AT THIS PERFORMANCEa?? returns to The Green Room 42 featuring Standbys and Understudies from LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS; HAMILTON; THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL and WICKED on MONDAY, DECEMBER 2ND at 7PM.
The first clue that ANASTASIA was going to be different than what I expected was a note on the title page reading, “Inspired by the Twentieth Century Fox Motion Pictures.” Plural? A savvy journalist, I quickly asked Siri to bring up the imdb page for “Anastasia”. Turns out Fox made ANASTASIA twice, the 1997 animated movie and a 1957 film that scored Ingrid Bergman's second Oscar and marked Helen Hayes' transition to the big screen. And it turns out the musical version has more in common with LES MISERABLES and RAGTIME than BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Gone is the hell-wizard Rasputin, his talking fruit bat sidekick, and the singing demon caterpillars. At intermission, I asked my third grade niece, Adalyn, how she was liking it. “It's awesome…it's real people, like no Beast or anything. No animals.” We decide that Disney staged musicals are great but more it's more impressive when you can achieve the magic without a story that departs from reality. ANASTASIA is historical fiction hypothetical. It poses a “what if…?” that a daughter of the last czar of Russia (The Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna) escaped when the czar's family was executed in 1918. Rumors persisted for decades that Anastasia did, in fact, escape. In 2007, DNA testing confirmed the remains of all four Grand Duchesses were in the Imperial grave. In this version, Terrence McNalley's book follows Anastasia's rediscovery of her identity after surviving the attack on her family and sustaining some plot enabling amnesia. Renamed “Anya” she grows up and makes a life in post-Revolution Russia. Anastasia's grandmother, the Dowager Empress (in a staggeringly moving performance by Joy Franz) has fled to France and offered a cash reward for anyone escorting the rumored alive Anastasia to Paris. The wily duo Vlad (Edward Staudenmayer) and Dmitry (Jake Levy) pull a My Fair Lady style makeover on Anya to collect the Dowager's prize. They are pursued by Gleb (Jason Michael Evans). A Soviet officer drawn to Anya romantically but tasked with finding and eliminating the last Romanov. Anya's memory becomes somewhat coaxed back, but the Dowager has stopped seeing Anastasia claimants after too much heart-break from countless frauds. It sounds dark, but with high-tech digital scenery and inspired performances across the cast it is delightful. Stephen Flaherty (Music) and Lynn Ahrens (Lyrics), responsible for bringing us RAGTIME, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, LUCKY STIFF, as well as the Oscar nominated songs carried over from the animated film. ANASTASIA is a perfect context for this pair. “Stay, I Pray You” (my favorite song of the evening) is evocative of RAGTIME's “New Music”. The two songs literally race my heart in a strangely specific way. My real test of a National Tour at Gammage is how fast I get the music playing in my car on the way home. At ANASTASIA I was already finding, “Stay, I Pray You” walking through the parking lot. The rest of the score is similarly haunting. Lila Coogan, as Anya/Anastasia, powers through the score with nuance, clarity, and passion. Tari Kelly, as Countess Lily, and Stadenmayer (Vlad) were Adalyn's favorite performances and I have to agree. This incredibly gifted pair take the “triple threat” designation (singer, dancer, actor) and go quadruple with the addition of flawless comic timing. The choreography by Peggy Hickey is masterful. It somehow combines inventive and traditional throughout and the ten-minute slice of “Swan Lake” infused into “Quartet at the Ballet” is the highlight of the second act. It's a fun-size version that gets an under-represented art form onto the plate. This kind of trope often means the plot putting the plot on hold. But here, it is the connective tissue between Anya, Dmitry, the Dowager, and Gleb as they each bring us up to speed heading into the show's climax. Ultimately, the show's success comes from applying a higher artistic standard to the “previously-animated-film-now-theatrically-staged” genre. It cashes in on the name draw of the 1997 film then gives the viewer something much more enriched than what they think they are coming to see.
We headed to St. Petersburg yesterday for an inside look at the Anastasia tour with Jake Levy as he took over BroadwayWorld's Instagram Story! So in case you missed it (or just want to relive all of the fun and excitement), we compiled clips for you to enjoy. Check it all out!
Jake Levy has assumed the role of Dmitry on the national tour of Anastasia beginning on October 8th at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles.
Casting has been announced for the national tour of ANASTASIA, coming to Segerstrom Center for the Arts November 5 a?" 17, 2019 in Segerstrom Hall. Rising theater star Jake Levy makes his national tour debut in the principal role of Dmitry.
It's no rumor: the Anastasia tour's new Dmitry, Jake Levy, is taking over BroadwayWorld's Instagram Story this Saturday, October 19th, at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre! Be sure to tune in throughout the day to get a peek behind the scenes with this kid on the fly on a two-show day! You're not gonna want to miss being welcomed to his Petersburg!
Based on the 1997 animated film 'Anastasia', Anastasia the New Broadway Musical, bowing on broadway in 2017, is an entertaining whirlwind of sight and sound. It will make you laugh and cry. You will undoubtedly leave the theatre with a lasting impression of grande theatricality and how it weaves its magic into our humdrum lives. Plus, it is based on fact. Currently onstage at the Hollywood Pantages until October 27 only, this Anastasia has the makings of a great big hit.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra's CHICAGO IN CONCERT is a thrilling reimagination of a familiar favorite, one that excites with its inventiveness while remaining faithful to the story and sounds audiences have come to hold near and dear to their hearts.
Columbia Artists will present Chicago The Musical - In Concert, premiering with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in Dallas, TX tonight, October 4, 2019.
ANASTASIA, the musical is a charming mix of fairytale and history lesson, all accented by some truly stunning costumes, playing at the San Diego Civic Theatre through October 6th.
AT THIS PERFORMANCEa?? celebrates its 16th anniversary and returns to The Green Room 42 featuring Standbys and Understudies from Moulin Rouge; Ain't Too Proud; Broadway Bounty Hunter; Frozen; Kiss Me, Kate; Be More Chill; Alice By Heart; School Of Rock; and Bandstand on Monday, October 7th at 7pm.
Edward Staudenmayer, plays the crafty courtier Vlad in the production of ANASTASIA that is bringing this musical about family, memories, adventure, and more to Broadway San Diego from October 1st a?' October 6th
Welcome to his Petersburg! As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Jake Levy is set to assume the role of Dmitry on the national tour of Anastasia beginning on October 8th at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. To prepare you to meet the kid on the fly, we're getting to know the star by looking at some of his most memorable performances. Check it all out!
ANASTASIA, announced today that rising theater star, Jake Levy, will assume the principal role of Dmitry beginning October 8, 2019, in Los Angeles, CA. This will mark Jake's naDonal tour debut as the North American tour embarks on its second season.
The persistent legend, mystique and fascination of what may have happened to Anastasia during Russia's revolution finds a new home in the musical ANASTASIA
AT THIS PERFORMANCEa?? returns to The Green Room 42 featuring Standbys and Understudies from AIN'T TOO PROUD; BROADWAY BOUNTY HUNTER; WICKED; KISS ME KATE; BE MORE CHILL; A STRANGE LOOP and ANASTASIA on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH at 7 PM.
Let's be real -- if you're catching the musical Anastasia, it has more to do with your fixation with the 1997 animated movie than your fascination with Russian history.
ANASTASIA rolls into town this week with Tari Kelly, an East High School alum, who began her career here in Madison on the well-worn stages of community theatre.
AT THIS PERFORMANCEa?? returns to The Green Room 42 featuring Standbys and Understudies from AIN'T TOO PROUD: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS; THE PROM; BE MORE CHILL; OKLAHOMA!; CHICAGO; BEETLEJUICE; KISS ME KATE and AVENUE Q on MONDAY, AUGUST 5TH at 7 PM.
This Anastasia is impeccably performed, gorgeously rendered, and entertaining to be sure. Still, to me, the new songs don't soar alongside the old ones. I wonder how I'd feel if I didn't already know those old songs by heart. That's the risk the show's creators took in translating Anastasia for Broadway.
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