Why not take a “Journey to the Past” with the Broadway premiere of Anastasia? Based on Twentieth Century Fox’s 1997 animated classic (as well as the 1956 Ingird Bergman-led, live action film), the Broadway production officially opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on April 24, 2017, following previews from March 23, and established itself almost instantly as a fan favorite. It also made a bona fide star out of its leading lady and original cast member Christy Altomare as Anya/Anastasia, accompanied by strong, supportive performances from Derek Klena and Ramin Karimloo as Dmitry and Gleb, respectively. Original cast member Mary Beth Peil also earned a Tony nomination for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical” for her emotional and nuanced portrayal of the Dowager Empress.
The musical’s illustrious creative team saw the reunion of the Tony Award-winning writers of Ragtime, as Terrence McNally agreed to write the book and team up once again with the song-writing team of composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens. Having already earned two Oscar nominations for the animated movie (for “Original Score” and “Original Song” for “Journey to the Past”) in 1998, this gave the duo of Ahrens and Flaherty the perfect opportunity to re-visit their prized material and extend it for a full-length Broadway production. And with the Tony Award-winning director of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder Darko Tresnjak at the helm, the musical was always going to be in good hands.
With stunning, Drama Desk Award-winning projections by Aaron Rhyne and lavish, Tony-nominated costumes by Linda Cho, the Broadway production is a feast for the eyes, transporting the audience directly to early twentieth century Saint Petersburg in Act I and to the year of 1927 in Paris in Act II.
Aside from the title character’s epic “Journey to the Past” number, the musical also features the much-loved songs “A Rumor in St. Petersburg”, “Paris Holds the Key (To Your Heart)”, and the hauntingly beautiful “Once Upon a December”.
Discover the legend of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia for yourselves in a way that only Broadway can bring to life.
(Photos by Matthew Murphy / Evan Zimmerman / MurphyMade)
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