Angela Lansbury,Aaron Lazar,Aaron Tveit to Star in Anastasia Stage Reading — Page 3

Gah! So exciting! I want this to be here now!

I haven't seen the film in a long time but I think it would make a great stage musical, it would have to be expanded and reworked especialy the characters of Rasputin and Bartok.

Bartok the bat can be cut rather easily.

A revamped Rasputin would be a decent villain if they made him a little less Ursula and a little more, well, Rasputin.

I think Aaron Tveit would make a great Demitri and definitely agree about Laura!

What about Raul Esparza as Rasputin? Or Patrick Page?

Updated On: 6/16/12 at 01:06 AM

I think it's weird that Cornish college of the arts in Seattle presented an illegal production of the show, I guess it was a senior thesis project. Where does that fall on the legal scale?

Updated On: 6/16/12 at 01:31 AM

As much as I love "Once Upon A December" I would rather them just revive the original drama buy Guy Bolton. When done effectively, can be very chilling. I remember when I saw it my first time, the ending left me mindf***d

I dont know if this info is 100% legit, but it looks like Aaron Tveit is indeed going to read for the part of Dimitri. If its true, Im slightly confused since who the hell Aaron Lazar is gonna read for then? I thought he was set to play Dimitri, but maybe hes set to portrait Rasputin instead (an inspiring choice if true, although I would prefer if Rasputin was not involved in the stage production at all).
It has been exclusively confirmed to ATF that Aaron Tveit will take on the role of Dimitri in the upcoming 29-hour reading of Anastasia  A New Musical. Loosely based on the 1997 motion picture from Fox Animation Studios, the musical-drama borrows from the urban legend that Nicholas IIs youngest daughter, Anastasia, survived the execution of her Russian royal family.
The new musical will feature songs from the film, potentially including the Oscar-nominated Journey to the Past. Fifteen original songs written for the stage production are being composed by creative team Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.
Terrence McNally  whom Aaron worked with on Catch Me If You Can  is writing the libretto.
As previously announced on BroadwayWorld.com, Angela Lansbury will reprise her role as the Dowager Empress Marie from the film. Aaron Lazar is also attached to the reading. Theres no word yet on who will play the title character, but an announcement can be expected soon.
The private reading will take place on July 27th.

http://aarontveit.net/news/atf-exclusive-aaron-tveit-to-play-dimitri-in-29-hour-reading-of-anastasia

Yes, get rid of Rasputin. Blaming the death of the Russian Royal Family on him is like blaming the American Civil War on evil elves.

---

This sounds like a dream project! I want it to happen like now.

I agree about Sierra and Laura. I like Aaron Lazar, but like some of you mentionned, I would also much prefer Colin Donnell for Dimitri. There's just something about him... Sean Palmer could also be good I think, but Colin is my #1 choice for this.

How fun would it be to see Laura and Colin back together for this project? They were great together in Anything Goes!

The show may well work best without the supernatural subplot, but I for one would like to see the 'Nightmare' dream sequence and music onstage. (Has there been any mention of David Newman's score music being used in the show?) I guess that scene wouldn't make sense without Rasputin's minions, unless they reworked it as some kind of subconsciously-remembered flashback nightmare type thing for Anya.

My first thought exactly! This Rasputin will NEVER work on stage. Hell, it didn't work in the movie either!

---

Updated On: 6/29/12 at 07:29 AM