Toni Ann Gisondi
Encyclopedia
Toni Ann Gisondi is a former child actress, best known for playing Molly—the youngest orphan—in the 1982 film version
of the musical Annie
.
. Her father was a special education teacher at D'Ippolito Intermediate School in Vineland, New Jersey
, and served as a drama coach for the school's production of On Broadway
.
in the title role. She was nominated for "Best Young Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture" in the 1981-1982 Young Artist Awards, and merits a mention in the 2002 edition of the St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture, for her "sweet" performance.
She also performed on the best-selling soundtrack album
to the movie of Annie and went on to act in a made-for-TV movie, The Children's Story
, also in 1982, in which she played a student.
She continues to do local theater in New Jersey with her daughters, and also sings at wedding ceremonies.
Toni currently works as a substitute teacher in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
.
She was originally cast to star in The Firestarters.
Annie (film)
Annie is a 1982 American musical film directed by John Huston and choreographed by Arlene Phillips. The film is an adaption of the 1977 stage musical of the same name, which in turn was based on the 1924 Little Orphan Annie comic strip by Harold Gray. The movie features music by Charles Strouse,...
of the musical Annie
Annie (musical)
Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years with a blonde Annie as the poster...
.
Early life
Toni Ann Gisondi was born on January 1, 1975, in Scullville, New JerseyEgg Harbor Township, New Jersey
Egg Harbor Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 43,323, a growth of more than 40% since the previous enumeration....
. Her father was a special education teacher at D'Ippolito Intermediate School in Vineland, New Jersey
Vineland, New Jersey
Vineland is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 60,724...
, and served as a drama coach for the school's production of On Broadway
On Broadway
"On Broadway" is a song written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil in collaboration with the team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.-Composition:...
.
Acting career
Toni Ann was six when she was picked for the role of Molly in the 1982 film version of the musical Annie, which starred Aileen QuinnAileen Quinn
Aileen Marie Quinn is an American actress. She is best-known for having played the title role in the film Annie .-Biography:...
in the title role. She was nominated for "Best Young Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture" in the 1981-1982 Young Artist Awards, and merits a mention in the 2002 edition of the St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture, for her "sweet" performance.
She also performed on the best-selling soundtrack album
Annie (1982 film soundtrack)
Annie is a soundtrack album for the 1982 film of the same name.-Track listing:# "Tomorrow" – 1:37# "Maybe" – 2:00# "It's the Hard-Knock Life" – 3:42...
to the movie of Annie and went on to act in a made-for-TV movie, The Children's Story
The Children's Story
The Children's Story is a short story written by James Clavell in 1963 and published in 1981. It is also the title of a 1982 short film based upon the story. As of April 2010, this book is still in print.-Plot summary:...
, also in 1982, in which she played a student.
She continues to do local theater in New Jersey with her daughters, and also sings at wedding ceremonies.
Personal life
Toni Ann Gisondi is married to Theodore Pugliese and the couple have two daughters, Molly Marie and Melody Rose. Molly, who was born on November 1, 2000, shares her name with the orphan Toni Ann played in Annie.Toni currently works as a substitute teacher in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
Egg Harbor Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 43,323, a growth of more than 40% since the previous enumeration....
.
She was originally cast to star in The Firestarters.
External links
- Annieorphans.com:http://www.annieorphans.com/notes/index/show?noteKey=Orphan_Info.
- Jon Merrill's Annie movie trivia:http://www.hingepepper.com/anniemovie.htm
- The 2008 Barnes and Noble "Life After Tomorrow Reunion," which Gisondi attended. http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=960799