Overview
Synopsis
Based on the beloved animated movie from 20th Century Fox, Anastasia is both a heartwarming and heart-wrenching dive into one of history’s biggest unanswered questions: what happened to Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov? Set amidst the turmoil of the Russian revolution with the Bolshevik regime on the rise, Anya, an amnesiac orphan stranded in what was once the Russian capital, St. Petersburg, is on a quest to rediscover her past which she believes lies in Paris. Joined by a dashing conman, Dmitry, and an ex-aristocrat, Vlad Popov, who want to use Anya to bamboozle the only remaining Romanov, Dowager Empress Marie into believing that Anya is the lost Anastasia, she escapes to Paris with a determined Soviet officer on their heels. Including classic songs from the motion picture like “Journey to the Past” and “Once Upon a December”, Anastasia explores one determined girl’s journey to find home, love, and family as she discovers who she was and embraces who she is meant to be.
Show Information
- Book
- Terrence McNally
- Music
- Stephen Flaherty
- Lyrics
- Lynn Ahrens
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Anastasia (1997 animated film)
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2017
- Genres
- Comedy, Romance, Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- 1927, St. Petersburg, Russia, Paris, France
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Young Adult, Elderly, Adult, Mature Adult, Child Characters, Medium Cast
Context
The stage musical Anastasia is based on the 1997 animated film of the same name. The story has its roots in the persistent rumors that the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia survived assassination at the hands of the Bolsheviks in 1918. After an initial reading and an NYC workshop in 2015, Anastasia premiered at the Hartford Stage in Hartford, CT in 2016. Directed by Darko Tresnjak, the original production starred Christy Altomare as Anya and Derek Klena as Dmitry. The musical
to read the context for Anastasia and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Prologue
It is 1907 and the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna prepares to leave St. Petersburg to travel to Paris. She comforts her granddaughter Anastasia, who is sad to see her go. The Dowager Empress gives Anastasia a music box before she goes (“Prologue: Once Upon a December”). Ten years pass and Anastasia is now seventeen. While attending a ball with her family, they are attacked by invading Bolsheviks. The Romanov family tries to flee (while Anastasia attempts to retrieve her music
to read the plot for Anastasia and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone, Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- "Prologue: Once Upon a December" - Dowager Empress and Anastasia (Age 6)
- "The Last Dance of the Romanovs" - Ensemble
- "A Rumor in St. Petersburg" - Dmitry, Vlad and Ensemble
- "In My Dreams" - Anya
- "The Rumors Never End" - Gleb and Ensemble
- "Learn to Do It" - Vlad, Anya, and Dmitry
- "The Neva Flows" - Gleb and Anya
- "The Neva Flows (Reprise)" - Men
- "My Petersburg" - Dmitry and Anya
- "Once Upon a December" - Anya and Ensemble
- "A Secret She Kept" - Anya
- "Stay, I Pray You" - Count Ipolitov, Anya, Dmitry, Vlad, and Ensemble
- "We'll Go From There" - Vlad, Anya, Dmitry, and Ensemble
- "Traveling Sequence" - Gleb, Gorlinsky, Anya, Dmitry, and Vlad
- "Still" - Gleb
- "Journey to the Past" – Anya
Act Two
- "Paris Holds the Key (To Your Heart)" – Vlad, Dmitry, Anya and Ensemble
- "Crossing a Bridge" – Anya
- "Close the Door" – Dowager Empress
- "Land of Yesterday" – Lily and Ensemble
- "The Countess and the Common Man" – Vlad and Lily
- "Land of Yesterday (Reprise)" - Gleb
- "A Nightmare" – Romanov Children, Tsar and Tsarina
- "In a Crowd of Thousands" – Dmitry and Anya
- "Meant to Be" – Vlad
- "Quartet at the Ballet" – Anya, Dmitry, Dowager Empress, and Gleb
- "Everything to Win" – Dmitry
- "Once Upon a December (Reprise)” – Anya and Dowager Empress
- "The Press Conference" – Lily, Vlad and Ensemble
- "Everything to Win (Reprise)” – Anya
- "Still/The Neva Flows (Reprise)” – Gleb, Anya, and Ensemble
- "Finale" – Dowager Empress, Gleb and Ensemble
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A dramatic event involving a political or symbolic killing, often central to tragedy or historical plays.
A member of the Russian revolutionary movement, sometimes portrayed in political or historical dramas.
The complete text of an opera, musical, or other extended vocal work, including all spoken dialogue and lyrics. The libretto provides the dramatic structure and narrative arc, serving as a guide for both performers and directors to align story and music.
The words of a song, especially those set to music in a theatrical production such as a musical or opera. Lyrics convey character emotions and advance the plot, requiring poetic and rhythmic sensitivity.
A political upheaval often explored in theatre to critique authoritarianism and celebrate radical change.
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