Broadway’s Anastasia- Blog
Inspired by the beloved 1997 film, Anastasia The Musical is about a young woman setting out determined to discover the mystery of her past. Although many believed Meg Ryan's portrayal of Anastasia to be a Disney princess, the movie was actually produced by Fox Animation Studios. I will admit, when I first heard about Anastasia being on Broadway, I was not interested. There have been countless Broadway shows that are simple renditions of someone else's successful work. Take Mean Girls as an example. The original film made in the early 2000s has become a generational classic. Recently, Tina Fey and others went to work on a show for the stage with the same plotline and characters but adding in some songs. Don't get me wrong, the show is funny, and Taylor Lauderman's performance as Regina George is outstanding. However, no one can deny Broadway's Mean Girls was not original material. Riding off past creations' success is something industries have done for years, and it isn't going to stop anytime soon. People want to make money, so why not utilize content that's already made millions?
It's an adequate strategy for many broadway musical writers, but it isn't my preferred method of expressing creativity. So, when I saw an advertisement for the Broadway version of Anastasia, a frown came across my face. The film had been a childhood favorite of mine, and I would have hated to see it ruined by people trying to make a short-lived show. Thankfully, I didn't have to. As many know, the villain in the film version of Anastasia was Rasputin, an evil man who lost his soul while killing the Romanov family. So, when considering whether or not to watch the Broadway version, I wondered how they would portray Rasputin. He had many powers that would be quite difficult to replicate on stage. This curiosity was the reason I sat down and watched Broadway's Anastasia.
I could not have been happier to find out that the new show's creators put a spin on the original film. Instead of Rasputin, the main antagonist was the Russian revolution. This is much more historically accurate and even slightly more entertaining. It more easily allows your mind to suspend reality and submerge yourself into the world the actors are trying to convey.
Along with the genius change of antagonists, Christine Altomare, Derek Klena, Ramin Karimloo, and John Bolton played Anastasia, Dmitri, Gleb, and Vlad (in that order) perfectly. I could not have cast the show better myself. In fact, I doubt anyone could pull off the premiered characters with more skill. Every aspect of physical representation, personality quirks, and all of the beautiful songs I fell in love with from the first film is portrayed and put on stage. New songs such as "Still," the classic "Once Upon A December" are both included and used to create a stunning performance. I cannot express how grateful I am that I gave this show a chance. It has quickly made its way to my heart and will forever be one of my favorites.
Original Broadway Cast Album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPK04DTvsNg&list=PLEIvrvUEz2QleL0aibpsnn_PxB5O7WB-z
