Anastasia the Musical Dowager Empress and Countess Lily Costumes
Dowager Empress Prologue
When the Dowager Empress gives the music box to young Anastasia, she wears a dark purple patterned coat with fur and a large hat. The coat is designed to look like one dress, however the actual construction is a separate top and skirt. She wears a silver wig in an Edwardian updo. In the Japanese productions her wig is black.
(Alison Ewing, First National Tour)
Dowager Empress Prologue End
As the Dowager Empress receives news of the execution of her family, she is wearing the same skirt as at the start of the prologue and a simple white Edwardian bodice and broach.
(Masha Karell, Stuttgart)
Countess Lily Act One
Since Countess Lily does not appear until act two, the actress in most productions plays several ensemble roles in act one. Most productions have this same outfit for Lily to wear as a base under ensemble outer pieces (though very often productions simply have the Lily actress wear the usual ensemble costumes). It is a white peasant blouse with a red overskirt and necklace. Her wig updo lacks the curls of act two.
(Lucy Horton, First National Tour)
Countess Lily Dressing Gown
Countess Lily’s first scene is in an apartment in Paris, warding off visitors for the Dowager Empress before she prepares to head off to the Neva Club. She is wearing a black and red dressing gown in light silk. Occasionally it is structured as a black skirt with a shorter black and red dressing gown. Her wig features tight ringlet curls and generally is a reddish shade.
(Vicki Lewis, Broadway)
Dowager Empress Close the Door
The Dowager Empress appears in this song in a thick dressing gown, which can be any shade between gray, black, or pale purple. Her wig is styled with a braid over her shoulder, and some productions that give her silver hair in the prologue change her hair to white for the rest of the show. She also has begun using a cane.
(Mary Beth Peil, Broadway)
Countess Lily Neva Club
In the Neva Club, Lily wears a silky gold dress with short sleeves to dance in. She wears it with fingerless black lace gloves and a gold and black feathered coat which she removes when she first arrives. She wears this costume throughout Land of Yesterday and Countess and the Common Man.
(Left: Lucy Horton, First National Tour. Right: Silvia Luchetti, Madrid)
Countess Lily Ballet
During the ballet, Lily wears a silk evening gown in shades of autumn. It appears mostly gold onstage and has very dramatic sleeves which can very slightly in construction between productions. Some productions will also have a black netting over the body of the dress. Her accessories include gold jewelry, white gloves, and a black fan.
(Vicki Lewis, Broadway)
Dowagers Empress Ballet
For the ballet, the Dowager Empress wears a very Edwardian evening gown, a more old fashioned style. It is black in color as she is still mourning her family. It has a very long train and is worn with a feather boa. Other than the black color and Edwardian silhouette, the actual design of the dress varies greatly between productions, with some including gold accents on the dress. The Dowager Empress wears her hair up again from this point in the show, the the style is not quite as large as in the prologue, which is a slightly more Gibson Girl style.
(Sarah Statler, Second National Tour)
Countess Lily Press Conference
Lily appears here in a day dress. It is green velvet with long sleeves and a high, draped neck. Some productions have shades of brown in the velvet or some type of accent at the waist.
(Madeline Raube, Second National Tour)
Dowager Empress Finale
The Dowager Empress is wearing a light purple Edwardian dress to speak to Anya and make her statement to the press. Generally it is a plain button down dress with a patterned bodice and overskirt, though the pattern varies between productions. Details include white lace at the collar and epaulettes. She does not always use her cane with this costume.
(Gerrie van der Klei, Netherlands)
