On Broadway, many stage actors have a routine before each show to bring them good luck. For Sunny, the day begins with a quiet walk through Central Park. Then she meets backstage with actress Lilla Crawford to go over their scenes. Lilla and Sunny are the stars of the newest Broadway production of the musical Annie, now playing at the Palace Theatre, in New York City. Lilla, 11, plays redheaded orphan Annie. Annie meets Sandy, played by Sunny, when she saves the stray pooch from dogcatchers and sings the show's popular song "Tomorrow."

From Shelter to Stage

Sunny got her big break thanks to animal trainer Bill Berloni, who adopted her from an animal shelter in Houston, Texas. The trainer has a long history with Annie. In 1976, Berloni found a shelter dog to play the role of Sandy in the hit show's first production.

Since then, Berloni has adopted shelter dogs to play Sandy in many productions of Annie. He tells the pups' tales in his book Broadway Tails: Heartfelt Stories of Rescued Dogs Who Became Showbiz Superstars. "I've had so many wonderful dogs," Berloni told TFK. "Each one brings something different to the role of Sandy."

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