ADRIAN — A sweeping historical romance kicked off the Croswell Opera House’s 2025 Broadway Season on May 9 when the theater presented opening night of “Anastasia.”
The musical, which is based on the 1997 film of the same name, continues through May 18. Remaining show dates are Thursday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 17 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, May 18 at 2:30 p.m.
“Anastasia” is based on the 1997 animated movie of the same name. It is a fictionalized version of the story of the Duchess Anastasia, who was rumored to have survived after her family was overthrown in the Russian Revolution.
In the show, a young woman named Anya is living in the newly renamed Leningrad with no memory of her past. She falls in with a pair of con men who hope to take advantage of her resemblance to the Duchess Anastasia to extract money from the Dowager Empress, now living in exile in Paris.
The Croswell’s production of “Anastasia” opened to rave reviews. Ron Baumanis of the website a2view.com wrote that Aubrie Lauren, who plays the role of Anya, “captivates the audience every moment she is on stage, whether drawing you in with her lyric vocals or capturing those moments of confusion, hope, betrayal, and charisma.”
Nate Adams of theonlycritic.com wrote that the dance in the production, choreographed by Sarah Nowak, “gives the show plenty of spark,” in particular praising the “elegance and precision” of an Act II scene that takes place at a ballet performance. Adams also described costume designer Sabriyah Davis’ work as “jaw-dropping,” saying that “from royal gowns to humble streetwear, the attention to detail and craftsmanship is on full display.”
Lauren is a graduate of the Austin Peay State University musical theater program who was previously seen in the Croswell’s productions of “Cabaret,” “Jersey Boys,” and “The Prom.”
The director of “Anastasia” is Stephen Kiersey, a veteran Croswell actor and director who is also a cofounder of the Adrian Shakespeare Company. The vocal director is Gabriel Hagedorn, the choreographer is Sarah Nowak, and the 14-piece live orchestra is led by Ray Novak.
In addition to Davis’ costumes, the grimness of post-revolutionary Leningrad and the glamour of Roaring Twenties Paris are brought to vivid life with lighting by Rachel Slupe, projections designer by Crosby Slupe, sound by Karl Kasischke, scenic design by Leo Babcock, and props by Beth Flumignan.
The show features a book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, the team that also wrote the musical “Ragtime.”
The cast of 38 people is drawn from all over southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio. Dmitry, one of the con artists and Anya’s love interest, is played by Maxwell Lam of Adrian. Vlad Popov, his partner in crime and surrogate father, is played by Jeffrey King of Temperance. Gleb Vaganov, the show’s main antagonist, is portrayed by Brian Jones of Maumee, Ohio.
The dowager empress is played by Mary Rumman of Milan, a veteran of many Croswell productions. Love Ruddell plays Countess Lily, the dowager empress’ lady-in-waiting.
Filling out the cast are Haylie Blohm, Cassidy Giddens, Everett Hanley, Meg Lam, Libby Pifer, Bryan Shane, Daisy Solis, Josiah Torrence, Ja’Vaughn White, Briella York, and Hallie Yuen, all of Adrian; Keith Rikli of Belleville; Mitchell LaRoy of Blissfield; Serenity Sanders Gerrild of Jackson; Joanna Bacarella and Olivia Bacarella of Monroe; Jonah Hiatt of Palmyra; Sami Chandler and Tim Chandler of Tecumseh; Jerold King and Emily Smith of Temperance; Ashley Thornton Murdock of West Bloomfield; Miriam Roth of Ypsilanti; Madeline Stewart and Hobbes Treynor of Holland, Ohio; Joshua Egnatuk of Luckey, Ohio; Maddie Burnham of Maumee, Ohio; Bella Bradbury of Monclova, Ohio; Kayla Garlick of Swanton, Ohio; and Will DuPuis and Abby Rose Hagedorn of Toledo.
Tickets range from $26 to $46 for adults and $16 to $26 for students, and may be ordered online at croswell.org or by calling 517-264-7469.
The Croswell reminds patrons that it will never sell tickets for more than the advertised price, so any website offering tickets for a higher price is a scam.
