Di Sisto, who recently contested the national television singing competition The Voice , will join show director Danny Gibson, choreographer Sally Snell and conductor Matt Dudfield to prepare the much-loved musical for the Princess Theatre stage in November.

Di Sisto said she was shocked, but excited to get the call from high school friend Danny Gibson offering her the role.

''I had to double check he had the right person,'' she laughed.

''It's something I've never had the opportunity to do.

''So the challenge popped into my mind and I thought, yep, that would be awesome.''

Di Sisto and Gibson have worked together on musicals in the past, but Di Sisto has always been on stage.

''It'll be interesting to see how we go both working off the stage rather than on it,'' Di Sisto said.

Annie the Musical  is Gibson's directing debut with Encore Theatre Company and he is thrilled about the energy the show is creating.

''For me, it's not just Juliane from The Voice , to me Jules is a confident local musician and a friend,'' Gibson said.

''She's been a person I've wanted to work with professionally for a long time.

''And for the young girls who will take on the roles of the lead orphans, they will be able to be guided by her and see that dedication to the arts can take you anywhere.''

Gibson said the show was ''going to be bigger than Ben Hur'' with big set, big lighting, big musical numbers and a large cast and orchestra.

Auditions for the 80 children and 30 adults roles will be held later this month and early next.

No roles have been pre-cast.