The Nerds of Color knows all about a “Hard Knock Life” since we named a podcast after the classic song from Annie. On December 2, it’ll be a hard knock life for the whole world as NBC brings the Broadway classic to live television with Annie Live!

As the NOC’s official Kid Reporter, I got to sit down with the cast of the show — including Annie herself, Celina Smith! — to ask them what it’s like to bring this staple of musical theater to a whole new generation on NBC.