I have been absolutely enamored with the Anastasia film since I was in Kindergarten, so much so that the tragedy of the Romanov family is one of the closest things I have to a Roman Empire. It's my favorite non-Disney animated film, and finding out that it was becoming a Broadway musical was very intriguing for me. Thankfully, this ended up being a magnificent stage adaptation in every way (even though they replaced Rasputin and left out one of my favorite songs), and getting to see it live on tour was a truly wonderful experience.
Anastasia is a musical with music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and book by Terrence McNally. Based on the 1997 film of the same name written by Susan Gauthier, Bruce Graham, Bob Tzudiker, Noni White, and Eric Tuchman, the show opened in 2017 at the Broadhurst Theatre (located on W 44th Street), where it remained in residence until 2019 after over 800 performances. The show has also seen success in Spain, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, Finland, Austria, Brazil, Mexico, and Greece, along with a national tour in the U.S. The original Broadway run was nominated for two Tony Awards in 2017, unfortunately walking away with no wins from that ceremony. The global pandemic didn't help this show much at all, and critics claimed the show ran too long, but the acting, singing, and storytelling were all highly praised.
For this post, I will as usual focus on one song for each main cast member from the original Broadway cast recording. Warning: potential spoilers ahead.
Anya (Soprano/Mezzo-Soprano)
Spotlight Song: Once Upon a December
Honorable Mentions: In My Dreams; Learn to Do It; Journey to the Past; Paris Holds the Key (To Your Heart); Crossing a Bridge; Once Upon a December (Reprise)
Original Broadway Cast (2017): Christy Altomare
The Anya we see on stage is a different take than the Anya we see on the screen, and honestly that's okay. This Anya is slightly less naive, a little more cautious, and a little more mature, but every bit as loveable as her animated counterpart. Christy Altomare is beyond incredible in this role, really, making you feel all of Anya's emotions right along with her and making these classic soundtrack songs her own while respecting the original source material. Act I's Once Upon a December may be one of the best soundtrack songs ever written, and is accompanied by an absolutely stunning dream dance sequence that you just can't look away from. It's a gorgeous ballad, a classic lullaby, and a perfectly fitting song for a stage production.
Dancing Bears, painted wings/Things I almost remember/And a song someone sings/Once upon a December/Someone holds me safe and warm/Horses prance through a silver storm/Figures dancing gracefully/Across my memory
Dmitry (Tenor)
Spotlight Song: In a Crowd of Thousands
Honorable Mentions: A Rumor in St. Petersburg; Learn to Do It; Paris Holds the Key (To Your Heart)
Original Broadway Cast (2017): Derek Klena
While he starts off as your typical aloof con artist, Dmitry is such a loveable male main character, especially as you watch him fall head over heels for Anya throughout the show. This is a man who knows how to get what he wants, but the way he goes about it changes as he gets closer and closer to this girl he's so fascinated with. Derek Klena has a great voice, really rich and mature that compliments Christy Altomare's beautifully. Act II's In a Crowd of Thousands is a duet that I would've LOVED to have seen in the movie, showing how an invisible string of fate (yes, soft Swiftie reference there) seems to have tied these two together since they were children. It's a really tender moment between these two characters that makes you root for them all the more.
It was June, I was ten/I still think of that day now and then/A parade and a girl/And a crowd of thousands/She sat straight as a queen/Only eight, but so proud and serene/How they cheered, how I stared/In that crowd of thousands/Then I started to run and to call out her name/As the crowd on the road went wild/I reached out with my hand and looked up/And then she smiled/The parade traveled on/With the sun in my eyes, she was gone/But if I were still ten/In that crowd of thousands, I’d find her again
Vlad Popov (Baritone)
Spotlight Song: Meant to Be
Honorable Mentions: A Rumor in St. Petersburg; Learn to Do It; Paris Holds the Key (To Your Heart); The Countess and the Common Man
Original Broadway Cast (2017): John Bolton
Vlad is a fun character in the movie, but like Anya and Dmitry he's slightly more serious in the stage show. Serving a mentor to both of our younger characters, he's every bit the con man Dmitry is but he truly cares about both Dmitry and Anya. John Bolton adds a sense of refinement to the role, playing a smooth-talking elegance that shows how he talked his way into the Russian court. Act II's Meant to Be is a short, sweet ballad originally called Learn to Do It (Reprise) in the movie. He feels a sense of responsibility for the younger characters, and that really shows through these lyrics.
What's meant to be is meant to be/I see it at a glance/She's radiant and confident/And born to take this chance/I tried to think of everything/I just forgot romance/I never should have let them dance
Gleb Vaganov (Baritone/Tenor)
Spotlight Song: The Neva Flows
Honorable Mentions: Still; Land of Yesterday (Reprise)
Original Broadway Cast (2017): Ramin Karimloo
Gleb is our stage show antagonist since the film's version of Rasputin would've been virtually impossible to do in real life. Where Rasputin was scary on a supernatural level, Gleb is honestly equally as frightening because of how human he is. Ramin Karimloo does an incredible job of playing the role of the devoted revolutionary, believing that everything that happened to Anastasia's family was for the greater good no matter the cost, really not even seeing the royal family as actual people. Act I's The Neva Flows is a great example of his fanaticism as he recounts his own father's part in the rebellion and how proud Gleb was of his role in it even though his father felt immense shame over what he had helped do. He reminds me a lot of Javert from Les Mis with his unshakable sense of duty and his somewhat warped moral code.
Be very careful of these rumors that prevail, be very careful what you say/I was a boy who lived the truth behind the tale, and no one got away/I saw the children as the soldiers closed the gate, the youngest daughter and her pride/My father leaving on the night they met their fate, his pistol by his side/The Neva flows, a new wind blows/And soon it will be spring/The leaves unfold, the tsar lies cold/A revolution is a simple thing
Countess Lily Malevsky-Malevitch (Mezzo-Soprano)
Spotlight Song: The Countess and the Common Man
Honorable Mentions: Land of Yesterday
Original Broadway Cast (2017): Caroline O'Connor
Lily replaces the character of Sophie from the film while still essentially serving the same purpose: being Vlad's love interest and creating a barrier between Anya and the Dowager Empress. Lily's much less over the top than Sophie while still being a fun and interesting character. Caroline O'Connor does a lovely job in this role, especially opposite John Bolton's Vlad. Act II's The Countess and the Common Man is sweet duet between the two, detailing their previous love affair scandal and showing they still care for each other. It reminds me of I Remember It Well from Gigi with their cute back and forth of memories upon being reunited.
I noticed you across a room, the most exquisite rose/The tiniest tiara and that haughty little nose/I flirted with you shamelessly, or so the scandal goes/The Countess and the common man/We tiptoed off to Peterhof to have a royal fling/My husband was oblivious, Counts never know a thing/And all of it was perfect, 'til you stole my diamond ring/The Countess and the common man
Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna (Mezzo-Soprano)
Spotlight Song: Once Upon a December Reprise
Original Broadway Cast (2017): Mary Beth Peil
While Maria doesn't get the hugest amount of stage time, she's a hugely important character, being the only living direct relative of Anastasia and being the only one who could actually verify her idenity. Maria and Anastasia's relationship in this story has always been very touching to me as someone who has a super close releationship with a grandparent. Mary Beth Peil brings a regalness to the role that is top notch, going from aloof and heartbrokene to warm and loving seamlessly . Act II's Once Upon a December Reprise is a beautiful moment of reunification for the grandmother and granddaughter, never failing to make me a bit teary. It's a beautiful beginning of the end sort of piece for this show, full of love and hope.
Far away, long ago/Glowing dim as an ember/Things my heart used to know/Once upon a December
If you've not listened to the stage recording of Anastasia before, I can't recommend it enough, especially if you were a fan of the movie like I've always been. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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