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.
Anastasia centers on the theme of identity and self-discovery as Anya navigates her fragmented sense of self. Unlike the animated film, which leans into fantasy, the stage version grounds Anya's journey in psychological realism, portraying her amnesia as a response to trauma from the Romanov execution. Through her transformation from a street sweeper to a poised lady—and ultimately to embracing her true heritage as Grand Duchess Anastasia—she asserts agency over her narrative, choosing personal fulfillment over royal restoration.
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
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
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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
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Interactive Character Map
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Character Portrayals
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Songs
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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
THEMES
Memory and the Haunting Past
Memory serves as a profound theme, exploring how the past both haunts and heals in the musical's post-revolutionary setting. Anya's selective amnesia blocks traumatic events but allows fleeting recollections triggered by sensory cues, reflecting the broader exile community's struggle with loss and displacement. The Romanov family's ghostly appearances and Anya's nightmares emphasize memory's inescapable pull, contrasting the Bolshevik push to erase
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"Dancing bears, painted wings / Things I almost remember / And a song someone sings / Once upon a December"
(Sung by Anya in "Once Upon a December," Act I)
This haunting lyric captures the essence of fragmented memory and the involuntary pull of the past. As Anya wanders the abandoned theatre, ghostly figures of the Romanov family appear, triggering sensory recollections through dance and music. Unlike the animated film's supernatural elements, the stage production grounds these
to read our analysis of select quotes from Anastasia and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Key Terms
A dramatic event involving a political or symbolic killing, often central to tragedy or historical plays.
A powerful, resonant singing technique used in musical theatre to project high notes with chest voice.
A vocal technique blending chest and head voice to create a strong yet flexible sound for higher pitches.
A member of the Russian revolutionary movement, sometimes portrayed in political or historical dramas.
An “I Want Song” is a number, usually placed early in a musical, where a main character expresses their deepest desire or ambition. This song sets the character’s journey in motion and gives the audience a clear emotional stake in the story. It has become one of the most recognizable and enduring conventions of musical theatre structure.
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.
The written music for a theatrical or operatic work, including vocal and instrumental parts. The score is essential for rehearsals and performances.
