When little orphan ANNIE burst onto Broadway in 1977, audiences instantly fell in love with the optimistic red head belting about brighter days being ‘just a day away’. One of the lucky theater goers to catch the production in its original, record-breaking, six-year run in NYC was Dr. Gary Buzbee. The show immediately became – and remains – Buzbee’s favorite musical.

Shortly after the Broadway run closed, a friend tipped Buzbee off that SLT had secured the rights to the musical in 1983. Although he hadn’t performed since high school, he was eager to be involved.

“Of course, I don’t sing. I said, ‘I don’t have a song,’” Buzbee admitted. His friend who had previously been involved in SLT productions offered to help him to prepare. “So, she did, and I did! That’s how it all started.”

That decision led to what has now become a 42-year tradition. Buzbee was cast as the former U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Since then, every time SLT has produced ANNIE, Buzbee has played the role.

“I’m the only FDR that the Landers has ever had.” He laughed and jokingly added the caveat, “With the exception of when the education department did ANNIE, JR. Had I known, I would have tried to get into that.”

In addition to stepping into the sparkling world of ANNIE that he so adored, Buzbee also holds great admiration for the real-life accomplishments of his character. Although history has not always been the most engaging subject for Buzbee, he has great reverence for the President who led America through the Great Depression.

“I was always fascinated by FDR. I think it was because even when I studied it in high school and we would talk about the New Deal, they would tell us the things that had benefitted from it here in Springfield,” Buzbee reflected. “That was just fascinating to me, the fact that we have some parks and a gymnasium, and all sorts of stuff around here that was built because of the New Deal.”

As a dentist, Buzbee recalls making prop teeth for SLT roles including FDR. Although he won’t be using them for this production, he still has the set he made for ANNIE and a later production of CINDERELLA for which he was cast as an Ugly Stepsister.

“I took an impression of my teeth, then I had the lab fabricate them so they just clipped over my teeth so there was nothing in my palate. It didn’t affect the way I spoke. It just made me look really unattractive,” Buzbee described. “The [Stepsister teeth] were big, buck teeth with a big space in between. I still have them. They’re in my makeup kit. I did it for FDR the first time. I have really white teeth and his are not quite so white, so I made them darker.”

Although he decided to forgo the prosthetics this time, there are items that help shape Buzbee into FDR’s likeness. His 1930s style brown and blue suits have stayed consistent over the years and help to complete the President’s look. In addition to signature accessories, FDR is well remembered for the wheelchair he used following paralysis caused by polio before he turned 40.

“You have to act from the waist up,” Buzbee said of incorporating the mobility aid. “I’ve got a great, big, prop cigarette holder, I’ve got glasses, so the wheelchair is just one more prop.”

Buzbee has earned his seat at to the upcoming SLT ANNIE reunion five times over. Cast, crew, orchestra, and creative teams will gather to commemorate previous productions in 1983, 1993, 2002, and 2012. Buzbee has even appeared in the sequel, ANNIE WARBUCKS.

Few roles can utilize the same actor over more than four decades. “I did require a little more makeup at the beginning than I do now,” Buzbee laughed. Although the role is familiar to Buzbee, he prepares for the part just like any other actor in the cast. He notes that the script actually receives small changes from the publisher as the years go by, but he learns the part fresh each time.

“Every time is different. Every time is just completely different,” Buzbee insisted. “I don’t know that I could ever say this was my favorite show or this was my favorite show, but the first one was really, really, really special. But they’ve all been special to me in my own way.”

The initial 1983 run of ANNIE was a hallmark event in SLT history. The beloved classic remains popular, but Buzbee recalls that Springfield was in a fervor to catch the first production. Interest drew large crowds and introduced a new generation of theatergoers and volunteers to the Landers.

“That first time we did ANNIE, it was unbelievable,” Buzbee marveled. “People were lined up way down Walnut [Street] to buy tickets. I think we added four or five performances. It was an amazing time. It was such a boost for the theatre because I think people who had never been to the theatre came to see ANNIE and then thought, ‘Hey! What have we got here?’”

Beyond the joy of performing, Buzbee has developed very special friendships through his SLT involvement. He has appeared in more than two dozen shows in the area and still feels like it’s a great place to meet and connect with people.

“The camaraderie – it’s amazing how a group of people come together that have maybe never, ever been together before. How within just a matter of time they meld into a family. In the theatre, you get to know people very quickly,” he shared.

One of the most meaningful relationships he built was with the late Mick Denniston who served for many years as SLT’s executive director. Denniston cast Buzbee in three productions of ANNIE. The director often credited SLT’s financial success to the popular show calling Little Theatre “The house that ANNIE built.” Buzbee remembers Denniston as a “best friend”.

“So many wonderful things happened when he was there,” Buzbee reflected. “He was an amazing director, a fabulous person, and he was just a beacon of our community. He was everywhere. When he was everywhere, that made Little Theatre be everywhere.”

Buzbee retired from his dental practice last October, but he says he loves to stay busy and is now teaching at OTC. As an Air Force veteran and frequent community volunteer, Buzbee explained he’s “not one to sit around”. Being at the theatre always proves to be a joyful place for Buzbee to spend his time. He says he is looking forward to sharing the stage with the three young actresses playing Annie – Adelade Allen, Ava Bartlett, and Morgan Baum.

“You know, it’s really fun. They’re all just great kids. They’re great actors,” Buzbee praised. “Each one of them is just a little bit different, but they fit right in. They’re so adaptable. That’s what’s amazing to me.”

Tickets are now available to see ANNIE live on stage September 12 – 28 at the Landers Theatre.