Inspired by the beloved films, the romantic and adventure-filled new musical Anastasia comes to Broadway.
From the Tony Award-winning creators of the Broadway classic Ragtime, this dazzling show transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.
Anastasia features a book by celebrated playwright Terrence McNally and a lush, new score by Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics). Tony Award-winning director Darko Tresnjak directs.
In its yearlong journey from Hartford to Broadway, 'Anastasia' has found itself. When this sweet-natured musical of self-discovery premiered a year ago at Hartford Stage, it was just as lush and romantic, but underneath those gorgeous trappings it seemed uneven, insincere, unsure of itself. At the Broadhurst Theatre, where it opened Monday night, the show is now fluid, smooth and clear-headed. 'Anastasia' has not fundamentally changed. But dozens of small fixes have made it a much sharper show. Had the Hartford Stage version hurried to Broadway sooner without these tweaks - or heaven forbid, had not tried out in Hartford at all - the show's stylistic inconsistencies would have doomed it. It speaks and sings now with a stronger voice.
It bewilders me that in making stage musicals from animated or otherwise fantastical movies, adaptors seem to think they can remain outside history. Perhaps the creative team of Anastasia held meetings whose agenda items included such items as Finessing the Romanovs. (There is exactly one reference to their possible contribution to Russia's problems.) You see why this must have seemed necessary; otherwise, Anastasia's self-discovery could not be the climax of her hero's journey, and her beautiful tiara might seem a tad undeserved, even to the Fanastasias. All her sorrowful warbling about the past - well sung, if little else, by Christy Altomare - would be sickening instead of heart-catching. Yet this does not excuse Anastasia, on the lightweight end of the scale, any more than it did Evita on the heavy. You can't have your revolution and eat it too.
2016 | Regional (US) |
Hartford Stage World Premiere Production Regional (US) |
2017 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2018 | US Tour |
US Tour US Tour |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Christy Altomare |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical | Terrence McNally |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical | Linda Cho |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Mary Beth Peil |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Music | Stephen Flaherty |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Musical | Anastasia |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations | Doug Besterman |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Projection Design | Aaron Rhyne |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical | Peter Hylenski |
2017 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Caroline O'Connor |
2017 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Broadway of Off-Broadway Musical | Anastasia |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Christy Altomare |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Terrence McNally |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) | Linda Cho |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Darko Tresnjak |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | John Bolton |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Caroline O'Connor |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Mary Beth Peil |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Donald Holder |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Musical | Anastasia |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Stephen Flaherty |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations | Doug Besterman |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Projection Design (Play or Musical) | Aaron Rhyne |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Set Design (Play or Musical) | Alexander Dodge |
2017 | Theatre World Awards | Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance | Christy Altomare |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Musical | Linda Cho |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Mary Beth Peil |
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