As first reported exclusively by BroadwayWorld, ANASTASIA - A New Musical is being brought to the stage in a 29-hour reading, which entered rehearsals last week, based on the hit 1997 animated motion picture from Fox Animation Studios. The musical, which is in its Early Stages of development, will feature the five songs from the film along with fifteen new songs written for the stage. Joining the creative team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty will be bookwriter Terrence McNally and music director Ben Cohn.Joining the previously announced cast is Kelli Barrett in the title role of Anya (Anastasia). Patrick Page once again dons the role of the villain, Vladimir. Angela Lansbury will reprise her role from the film as the Empress Maria, and Aaron Tveit will play Dimitri.
The reading will also feature Maria May as Young Anastasia, Aaron Lazar as Gleb and Julie Halston as Lily, as well as Mark Aldrich, Bertilla Baker, Ben Crawford, Joy Hermalyn, Lisa Karlin, Joseph Mahowald, Barbara Marineau and Benjamin Schrader in the ensemble.
The reading is being produced by Stage Entertainment, and there is currently no word on when the show might hit the stage, and of course the cast of a reading is often not indicative of future productions.
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