Theater Talk: Anya Arrives in Town 

Anastasia – the Broadway musical inspired by the 1997 animated film and the 1956 live-action movie that ran in New York from 2017-2020 and has been performed more than 2,500 times worldwide – has its Santa Barbara debut at The Granada Theatre on April 25-26 as part of The American Theatre Guild’s Broadway in Santa Barbara series. The show uses the musical genre to adapt the legend of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, who may have escaped the execution of her family. Years later, an amnesiac orphan named Anya hopes to find some trace of her family by partnering with two con men whose agenda is to take advantage of her likeness to the Grand Duchess. Anastasia takes audiences on a journey from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the nightlife of Paris in the 1920s following Anya and her companions who are also trying to elude a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her as they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family.

Anastasia comes from a decorated team that features book by the celebrated playwright Terrence McNally, a lush score and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, the Tony Award-winning creators of the Broadway classic Ragtime, and tour direction by Sarah Hartmann based on original direction by Tony winner Darko Tresnjak. Visit www.BroadwaySantaBarbara.com or www.GranadaSB.org.