From the Tony Award®-winning creators of the Broadway classic “Ragtime,” this dazzling show transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. 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 a home, love, and family.
This story of good and evil starts in the early 1900s in a politically-transfixed Russia and ends in the beautiful streets of a more liberal and enchanting Paris, France. As the story begins, little Anya Romanov (Veronica Stern) lives a satisfying and privileged life as part of the Royal Romanov family. In contrast, her grandfather and father were part of an admired and revered family that enjoyed the fruits of their labor in high society. Anya was the apple of her grandmother’s eye and spent many days with the Dowager Empress (Getti Weagraff) as she introduced her to the finer things in life while her parents tended to their royal duties.
Amid decisions being made by the Royal Government, the Romanov family, through controversy, became a target. In the blink of an eye, Anya’s (Anastasia) life was turned entirely around one blissful night when her entire family became the victim of the Evil Wizard. In the darkness and devastation that took her family’s life, Anya was knocked unconscious and, shortly after that, became a common orphan on the streets of Russia. As Anya struggled to get her life back together, she was challenged with the fragmented memories of the loving family she adored and the new reality of being unable to remember who she was. At the same time, Anya’s grandmother was grappling with losing her entire family, particularly her son and her darling granddaughter. Many years later, when the Duchess, who had moved to Paris, received news of the possibility that her beloved Anya may have survived the brutal attack on her family, she put out a great reward for her safe return. Two scheming Russians who devised a plan to have auditions for a phony replacement came upon a young girl, Anya, who they thought would be a most fitting replacement for the young princess. As they grappled back and forth with their plan, they convinced the young woman, who didn’t know her true identity, that she had to be the lost princess that the Duchess was searching for. The trio soon became thick as thieves and planned a trip to Paris to convince the Grand Duchess that they had her granddaughter and to receive the coveted reward that was being offered. When a riff came between the trio, they had to confess their plan to Anya, and while she felt betrayed, she eventually made the trip with the hope that she would find a resolution for herself. In the end, there were plenty of surprises as the Grand Duchess and her beloved princess were reunited.
Broadway at the Center chose wisely in bringing this production to Dallas, allowing patrons of the Arts to witness a moving story about the Royal Romanovs and the beloved Princess Anastasia. While everyone loves a good story involving a princess, this production also highlights the reality of political corruption and the beauty of hope and endurance. While the story has had several adaptations from the original book by Terrence McNally, and film, this live production, inspired by the Twentieth Century Fox Motion Pictures from the play by Marcelle Maurette as adapted by Guy Bolton, is worth the time and experience with the strong cast of actor and musicians, as well as the timeless costumes and moving background that bring both Russia and Paris to the forefront.
Recently performed at the AT&T Performing Arts Center
