to bring the character of Miss Hannigan to life for a new audience.
Deb: I’ve been looking to play this role for some time. While I was doing Cinderella with Crossroads Musical Theatre, I heard they were bringing Annie out, so I immediately had my agent send an email saying, “Deb would be really interested.” And one particular time, it worked! Of course, this didn’t mean I got the role outright – I had to audition like everyone else. It was a very long audition in front of all the producers. True to Annie style, they would normally cast a big celebrity name for the role of Ms. Hannigan, but this time they really wanted a ‘triple threat’ show. The show is a classic, but it’s had a spruce-up. By bringing me in, they got the benefit of an easy street, focusing more on choreography and dance, which has gained worldwide attention. It’s been wonderful to utilize the skills I already have. They generally cast people who automatically get applauded just for walking out on stage (not discounting any form of talent), simply for being who they are. An example of this would be Whoopi Goldberg, who just finished a stint playing Ms. Hannigan on Broadway.
Deb: Carol Burnett is a huge benchmark for me, as well as Dorothy Loudon, who originated the role of Ms. Hannigan. They’re the pinnacle for anyone interested in musical theatre because they can do all three: singing, dancing, and acting. Specifically, I admire their character acting.
Deb: Of course, when it’s such an iconic role, Ms. Hannigan is known for her comedy. I was very cautious and aware of not copying anyone. This led to intense research during the rehearsal period. One of the challenges for me was the song Little Girls. It’s a great song but not necessarily a “showstopper,” so trying to find nuance in it without making it slapstick was key. For me, comedic acting has always been my ‘breakthrough.’ When you have great actors in musical theatre, it can really change the show. Specifically, this version of Annie has a solid foundation of strong actors and triple threats. I knew Ms. Hannigan was a drunk and hated her life, but my aim was to go deeper and figure out why she is the way she is. Does she really hate these kids? Well, no – she hates her life. She’s running the orphanage because it’s her meal ticket; it’s the only way she gets free food and water. Ultimately, she aspires to a better life. As far as comedy goes, yes – physical comedy has always been my forte. I find it quite difficult to play “pretty and beautiful.” I find those roles less interesting, usually having more quirks to play with. All of my previous roles have culminated in this one. The art of timing is very important to me – learning when to take moments and read the nature of a different audience each night. Every show and every audience is different.
Deb: I did a short season of Billy Elliot last year, which was my first time working with kids. My head is always down when rehearsing; I’m worrying about my character and what I’m doing. We have a great rapport with the kids. It’s always hard saying goodbye to the cast in each state because you create such a strong bond. It did have its challenges, though – every night, I would get a new set of kids – with a different Annie – which made it difficult to create initial flow and rhythm. But now, we’re at that stage where it’s so easy – it’s like riding a bike. Now, we start all over again with a new child cast for Melbourne. They’re simply wonderful!
Deb: The Little Girls number has been done so many times with so many variations. The one thing that took some getting used to was the use of a prop doll. I struggled with how to make this doll interesting throughout the song – initially, it just didn’t work for me. To make it work, I chose to find the comic tragedy within it, rather than bashing it over the head for laughs. It was a bold move, but I found it quite challenging as it’s just me for the entire song. Eventually, I found some creative ways to use the doll, which I hope read well to the audience. I basically workshopped every single thing for the number until I found what worked for me. I just had to find my own version. Also, the first couple of scenes where Ms. Hannigan comes on stage are there to set the bitter scene of the orphanage – they’re not particularly funny. She doesn’t come into her element until around scene four.
Deb: I’m never front and centre in my own life; I’m guided by whatever the universe throws at me. I’m lucky that my kids are 16 (almost 17 now). This is my first long tour since they were in year two. I didn’t want to be away from them. They are IVF, and we struggled for many years to have them. I wasn’t one of those moms who wanted to get a nanny or leave them. With the support of my incredible husband, I took them with me during the last big tour of Anything Goes, homeschooling them for a term. For me, now is the perfect time. I travel every fortnight to see them, and during school holidays, we spend time together. Family always comes first. In between seasons, I go back to regular work as an audio producer, care support worker, MC at Crown Casino, and for my singing/cabaret gigs.
Deb: It’s a nightmare! When I graduated, I didn’t move to Sydney until 2001, so I was 29 when I got booked for my first professional musical. I already had a TV show under my belt from living in Adelaide. I’d also toured in a well-known rock band for seven years, but I still couldn’t get an agent in Sydney for the life of me. I had to look for unconventional ways to get an agent. Luckily, back in the day, I was a runner-up in Miss Universe Australia. I had all these photos, and I got a job from a Sydney show after handing a local producer modelling shots – (not even headshots). I then got an audition on my own and ended up landing my first professional musical. I’m not conventional; I’m not from WAAPA, so my advice to any young performers is whatever your quirk is, whatever you think isn’t good about you, is probably what’s going to land you your job and make you stand out from everybody else.Whatever somebody told you wasn’t right about you will probably be your gold card.” There are so many factors that go into being considered for a role, and often, most are out of your control.”
Deb: There are a few dream roles I’d love to tackle. I would love to do Matilda as Mrs. Wormwood, Mamma Rose in Gypsy, Nancy in Oliver, and also be in Follies.
Deb: I want to see the right person cast for each role. I want it to be less about casting actors who will sell seats and tickets. I understand the business perspective, but I also understand how powerful word-of-mouth is, and how a show is elevated when it’s cast correctly.
In Australia, the industry is so small, we don’t have a lot of shows and high turnover, so it’s different from Broadway or the West End. I would love to see a continuation of kindness and inclusivity in the industry.
Deb: My beautiful twins! They feel like my career. I’ve had a lot of failure in my life. I like to call myself “The professional loser.” If you’re not really good at losing, you can never be successful.
ANNIE is playing now at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre.
For tickets and more information, visit anniemusical.com.au
Header image by Daniel Boud
Music icon Sting will return to the stage in a newly adapted production of his…
Broadway’s biggest night is fast approaching, with the Tony Awards set to celebrate another busy…
The Genesian Theatre Company is proud to present a moving new production of Harper Lee’s…
Minister for Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, together with producers Tony Cochrane AM and…
Liverpool City Council’s much-loved celebration of Asian culture and cuisine, Lanterns and Lights, returns on…
The Australian Premiere of the smash-hit Broadway musical Tootsie, officially opens at Teatro at the…