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! style="width:10%;"| Result
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
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| rowspan="34" |2017
| rowspan="51" |2017
| rowspan="2" |[[Tony Award]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/The-2017-Tony-Awards-And-the-Nominees-Are-Updating-LIVE-20170502|title=The 2017 Tony Awards - And the Nominees Are... Complete List! NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 and HELLO, DOLLY! Lead Pack|last=|first=|date=2017-05-02|work=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=2017-05-02|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" |[[Tony Award]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/The-2017-Tony-Awards-And-the-Nominees-Are-Updating-LIVE-20170502|title=The 2017 Tony Awards - And the Nominees Are... Complete List! NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 and HELLO, DOLLY! Lead Pack|last=|first=|date=2017-05-02|work=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=2017-05-02|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|language=en}}</ref>
|[[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical|Best Featured Actress in a Musical]]
|[[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical|Best Featured Actress in a Musical]]
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|Christy Altomare and Derek Klena
|Christy Altomare and Derek Klena
|{{pending}}
|{{pending}}
|-
| rowspan="17" |Theater Fans' Choice Awards
|Best Book of a Musical
|Terrence McNally
|Pending
|-
|Best Choreography
|Peggy Hickey
|Pending
|-
|Best Costume Design
|Linda Cho
|Pending
|-
|Best Direction of a Musical
|Darko Tresnjak
|Pending
|-
| rowspan="3" |Best Featured Actor in a Musical
|Derek Klena
|Pending
|-
|Ramin Karimloo
|Pending
|-
|John Bolton
|Pending
|-
| rowspan="2" |Best Featured Actress in a Musical
|Caroline O'Connor
|Pending
|-
|Mary Beth Peil
|Pending
|-
|Best Leading Actress in a Musical
|Christy Altomare
|Pending
|-
| colspan="2" |Broadway's Backbone Best Musical Ensemble
|Pending
|-
|Best Lighting Design
|Donald Holder
|Pending
|-
| colspan="2" |Best Musical
|Pending
|-
|Best Orchestrations
|Doug Besterman
|Pending
|-
|Best Score
|Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens
|Pending
|-
|Best Scenic Design
|Alexander Dodge
|Pending
|-
|Best Sound Design of a Musical
|Peter Hylenski
|Pending
|}
|}


Revision as of 11:42, 20 May 2017

Anastasia
File:Anastasiamusical.jpg
Artwork from the Broadway Production
MusicStephen Flaherty
LyricsLynn Ahrens
BookTerrence McNally
SettingRussia & France
Basis1997 film Anastasia
PremiereMay 27, 2016: Hartford Stage, Hartford, Connecticut
Productions2016 Hartford
2017 Broadway
Awards2016 Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Best Musical

Anastasia is a musical with music and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, and a book by Terrence McNally. Based on the 1997 film of the same name, the musical tells the story of the legend of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, which claims that she, in fact, escaped the execution of her family. Anastasia, who appears in the plot as an amnesiac orphan named Anya, hopes to find some trace of her family and sides with conmen who wish to take advantage of her likeness to the Grand Duchess.

Production

A reading was held in 2012, featuring Kelli Barret as Anya (Anastasia), Patrick Page as Vladimir, Angela Lansbury as the Empress Maria and Aaron Tveit as Dimitri.[1] A workshop was held on June 12, 2015, in New York City workshop, and included Elena Shaddow as Anya, Ramin Karimloo as Gleb Vaganov, a new role, and Douglas Sills as Vlad.[2]

The original stage production of Anastasia premiered at Hartford Stage in Hartford, Connecticut on May 13, 2016 (previews), with direction by Darko Tresnjak and choreography by Peggy Hickey, and starring Christy Altomare and Derek Klena as Anya and Dmitry, respectively.[3]

The musical opened on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre on March 23, 2017, in previews, officially on April 24, 2017, featuring most of the original Hartford principal cast.[4][5][6]

Director Tresnjak explained: "We’ve kept, I think, six songs from the movie, but there are 16 new numbers. We’ve kept the best parts of the animated movie, but it really is a new musical."[2] The musical also adds characters not in the film.[4] Additionally, Act 1 is set in Russia and Act 2 in Paris, “which was everything modern Soviet Russia was not: free, expressive, creative, no barriers,” according to McNally.[7] The production was met with mixed to positive reviews by critics, citing uneven plots and an overly long running time as primary issues. [8]

Synopsis

Prologue

Saint Petersburg: 1907-1917

In 1907 St. Petersburg, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna is preparing to move to Paris. Her youngest granddaughter, Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov, is saddened that her “nana” is moving and begs Maria to take her to Paris with her. The Dowager Empress comforts her by promising her that she’ll live in Paris with her when she’s older, going to the ballet every night and walking on Pont Alexandre III, a bridge named after Anastasia’s deceased grandfather. Before she leaves, the Dowager Empress gives Anastasia a special music box that plays their lullaby (“Once Upon a December-Prologue”). Anastasia chases after her nana as she departs, but her father, Nicholas, the Tsar of Russia, distracts her by dancing and pretending to hold a ball. Ten years later, Anastasia is now a beautiful teenager, who is celebrating an annual ball with her parents, her three older sisters, Olga, Maria, & Tatiana, and her little brother, Alexei. But, the royal family's happy lives come to an end when the Bolsheviks invade their palace. The Romanovs attempt to escape, but end up being captured off-stage. As they escape, Anastasia leaves them behind to retrieve her music box but gets shot by the Bolsheviks in capture. The Romanov family is confirmed to be dead and the Dowager Empress mourns her loss (“Dance of the Romanovs”).

Act 1

Leningrad (Saint Petersburg): 1927

Gleb Vaganov, a general for the Bolsheviks who now controls Russia, announces to the gloomy Russians that the now-poor Saint Petersburg has been renamed Leningrad, and he promises a bright and peaceful future. The Russians protest this change but are uplifted by a rumor that Anastasia may have survived the Bolshevik attacks. Two wanted con men, the handsome young Dmitry and an ex-member of the Royal Court named Vlad Popov, hear the rumors and brainstorm “the biggest con in history”, in which they will groom a naive girl to become Anastasia in order to extract money from the Dowager Empress (“A Rumor in St. Petersburg"). Behind Gleb’s back, Dmitry and Vlad hold unsuccessful auditions for the scheme at the theater in the abandoned Yusupov Palace. Just as they are about to give up hope of finding a suitable imposter, a young street sweeper named Anya walks in to ask Dmitry about paperwork to get tickets for Paris. Vlad and Dmitry dismiss her, but Anya vaguely remembers that she was at the theater long ago and talks of a time when she saw a play there. Dmitry and Vlad become fascinated as Anya explains that she doesn’t remember who she is and has very little memories of her past (“In My Dreams”). Amazed by her memory loss and resemblance to Anastasia, they select Anya as their impostor.

At the capitol, government workers sort through rumors and reports for any that require further action. Three bitter actresses report Anya, Dmitry, and Vlad's plot to Gleb, but he dismisses them and files a case for Anya (“The Rumors Never End”). Back at the palace, Vlad and Dmitry groom a feisty Anya to become Anastasia through history, dining, and dancing lessons. Months later, Anya is poised to meet the Dowager Empress (“Learn to Do It”) when she is arrested in the streets and turned over to Gleb. Gleb, having feelings for her, warn her about the consequences of pretending to be Anastasia and tries to convince her that Anastasia is really dead. He assumes this because his father was the one who shot the Romanovs and living across the street from Ipatiev House, Gleb, as a boy, heard the gunshots and their screams. However, Gleb notices that Anya has the "Romanov eyes" and realizes that Anya could be Anastasia. He lets her off with a warning ("The Neva Flows").

Anya reunites with Dmitry and they are attacked by his old con partners, whom they must fight off (“The Neva Flows” Reprise). Dmitry is impressed by her fighting skills and when Anya notes that he has it much easier as a boy, Dmitry dismisses that claim. He explains that his father was a revolutionary against the Bolsheviks and was killed in one of their camps and with his mother being dead, he had to take care of himself. (“My Petersburg”). Dmitry begins to trust her enough to show her a broken music box, unaware it is the memento that was given to Anastasia by the Dowager Empress. Anya winds the box and begins to vaguely remember her past, including a royal family ball many years ago (“Once Upon a December”). In return, Anya gives Dmitry her most prized possession, a diamond that was found sewn to her dress when she was discovered as a girl (“A Secret She Kept”). They reunite with Vlad and Anya gives them the diamond to obtain tickets to Paris.

At the train station, Count Ipolitov recognizes Anya as Anastasia and kisses her hand. As they board the train to Paris, Count Ipolitov leads everyone in a prayer of farewell to Russia (“Stay, I Pray You”). During the train ride, Anya, Dmitry, and Vlad reflect on what they hope to accomplish in Paris: Anya hoping to discover that she is actually Anastasia, Dmitry’s desire for the money, and Vlad hoping to win back Countess Lily Malevsky-Malevitch ("Sophie" in the 1997 animated film), the Dowager Empress’s lady-in-waiting with whom he had an affair (“We’ll Go From There”). Count Ipolitov is fatally shot by the police for illegally boarding the train. Triggered by the gunfire, Anya experiences an emotional breakdown and Dmitry comforts her. The police officers then go after them since they are wanted criminals in Russia and they jump off the train, narrowly avoiding capture.

As they travel across Russia by foot, the head general of the Bolsheviks, Gorlinsky, orders Gleb to follow Anya and kill her (“Traveling Sequence”). Gleb agrees to the task, but he realizes that he is in love with Anya and questions his heart ("Still"). Anya, Vlad, and Dmitry finally arrive in France, and as they travel to Paris, Anya summons the courage to continue on and hopes that she will finally discover who she is (“Journey to the Past”).

Act 2

Paris: 1927

Anya, Vlad, and Dmitry arrive in Paris and are swept up by the sounds and the sights of the city (“Paris Holds the Key (to Your Heart)”). When Vlad and Dmitry go off on their own, Anya visits the Pont Alexandre III bridge and feels a strong connection to it and starts to vaguely remember her grandmother's promise (“Crossing a Bridge”).

Now a bitter, elderly woman, the Dowager Empress reads the letters of various Anastasia impersonators and, heartbroken, gives up hope of finding Anastasia (“Closing the Door”). As Gleb arrives in Paris, Lily parties at the Neva Club, where rich and noble Russians reminisce about the old Russia (“Land of Yesterday”). Lily is reunited with Vlad, with whom she is angry for stealing her jewelry. The two rekindle their scandalous romance and Vlad convinces her to let Anya meet the Dowager Empress at the ballet the next night (“The Countess and the Common Man”). But, Vlad accidentally drops the ballet tickets and Gleb, overhearing their plans, picks up their tickets ('Land of Yesterday Reprise").

At the hotel, Anya has a nightmare about her family and the execution (“A Nightmare”). Dmitry comforts her and recounts a story of how he bowed to Anastasia at a parade as a young boy. Anya vividly remembers this, and the two realize that Anya is indeed the Grand Duchess Anastasia (“In a Crowd of Thousands”).

At the ballet, Vlad suspects that Anya and Dmitry are falling in love and is heartbroken that they can never be together (“Meant to Be”). During the performance of Swan Lake, Anya sees the Dowager Empress and remembers her. The Dowager Empress also sees Anya and recognizes her, but clings to denial. Dmitry and Gleb (who is conflicting to shoot Anya) reflect on their romantic feelings for Anya (“Quartet at the Ballet”).

After the ballet, Lily also recognizes Anya as Anastasia and immediately takes her to the Dowager Empress. Dmitry is anxious about the meeting and realizes that he is in love with Anya, but knows he must let her go to her family (“Everything to Win”). Anya leaves the meeting enraged, having learned from the Dowager Empress that Vlad and Dmitry intended to use her in their scheme for money. As she storms off, Dmitry waits for the Dowager Empress. Marie coldly dismisses him off, but Dmitry disrespectfully stops her. He begs her to see Anya and when she refuses again, he damns her and Russia. Impressed by Dmitry’s courage to stand up to her, she agrees to see Anya.

At their hotel, Anya stops her packing to speak with Marie. She is shocked by the Dowager Empress’s cruelty, asserting that she isn’t the nana that Anya remembered. The Dowager Empress angrily questions Anya about her past and the Romanov Family, but Anya compels her to reflect on the person she has become over last twenty years. Anya suddenly remembers the night that the Dowager Empress left her for Paris. When Anya produces the music box and sings the lullaby, the Dowager Empress finally realizes that Anya is Anastasia and the two embrace, now reunited after twenty years (“Once Upon a December-Reprise”).

A press conference is held the next morning, where Vlad and Lily try to fend off the hungry reporters (“The Press Conference”). Before appearing in public, Anya expresses misgivings about her future life as a princess. The Dowager Empress notices her anxiety and insists that no matter what she chooses, they’ll be together. Anya runs off to think and realizes that she is in love with Dmitry, and decides that she must go after him (“Everything to Win-Reprise”). As she turns to leave, Anya sees that Gleb has slipped in and locked them in the room. She realizes why he is there and Gleb says that he must kill her to complete his father’s mission. Anya now clearly remembers the day her family was killed and, without fear, taunts him to kill her so that she can be with her family. Overcome with emotion and not willing to bear the shame of his father, Gleb is unable to kill Anya ("Still/The Neva Flows Reprises”). Anya comforts Gleb and they call a truce.

Vlad, Lily, and the palace staff search for Anya and the Dowager Empress is joyful, knowing that Anya is now where she belongs. She and Gleb announce to their people that the rumors of Anastasia will now cease. Anya finds Dmitry at Pont Alexandre III, where they embrace. The couple leave Paris together as the spirits of the Romanovs celebrate the life that Anya and Dmitry will have together (“Finale”).

Musical numbers

2016 Hartford Stage Production[3][9]

Titles of songs which appeared in the original 1997 animated film are in bold.


2017 Broadway Production

Titles of songs which appeared in the original 1997 animated film are in bold.
 Renamed from the Hartford production (#)
Not featured in the cast recording (+)[10]

Characters and casts

Character Reading (2012)[1] Workshop (2015)[2][11] Hartford Stage (2016)[12] Original Broadway Cast (2017)[13][14][11]
Anya/Anastasia Kelli Barrett Elena Shaddow Christy Altomare
Dmitry Aaron Tveit Mark Evans Derek Klena
Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna Angela Lansbury Mary Beth Peil
Gleb Vaganov Aaron Lazar Ramin Karimloo Manoel Felciano Ramin Karimloo
Vlad Popov Patrick Page Douglas Sills John Bolton
Countess Lily Malevsky-Malevitch Julie Halston Joanna Glushak Caroline O’Connor
Anastasia, Age 6 / Prince Alexei Romanov Jenna Stulsos Mackenzie Follister Nicole Scimeca
Tsarina Alexandra — Lauren Blackman
Tsar Nicholas II / Count Ipolitov — Benjamin Eakeley Constantine Germanacos
Olga Romanov — — Samantha Sturm Allison Walsh
Tatiana Romanov / Dunya — — Shina Ann Morris
Maria Romanov / Marfa — — Alida Michal Sissy Bell
Anastasia, age 17 / Paulina — — Molly Rushing
Gorlinsky — — Ken Krugman
Count Leopold — — Kevin Ligon Ken Krugman
Odette in Swan Lake — — Alida Michal Allison Walsh
Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake — — Max Clayton Kyle Brown
Von Rothbart in Swan Lake — — Johnny Stellard James A. Pierce III
Russian Doorman — — Kevin Munhall Wes Hart
Hotel Manager — — James Brown III
Josephine Baker — — Shina Ann Morris —
Ernest Hemingway — — Kevin Ligon —
Django Reinhardt — — Johnny Stellard —
Pablo Picasso — — Ken Krugman —
Isadora Duncan — — Lauren Blackman —
Gertrude Stein — — Rayanne Gonzales —
Coco Chanel — — Janet Dickinson —

Awards and honors

2016 Hartford Stage production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2016 Connecticut Critics Circle Awards[15][16] Outstanding Production of a Musical Won
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical Christy Altomare Won
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical John Bolton Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Caroline O'Connor Nominated
Mary Beth Peil Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Musical Darko Tresnjak Won
Outstanding Choreography Peggy Hickey Won
Outstanding Scenic Design Alexander Dodge Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design Linda Cho Won
Outstanding Lighting Design Donald Holder Won
Outstanding Sound Design Brian Ronan Nominated
Outstanding Projection Design Aaron Rhyne Won

2017 Broadway production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2017 Tony Award[17] Best Featured Actress in a Musical Mary Beth Peil Pending
Best Costume Design in a Musical Linda Cho Pending
Drama Desk Awards[18] Outstanding Musical Pending
Outstanding Actress in a Musical Christy Altomare Pending
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Mary Beth Peil Pending
Outstanding Book of a Musical Terrence McNally Pending
Outstanding Music Stephen Flaherty Pending
Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical Linda Cho Pending
Outstanding Orchestrations Doug Besterman Pending
Outstanding Projection Design Aaron Rhyne Pending
Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical Peter Hylenski Pending
Drama League Award[19] Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical Pending
Distinguished Performance Award Caroline O'Connor Pending
Outer Critics Circle Award[20] Outstanding New Broadway Musical Nominated
Outstanding Actress in a Musical Christy Altomare Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical John Bolton Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Caroline O'Connor Nominated
Mary Beth Peil Nominated
Outstanding Book of a Musical Terrence McNally Nominated
Outstanding New Score Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Musical Darko Tresnjak Nominated
Outstanding Set Design Alexander Dodge Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design Linda Cho Nominated
Outstanding Lighting Design Donald Holder Nominated
Outstanding Projection Design Aaron Rhyne Won
Outstanding Orchestrations Doug Besterman Nominated
Theatre World Award Outstanding Broadway Debut Performance Christy Altomare Honoree
Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography[21] Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show John Bolton Pending
Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards Favorite New Musical Pending
Favorite Leading Actress in a Musical Christy Altomare Pending
Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical Ramin Karimloo Pending
Derek Klena Pending
Favorite Funny Performance John Bolton Pending
Favorite Onstage Pair Christy Altomare and Derek Klena Pending
Theater Fans' Choice Awards Best Book of a Musical Terrence McNally Pending
Best Choreography Peggy Hickey Pending
Best Costume Design Linda Cho Pending
Best Direction of a Musical Darko Tresnjak Pending
Best Featured Actor in a Musical Derek Klena Pending
Ramin Karimloo Pending
John Bolton Pending
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Caroline O'Connor Pending
Mary Beth Peil Pending
Best Leading Actress in a Musical Christy Altomare Pending
Broadway's Backbone Best Musical Ensemble Pending
Best Lighting Design Donald Holder Pending
Best Musical Pending
Best Orchestrations Doug Besterman Pending
Best Score Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens Pending
Best Scenic Design Alexander Dodge Pending
Best Sound Design of a Musical Peter Hylenski Pending

References

  1. ^ a b "Exclusive: Crawford, Barrett, Halston, Page Join Tveit, Lansbury, Lazar in ANASTASIA Reading!". broadwayworld.com. BroadwayWorld. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Viagas, Robert (1 March 2016). "Tony-Winning Director Says Ahrens and Flaherty's Stage Anastasia Will Be a Whole "New Musical"". playbill.com. Playbill. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Anastasia". hartfordstage.org.com. Hartford Stage. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  4. ^ a b Hetrick, Adam. "Broadway-Bound Anastasia Begins Previews After Delay", Playbill, May 13, 2016
  5. ^ Hetrick, Adam. "Cast and Theatre Set for Broadway’s 'Anastasia' " Playbill, June 28, 2016
  6. ^ Hetrick, Adam. " 'Anastasia' Begins Broadway Previews March 23" Playbill, March 23, 2017
  7. ^ Buchwald, Linda. " 'Anastasia,’ All Grown Up With Somewhere to Go" American Theatre, June 3, 2016
  8. ^ "Broadway World - Critics Roundup". Broadway World. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  9. ^ "Anastasia Songs" (PDF). hartfordstage.org.com. Hartford Stage. May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  10. ^ http://www.broadwayrecords.com/cds/anastasia-original-broadway-cast-recording
  11. ^ a b "Cast and Creative" anastasiabroadway.com
  12. ^ Viagas, Robert (9 March 2016). "Cast Announced for Ahrens and Flaherty's Stage Anastasia". playbill.com. Playbill. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  13. ^ Hetrick, Adam (October 6, 2016). "Mary Beth Peil Returns for Broadway's Anastasia". playbill.com. Playbill.
  14. ^ "Have You Heard 'Anastasia' Has Found Its Full Broadway Cast" broadwayworld.com, January 11, 2017
  15. ^ "CT Critics Announce Award Nominations wordpress.com
  16. ^ "Connecticut Critics Circle Awards americantheatre.org, June 14, 2016
  17. ^ "The 2017 Tony Awards - And the Nominees Are... Complete List! NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 and HELLO, DOLLY! Lead Pack". BroadwayWorld.com. 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2017-05-02. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  18. ^ "2017 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  19. ^ "Breaking: DEAR EVAN HANSEN, GREAT COMET & More Earn Drama League Awards Nominations; Check Out the Full List!". BroadwayWorld.com. 2017-04-19. Retrieved 2017-04-19. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  20. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Nominations Announced: Hello, Dolly!, Anastasia, Groundhog Day and More!". BroadwayWorld.com. 2017-04-25. Retrieved 2017-04-25. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  21. ^ "BANDSTAND, CATS, HOLIDAY INN, SWEET CHARITY Among 2017 Chita Rivera Award Nominees". BroadwayWorld.com. 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-02. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  • Internet Broadway Database
  • Official Site Broadway
  • Official website
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