ANASTASIA – Powerful Lessons On Finding Home Love and Family

The North American tour of the critically-acclaimed Broadway production of ANASTASIA launched in October of 2018 to play in 30 cities in its first season and we are so blessed to say it’s in Dallas through March 3, 2019, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) and Broadway Across America (BAA) at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

From the Tony Award®-winning creators of the Broadway classic Ragtime and inspired by the beloved films, ANASTASIA is the spectacular new musical that teaches us powerful lessons on finding home, love, and family.

My daughters and I loved the 1997 animated film, so when I was invited to see the musical, I was overjoyed and I knew both Elisha and Elyssa had to come along.

As true fans, we were wondering if we would love the musical as much, but ANASTASIA the musical is better than the movie in so many ways, and it is officially my new favorite musical. 

ANASTASIA is a dazzling show that transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire in the early 1900’s to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young dust-covered street sweeper sets out to discover the mystery of her past.

In ANASTASIA the musical, Anya (Lila Coogan) is pursued by ruthless Soviet officer Gleb (Jason Michael Evans) determined to silence her and she enlists the aid of dashing conman Dmitry (Stephen Brower) and lovable ex-aristocrat Vlad (Edward Staudenmayer). Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family, giving us much to reflect along the way.

This story is different from the movie because the production doesn’t include Rasputin and his sidekick, the albino bat Bartok. The new political plot gave the story more depth and more historical accuracy since the Romanovs, the Russian royal family, were tragically killed in an invasion and the only remains not found were those of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia.

The most emotional moment for me was when Anya, Dmitry, and Vlad sing a farewell to Russia, along with a train full of people, who were being forced to leave their home country. I was trembling because the pain of leaving my homeland is still very real.

I’m not going to spoil it for you, but the ballet scene is incredible, too!

Something my daughter Elyssa pointed out is that in ANASTASIA the musical, Anya starts to gradually remember bits and pieces of her past life throughout the play, which seems more accurate of someone who has lost their memory and deals with PTSD.

Elisha, Elyssa, and I enjoyed every minute of ANASTASIA. The production features a book by celebrated playwright Terrence McNally, a lush, new score by Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) and direction by Tony Award-winning director Darko Tresnjak. 

The magical score included “Journey to the Past” and “Once Upon a December,” and “A Rumor in St. Petersburg!” and it was so hard not to sing along! 

The masterful choreography by Peggy Hickey is vibrant and fun, and the set designs by Alexander Dodge are simply breathtaking.

The story touches your heart and the vocals are filled with powerful emotion. I was a crying mess for much of it, but I must say there was so much humor, too, courtesy of Edward Staudenmayer (Vlad) and Tari Kelly (Countess Lily), lady in waiting to Princess Anastasia’s grandmother, the Dowager Empress (Joy Franz).

Elyssa and I had the amazing opportunity to chat with both of them about being the comedic relief of such a heavy and heartfelt story.

Tari Kelly (Countess Lily) has impressive Broadway credits, including Groundhog Day (Mrs. Cleveland/Naturopath/Piano Teacher), Something Rotten (Ensemble/Bea cover), Anything Goes (Ensemble/Reno Sweeney cover), Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical (Mama Who), The Boy From Oz (Trio/ Liza Minnelli cover), and Show Boat (Swing/Ellie cover). National Tours: Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Show Boat (Ellie), Beauty and the Beast (Silly Girl).

In addition, she has appeared on the “Tony Awards”, “The Late Show with David Letterman”, “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon”, “The View”, “Good Morning America”, and “The Today Show”.

Tari Kelly told Elyssa that she started as a dancer at a community theater. 

My mom thought it would be fun for me to come out of my shell, because I was really shy, and I thought ‘these theater people are really fun’ and I just started being in more plays and doing leads, I did singing classes and that led to me doing it professionally. I had a hunger and a talent for it. I really attribute being in that community theatre production to my career.

Edward Staudenmayer (Vlad) has spent the last few years touring with the Phantom of the Opera as Andre. He recently starred as Emile DeBeque in South Pacific at the Guthrie. Broadway: Wonderland and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. Ed spent 24 years with Forbidden Broadway, taking him Off Broadway, around the world and onto three cast recordings. 

Edward Staudenmayer’s nominations include: Helen Hayes and Barrymore and National Theater Awards. However, the UCLA graduate told Elyssa, he got started as a performer in the living room!

I started singing in the living room for everyone and that was my stage. Copa Cabana was my big hit. Then I auditioned for the spring musical in high school, The Music Man, I wanted the part so bad, knew everyone’s lines. I was Tommy. I got to dance with the homecoming queen and then my popularity stock went way up. I played football, and I always did the spring musical, and then my senior year, I said ‘I’m not going to do football, I’m going to be in the fall play.’ I won a scholarship and went to theatre school. I went to Europe and started performing, then I went to New York, and have been working ever since. I started young and in college, and I got the bug.

Edward Staudenmayer and Tari Kelly are original cast members of the National Tour of Anastasia, but they had met one another in Chicago for the Anything Goes tour. 

Countess Lily and Vlad’s love scene provide much needed laughs in ANASTASIA:

There are so many people that say they really needed that release at that point and to get those laughs and be able to provide that as a comedic actress and actor. We saved you. You were crying with laughter. I feel great about it.

For Edward Staudenmayer, he feels that making others laugh is part of who he is and though he’s played serious roles, he finds he’s much happier playing a comedian.

Tari Kelly brought up an interesting perspective that many non-actors may not even consider:

Sometimes when you take a role, you really do take on those traits in your life. I look at acting as that’s a part of your person you choose to put a spotlight on every night and it comes out more.

Edward Staudenmayer didn’t know anything about ANASTASIA and had not seen the movie until he auditioned, but he loves the show and flew his mother to Dallas to watch it. 

I love how they’ve expanded the character Vladimir and our characters, it’s been nothing but a wealth of riches that they’ve given us. They kept the original score, the big hit songs, but they also added so many great ones as well that we get to sing. One of the things I love about this show is that it starts sad for me, and then it gets better and better, and if you stay on the ride you’ll be happier in the end. The show has everything, and it is so serious, but we have that comic relief and laughter is the best medicine.

Tari Kelly told us she saw the animated film when it first released and she agrees that the stage musical adaptation of ANASTASIA is more grounded in reality. Her mom has come to see her on tour in Wisconsin and so did her boyfriend. She knew the role would be good for her and she loves Countess Lily’s relationship with Vlad. 

Our relationship can be construed as racy, and there are things only the adults get, moms especially and older women, like finding love again and finding it reignited. It’s fun escapism, that laughter. Visually, it’s stunning. The costumes are reason to come alone. 

And I agree. Linda Cho (Costume Design) spoiled us with gorgeous costumes we couldn’t take our eyes off.

The Parisienne girls’ dresses were modest and came in my favorite colors, too, so I may have secretly wished they were on sale somewhere. I’d be like “take all my moneys!”

The epic tale of ANASTASIA is a reminder that:

You are royalty, no matter how you dress or what you look like – be loyal to the royal in you!

We are all on a journey to discover who we are because we all need a sense of identity. 

Owning our past helps us decide who we are meant to be in our present and our future. 

You never know when “the last time” will be, so you must cherish every moment with those you love.

The most important choices of our lives are scary and require a great deal of courage. “People always say life is full of choices, no one ever mentions fear…” 

You can find home in the most unexpected place. You can find family in the most unexpected people. You can find love anywhere and everywhere.

You never know how much and for how long a little act of kindness can touch someone.

When you want to learn something that seems impossible, you gotta find a mentor and follow in their footsteps, but you must tell yourself it’s easy, too! 

Honoring your family doesn’t mean doing what they did the way they did it. We must be bold enough to follow our heart and break cycles.

Sometimes your “happy ending” is different than you expect it to be.

…and so much more!

ANASTASIA has played to sold out crowds on Broadway since officially opening in April 2017, in addition to garnering multiple Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards and nominations. You must see it!

Tickets for ANASTASIA are on sale now at DallasSummerMusicals.org or by phone at (800) 982-2787. They can also be purchased in person at the Music Hall at Fair Park Box Office.

Follow the journey at @dsmusicals on Twitter and Instagram using #AnastasiaDSM. You can also visit the anastasiathemusical.com website and connect with @AnastasiaBway on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

[ela]