Anastasia, the hit family-friendly musical currently running on Broadway, will soon embark on its North American tour. With the October 9, 2018 launch creeping closer and closer, audiences will be excited to hear that the cast for the tour has been announced. The cast will star Lila Coogan as Anya, Stephen Brower as Dmitry, Jason Michael Evans as Gleb, Joy Franz as Dowager Empress, Tari Kelly as Countess Lily, Edward Staudenmayer as Vlad, and Victoria Amelia Bingham as Little Anastasia.
Anastasia features a score by the Tony Award-winning composing team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who also have written scores for Once on This Island, Seussical, and Ragtime. Writing the book for Anastasia is their Tony-winning Ragtime cohort Terrence McNally, himself a celebrated playwright and book writer for musicals such as Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Rink, and The Full Monty. Together, this trio adapted the story of the 1997 animated film for the stage, with McNally creating a more-grounded version of the story and Ahrens and Flaherty expanding the film’s score (which they created) into a full-length Broadway musical score. Anastasia is directed by Tony-winning director Darko Tresnjak.
The ensemble for the National Tour includes Brianna Abruzzo, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr., Alison Ewing, Peter Garza, Jeremiah Ginn, Brett-Marco Glauser, Lucy Horton, Mary Illes, Fred Inkley, Kourtney Keitt, Beth Stafford Laird, Mark MacKillop, Kenneth Michael Murray, Taylor Quick, Claire Rathbun, Michael McCorry Rose, Matt Rosell, Sareen Tchekmedyian, and Addison Mackynzie Valentino.
“This dazzling show transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.”
Below is a full list of engagements for Anastasia during its first season on tour:
Schenectady, NY, Proctors, October 9 – October 14, 2018
Pittsburgh, PA, Benedum Center, October 16 – October 21, 2018
Greenville, SC, Peace Center, October 23 – October 28, 2018
Washington, D.C., Kennedy Center Opera House, October 30 – November 25, 2018
Providence, RI, Providence PAC, November 27 – December 2, 2018
Baltimore, MD, Hippodrome Theatre, December 4 – December 9, 2018
St. Louis, MO, Fabulous Fox Theatre, December 26 – January 6, 2019
Appleton, WI, Fox Cities PAC, January 8 – January 13, 2019
East Lansing, MI, Wharton Center, January 15 – January 20, 2019
San Antonio, TX, Majestic Theatre, February 5 – February 10, 2019
Austin, TX, Bass Concert Hall, February 12 – February 17, 2019
Dallas, TX, Music Hall, February 19 – March 3, 2019
Houston, TX, Hobby Center, March 5 – March 10, 2019
Kansas City, MO, Music Hall, March 12 – March 17, 2019
Nashville, TN, TPAC, March 19 – March 24, 2019
Chicago, IL, Oriental Theatre, March 26 – April 7, 2019
Philadelphia, PA, Academy of Music, April 9 – April 14, 2019
Durham, NC, DPAC, April 16 – April 21, 2019
Fort Lauderdale, FL, Broward Center, April 23 – May 5, 2019
Tampa, FL, Straz Center, May 7 – May 12, 2019
Orlando, FL, Dr. Phillips Center, May 14 – May 19, 2019
Fort Worth, TX, Bass Performance Hall, May 28 – June 2, 2019
Memphis, TN, Orpheum Theatre, June 4 – June 9, 2019
Detroit, MI, Fisher Theatre, June 11 – June 23, 2019
Grand Rapids, MI, Devos Performance Hall, June 25 – June 30, 2019
Milwaukee, WI, Marcus Center, July 23 – July 28, 2019
Madison, WI, Overture Hall, July 30 – August 4, 2019
Denver, CO, Buell Theatre, August 7 – August 18, 2019
San Francisco, CA, SHN Golden Gate Theatre, September 3 – 29, 2019
Mark Robinson is the author of the two-volume encyclopedia The World of Musicals and maintains a theater and entertainment blog at markrobinsonwrites.com.