Hit Broadway musical ANASTASIA loved by Melbourne, opening to rave reviews

Hit Broadway musical ANASTASIA has made its official Australian debut in Melbourne to widespread adoration and acclaim from audiences and critics alike ahead of seasons in Perth, Sydney and Adelaide.

 

 

Time Out Melbourne called the musical a “charming theatre experience’” that was “destined to deliver theatrical magic” while The Music said it was “a theatrical spectacle that dazzles on every front and will leave you spellbound” and Beat Magazine said that the musical’s “dazzling Australian premiere is rich with powerful performances.”

The Melbourne premiere season will be followed by performances across the country including Crown Theatre Perth in March, Lyric Theatre Sydney from April and Festival Theatre Adelaide from August.

 

 

The cast for this charming modern fairytale and much-loved musical includes Georgina Hopson as Anya, Robert Tripolino as the charismatic con artist Dmitry, Joshua Robson in the role of antagonist Gleb, Rodney Dobson as Vlad, the universally adored Rhonda Burchmore as Countess Lily and theatre icon Nancye Hayes AM in the role of the Dowager Empress.

 

 

Other cast members include Sophia Bae, Elliot Baker, Billy Bourchier, Nicholas Cunningham, Davis Giotopoulos Moore, Todd Goddard, Stephanie Kurlow, Keian Langdon, Bella Minniti, Nathan Stafford, Alexis Van Maanen, Annie Wilson, Deone Zanotto and Andrea Zappacosta with the Swings team featuring Manon Gunderson-Briggs, Iosefa Laga’aia, Nathan Pinnell and Emma Russell.

The talented cast members playing Little Anastasia in Melbourne include Bibiana Bruden, Eleanor Flynn, Alyssa Fooks and Lillian Kinter. Local cast playing the role of Little Anastasia for each city will be announced at a later time.

Inspired by the mysterious tale of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov’s rumoured escape in the dawning days of the Russian Revolution, and the 1997 Oscar nominated animated film of the same name, ANASTASIA has been brought to life on the stage by the Tony Award-winning creative team of Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.

 

 

ANASTASIA is a lavish musical for all ages, transporting audiences from the twilight years of the Imperial rule to the euphoria and exuberance of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman named Anya sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by an army officer determined to silence her, she 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.

Directed by Tony Award winning director Darko Tresnjak, ANASTASIA premiered on Broadway in March 2017. It received a Tony Award nomination for Best Costume Design in a Musical and has won more than 15 major international awards including Best Musical awards in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.

Chicago Tribun :

Music and lyrics for ANASTASIA were written by the renowned writing team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens who have been referred to as “one of the greatest songwriting teams in Broadway history.

The book for ANASTASIA was written by the late five time Tony Award winning writer Terrence McNally, whose credits include Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime.

 

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Photo Credit:  Jeff Busby