Live theater is back in Philadelphia and I was excited to take in my first musical, Anastasia, at the Merriam Theater.
From the Tony Award®-winning creators of the Broadway classic Ragtime, 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, Anya, sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer, Gleb, determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman, Dimitry, and a lovable ex-aristocrat Vlad. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.
Kyla Stone stars as Anya. Kyla is a Black woman playing the role of a Russian princess but her powerful performance swept me away and I was mesmerized by her beautiful voice. The chemistry between Kyla and Sam McClellan’s Dimitry made me believe that these two would have their happily ever after. However, it was Bryan Seastrom’s Vlad who stole the show. He brought a lightness and levity to the story of a woman trying to remember who she was.
The staging of the show is amazing. The stage was transformed from a palace to a street corner to the Paris of the Roaring 20’s. Kudos to the stage manager and set designer!
If you go to the show, arrive early. The Merriam Theater is serious about checking vaccination cards and IDs and the line, while it moves quickly, is long. A mask is required.
The show runs through Sunday, November 28 and tickets can be purchased online through the Kimmel Cultural Center site. An American Sign Language (ASL) and Audio Description (AD) Performance Friday, NOV 26, 7:30 PM
The show run time is 2 hours and 25 minutes with intermission so plan parking accordingly.
The Merriam Theater is located at 250 S Broad St Philadelphia, PA 19102
Enjoy the show and have the courage to journey to the past.
Disclaimer: I was given complimentary tickets to see Anastasia in exchange for my honest review.
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