(Image Credit: Evan Zimmerman, MurphyMade.)
By: Rachel Hawkins, NDG Staff Writer
Do you remember wanting to be a princess at the age of three? Putting on sparkly dresses, singing songs and having an adventure? Well, after seeing this production, you’ll want to relieve those memories all over again.
Anastasia, The New Broadway Musical opened in Dallas on Feb. 19 and will run until March 3 at Music Hall, in Fair Park.
Originally, this magical tale of the Russian Empire open in 2017 in New York and was acclaimed to be a sweeping adventure, romance and historical epic whose fine craftsmanship will satisfy musical-theater fans.
Anastasia, a Broadway musical inspired by the animated 1997 Don Bluth film, is a loose adaptation and inspiration of the story of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, in which her family escapes execution. In the year of 1916, the musical follows an orphan named Anya. Although she has lost most of her memories, she begins to share thoughts of the life she knew before.
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.
Anya, played by Lila Coogan, along with Stephen Brower as Dmitry, Edward Staudenmayer as Vlad, Jason Michael Evens as Gleb, Joy Franz as Dowager Empress, and Tari Kelly as Countess Lily, them and the entire ensemble all give a wonderful and colorful performance which will keep your attention until the end.
The lighting design and set design alone will keep you wanting more. From the months of relentless hard work and practicing, it definitely shows in the show. Each scene in the production are visually appealing and captivating from the traveling train scene to the opera at the ballet.
While the musical itself does change a few things to stay more realistic, there are a couple of parts lovers of the original movie will notice. Songs like “A Rumor in St. Petersburg”, “Learn to Do It”, “Once Upon a December”, “Journey to the Past”, and “Paris Holds the Key (To Your Heart)”, can be found in this musical.
The choreography is nothing short of amazing. From the musical numbers like the traveling scene’s “We’ll Go From There” to the Neva Club’s “Land of Yesterday” or even “Quartet at the Ballet,” you will experience the cast members dancing all over the stage with their colorful costumes.
The live orchestra, along with the sound design, and costume design was the icing on the cake. The (mostly) original score directed by Tony Award-winning director Darko Tresnjak, sparkly ball gown dresses, and the never-ending changes of scenery, Anastasia will leave you wanting more.
