ANASTASIA
Book by Terrence McNally
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Director Nick Mann
Music Director Preston Page
Choreographer Jacob Hemsath
Sound Design Caleb Ross
Lighting Design Jude Scott
Costume Design Nick Mann, Lisa Rodenbaugh, Robin Fuller
Technical Director Jo Alamares
Set Coordinator Candace Addison
Stage Managers Arianna Cinello, Caleb Ross
The cast includes NTPA alums and stage veterans including NTPA Alum Elizabeth Brockman as Anya, NTPA Alum Corbin Ross as Dmitry, Shawn Lane as Gleb, Brandon Borick as Vlad, NTPA Alum Bella Correa as Countess Lily, Andrea Fernandez Tom as Dowager Empress and NTPA Students Jillian Everett, Macy McDonough, and Pia Rico as Young Anastasia. The ensemble also includes many NTPA Alum and stage veterans including Madelyn Arriola, Sawyer Bell, Giovanny Castro, Qwali Chatman, Timothy Chong, Megan Lemonds, Tony Lopez, Gigi Magnum, Lilly Mehari, Grace Raber, Madeleine Sandoval, Ellie Sassano, Zoie Wade, and Ethan Yang
NTPA REPERTORY
ANASTASIA
NTPA’s Anastasia is an impressive achievement for the company. It is easily the most lavish and opulent production I have seen in their venue. From the palace of the Romanovs to the salons of Paris, this Anastasia is a visual feast. The costumes, the set, the lighting, the projections are all first rate.
Director Nick Mann creates one lovely stage picture after another and takes full advantage of the large ensemble. Music Director Preston Page has the cast in fine voice and Jacob Hemsath’s choreography is fun and exciting and includes a beautiful “Swan Lake” ballet segment performed by Noah Woodiel, Zoie Wade, Timothy Chong, and Gigi Mangum.
The real strength of Anastasia comes from the performances of the principals in the cast. Shawn Lane is a forceful Gleb. Lane is particularly good depicting the internal conflict the young Bolshevik has concerning Anastasia. Andrea Fernandez Tom is just about perfection as the Dowager Empress. Everything about her demeanor and appearance suggests dignity and nobility. I absolutely loved Bella Correa as Countess Lily. Correa brings some upbeat, scene stealing humor to the show. Correa is irresistible on stage and her duet with Vlad is one of the best moments in the show. Speaking of Vlad, Brandon Borick, complete with a real beard, looks and sounds authentically Russian. Borick has an incredibly strong and beautiful voice that makes Vlad a standout and he also shows some skillful comic timing as the social climbing character. As Anya, Elizabeth Brockman is wonderful portraying the title character. Her Anya is part child, part woman who is in a world she does not understand, and Brockman is excellent portraying both the innocence and strength of Anastasia. She is also quite a good singer who can go from ballad to belt. The phenomenal Corbin Ross is Dmitri, a young, streetwise conman who first sees Anya as way to fortune. In this demanding role, Dmitri must transform from crook to a selfless man who finds love with Anastasia. Ross makes it all almost palpably real with so much being said with his soulful eyes. Ross’s stage presence and gorgeous tenor make his Dmitri one that would be a winner on any stage.
There are problems with the musical of Anastasia. The first act could lose twenty minutes or so without detriment to the story and most of the Ahrens and Flaherty score with the exception of “Journey to the Past” is forgettable. What is not forgettable is this beautifully rendered version of the musical and its very talented cast.
