Is this for real?
Could you, please, tell if there is any chance that actors who currently taking part in the reading would fly to Moscow as well (all I care is about Lansbury's involvement to be honest) or it will be a local production?
I started a new thread. The press releases look legit enough to me in Russia and the artwork is. Must be some really big Russian producers behind this to pay for her and the rest of the cast. I doubt very much they would bring Americans over to play those parts.
Understudy Joined: 3/8/13
Any news to that Musical? I searched the Internet, but found not much. Was is droped? Casting? I would love Willemijn Verkaik in that role, but then I like her in every role
If it is in Moscow is that in english or russian?
Updated On: 4/19/13 at 10:21 AM
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
Really happy to see this project moving forward.
McNally, Ahrens & Flaherty's ANASTASIA Musical Gets Developmental Lab in NYC, August 2014
Leading Actor Joined: 4/18/06
Just saw the listing on Backstage for auditions. Super excited!
someone somewhere suggested Sierra Boggess as Anastasia. I couldn't agree more.
Interesting to see how this is tackled, the character of Rasputin is idiotic in the film. And could Broadway cope with Dr Zhivago at the same time?
Rasputin and Bartok are indeed cut. Gleb is a new antagonist character; he's apparently a Bolshevik official. I don't believe he has much musical presence in the show. The focus has been tightened onto the conflicts of Dimitri/Anastasia and Anatasia/Dowager Empress & legacy.
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/07
Sierra would be great but may be a bit old, Anya is supposed to be in her early 20's.
I think Corey Cott or Derek Klena would make a fine Dimiti. Aaron Tveit might be aged out by now.
http://www.actorsequity.org/castingcall/browse_notice.asp?NoticeID=34741&NoticeType=1
http://www.actorsequity.org/castingcall/browse_notice.asp?NoticeID=34742&NoticeType=1
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
I am SUPER excited for this, especially since they took out Rasputin/Bartok.
As for casting, is Autumn Hurlbert doing anything lately?
Edit: Oh, looks like they've replaced Sophie's character. Also, it sounds like it isn't 100% certain that Anaya is really Anastasia in this version? Interesting.
Stand-by Joined: 8/18/12
It seems like they're taking some cues from the Marcelle Maurette play and the 1956 film. In the original play (and the film) there is an air of mystery surrounding the entire enterprise--while they are obviously training her to be Anastasia, and there are people who claim they know who she really is, there are times when she says or does things that leave them wondering, like saying the nickname of a lady in waiting that they did not tell her, or speaking of things that only someone who was there would know.
I'm really excited to see what they do with it, I think the story is much stronger when you take out the zombie Rasputin magic elements and focus on the Anya/Anastasia and Dowager Empress aspects.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/16/06
I can understand why Bartok is cut but Rasputin I would have thought they could rework him without the magic, Wonder if In the Dark of the Night will likely be cut as well since that was Rasputin's main song? It could be reworked for another character.
It looks like it's a mix of the 1956 film and the animated film, it has huge potential.
As far as I have heard, "Dark of the Night" only appears as scoring and is otherwise cut.
The team has decided to make the material more historically accurate (as much as this can be).
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
Any idea of they're going to keep the story of Dmitry having worked in the palace as a servant?
I haven't heard that his backstory has changed. I don't really see why it would be.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/16/06
'As far as I have heard, "Dark of the Night" only appears as scoring and is otherwise cut.
The team has decided to make the material more historically accurate (as much as this can be).'
Shame as I quite like it but can understand why it's been cut.
The sheer over-the-top insanity was the one thing the movie had going for it. And the entire Anastasia story is bogus, anyhow...
Sierra would be great but may be a bit old, Anya is supposed to be in her early 20's.
If this was a movie, I'd agree with you. But this will be on stage far from where the audience is sitting, which means older actors can get away with playing younger roles.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/09
Oh how coincidental, I was thinking of this for some reason today! I was thinking how great Osnes would be. She should just play every princess.
Totally understand the cutting of the bat, but it's so bizarre how they cut Raspuin with a completely new villain. It's like removing Jafar from Aladdin and put a random new guy in it.
Not really. Jafar fits into the story and world of Aladdin - a land of magic and genies. The plot HINGES on magic. It makes sense for Jafar to be a sorcerer.
The central story and conflict of Anastasia does NOT hinge on magic. At all.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
Oooh, Laura Osnes would be good, too.
Forget Aaron Tviet. Jonathan Groff would be perfect as Dimtri! And Laura may be in her late 20s, but I think she looks young enough to play Anastasia.
Jonathan and Laura, please!
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