ANASTASIA Previews- Page 3
ANASTASIA Previews
#50ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/23/17 at 11:01pm
TheSassySam said: "Tonight was rough (hello! Music box breaking?) But the highlight was Caroline O'Conner. If this show gets any acting Tony nominations. It'll be for her role as Lilly.
"
Yup, they said on IG that they have 6 boxes just in case something should happen. When did it break? And yes! I loved Caroline too!
GreasedLightning
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/11/14
#51ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/23/17 at 11:07pm
Hope all is OK sunset.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Act I. Though I have to say, the "no backs to the audience" note is something I haven't heard since high school theater. LOL. I see it happen pretty often, actually.
They're really banking on that "Fanastasia" stuff, huh?
#52ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/23/17 at 11:16pm
For this production, is A front row of the orchestra? Or is there double letters?
lambchop2
Stand-by Joined: 8/18/12
#53ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/23/17 at 11:16pm
Re: Gleb
Interesting... the character had empathy in Hartford--did they remove scenes like where he warns Anya about her eyes?
#54ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/23/17 at 11:17pm
disneybroadwayfan22 said: "TheSassySam said: "Tonight was rough (hello! Music box breaking?) But the highlight was Caroline O'Conner. If this show gets any acting Tony nominations. It'll be for her role as Lilly.
"
Yup, they said on IG that they have 6 boxes just in case something should happen. When did it break? And yes! I loved Caroline too!
"
During Once Upon a December! To be honest, the audience was enchanted that it didn't even matter. But there was an audible gasp from both the stage and audience. Haha.
#55ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/23/17 at 11:18pm
Hope everything is alright, sunset. Appreciate you taking the time to write up Act 1 for us! I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it.
*Plot discussion below*
@TheSassySam: I seem to recall the Hartford script had him realizing he did not want to be like his father, taking orders without a question. Or at least that was the implication from the preceding dialogue. Is that thread gone from the Broadway version, then?
#57ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/23/17 at 11:30pm
disneybroadwayfan22 said: "Song list??
"
ACT I
Prologue: Once Upon a December - Dowager Empress and Little Anastasia
The Last Dance of the Romanovs - Ensemble
A Rumor in St Petersburg - Dmitry, Vlad and Ensemble
In My Dreams - Anya
The Rumors Never End - Gleb and Ensemble
Learn to Do It - Vlad, Anya, Dmitry
The Neva Flows - Glen and Anya
The Neva Flows (Reprise) - Men
My Petersburg - Dmitry and Anya
Once Upon a December - Anya and Ensemble
A Secret She Kept - Anya
Stay, I Pray You - Count Ipolitov, Anya, Dmitry, Vlad Ensemble
We'll Go From There - Vlad, Anya, Dmitry, Ensemble
Traveling Sequence - Gorlinsky, Anya Dmitry Vlad
Still - Gleb
Journey to the Past - Anya
Act II
Paris Holds the Key (To Your Heart) - Vlad, Dmitry, Anya and Ensemble
crossing a Bridge - Anya
Close the Door - Dowager Empress
Land of Yesterday (showstopper, imo) - Countess Lilly and Ensemble
The Countess and the Common Man - Vlad and Countess Lilly
Land of Yesterday (Reprise) - Gleb
A Nightmare - Romanov Children, Tsar and Tsarina (this song gave the classic line, "I have a secret! Im gonna die soon."
Ina Crowd of Thousands - Dmitry and Anya
Meant to Be - Vlad
Quartet at the Ball - Anya, Dmitry, Dowager Enpress, Greb Ensemble
Everything to Win - Dmitry
Once Upon a December (Reprise) - Anya and Dowager Empress
The Press Conference - Countess Lilly, Vlad and Ensemble
Everything to Win (Reprise) - Anya
Still/The Neva Flows(reprise) - Greb, Anya and Ensemble
Finale - Anya, Dmitry and Company
10086sunset
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/16
#58ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/23/17 at 11:35pm
GreasedLightning said: "Hope all is OK sunset.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Act I. Though I have to say, the "no backs to the audience" note is something I haven't heard since high school theater. LOL. I see it happen pretty often, actually.
They're really banking on that "Fanastasia" stuff, huh? "
LMAO. Greased, it's really true, it also takes me back to high school.
Yes, they are banking hard on the "Fanastasia" stuff.
10086sunset
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/16
#59ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/23/17 at 11:37pm
Thanks everyone for the kind words and warm wishes. They were certainly much appreciated.
#60ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/23/17 at 11:43pm
Question, SassySam, since I don't want to quote the whole post: In Act 2, does the song you listed as "Meant To Be" replace "I Never Should Have Let Them Dance," or is it still that same melody? (Apologies for all the questions - 90s kid here who's a little too excited about this show finally arriving :)
#61ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/23/17 at 11:49pm
Wow so much changes! And btw: you meant Ballet right?
EDIT: Oh snap Anya's brown hair is back! Thank God!
#62ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/23/17 at 11:58pm
disneybroadwayfan22 said: "Wow so much changes! And btw: you meant Ballet right?
EDIT: Oh snap Anya's brown hair is back! Thank God!
I'm guessing you saw this Insta pic of curtain call: https://www.instagram.com/p/BSAUDDlFKH1/
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#63ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/24/17 at 12:41am
A bit perplexed by the lack of responses after tonight's first preview...
Eliza2
Broadway Star Joined: 1/7/16
#64ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/24/17 at 12:42am
LimelightMike said: "For this production, is A front row of the orchestra? Or is there double letters?"
A is front row. I was row B tonight.
I agree that there were parts in Act 1 that dragged. I thought Act 2 was much better, and I credit most of that to Caroline O'Connor and Mary Beth Peil. They were wonderful.
#65ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/24/17 at 4:59am
Tell me they got the blue ballet dress from the movie back
#66ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/24/17 at 8:27am
BroadwayConcierge said: "A bit perplexed by the lack of responses after tonight's first preview..."
I agree. Is there anyone else who was there last night willing to give their review?
#67ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/24/17 at 8:57am
10086sunset said: "GreasedLightning said: "
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Act I. Though I have to say, the "no backs to the audience" note is something I haven't heard since high school theater. LOL. I see it happen pretty often, actually.
They're really banking on that "Fanastasia" stuff, huh? "
LMAO. Greased, it's really true, it also takes me back to high school.
Yes, they are banking hard on the "Fanastasia" stuff."
I thought the ads all over nyc looked a bit odd when Anastasia wasn't had her back towards the audience (you only see the back of her hair and dress.) normally in ad you show a beautiful face to promote the show.
Theres no rush/lottery option for Anastasia right?
#68ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/24/17 at 9:06am
I'm very excited again now after hearing the FB clip live...
I think given that this is (I believe) the first 21st/FOX adaptation into B'way that they are willing to spend a few rubles.
I'm glad that Caroline is great but never doubted she wouldn't be. Clips online from Follies, etc, she even slayed at the Tonys w/ A Christmas Story.
Mary Beth Piel should be great also. Any feedback on MBP or RK? [..and boy, they added a ton of songs didn't they?]
Can't wait..seeing this and HD on same day. The costumes and sets will spoil me I'm sure.
I Can Has Cheezburger With This?
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#69ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/24/17 at 9:19am
Hi all-- don't worry, I have a report! I completely disagree with basically everything Sassy Sam wrote- "But the highlight was Caroline O'Conner. If this show gets any acting Tony nominations. It'll be for her role as Lilly. "
Really?
Anyway, I digress.
I loved the show in Hartford and I love it on Broadway. To be honest, they've done a lot of work. There are lots of new lyrics in Rumor in St Petersburg and some dialogue changes all through the first act. Some of them seemed to be fine to me before, but the new ones are just as good. It seems that they clarified some of the political stuff to make it easier to understand-- there's a new line about spies. I don't have my Hartford playbill handy but I feel like some stuff may have been moved around. IIRC there was a bad Gleb song near the top of the show that is now gone, or changed significantly. Gleb has a new song near the end of the first act called Still, right before Journey to the Past, which is much improved.
The pacing of the first act did seem a little off to me, but it was a first preview so that is to be expected.
I have to say I applaud the work they've done on Gleb, and casting Ramin was a fantastic choice. He really brings the appropriate amount of menace and the motivations are clearer-- it is still a little muddy but again, much improved IMO. There isn't a weird why is he so obsessed with her? is he in love with her? thing anymore, it's about his father and his father's legacy.
Christy did drop the music box, but no one in the mezz audibly gasped or noticed, despite reports to the contrary upthread. There was a loud bang and then when she was holding it the top was gone. It was fine, she hid it nicely.
I truly think the leading performances by Christy and Derek are wonderful, and Mary Beth Peil and John Bolton should not be counted out awards time.
The set! Holy wow the set is stunning. It was gorgeous in Hartford but it's 10x better now. Bigger and more video screens and it is just beautiful. You have to see it to believe it. The costumes too are just beautiful.
The ending is the same as it was in Hartford and still feels like a bit of a cop out, but like I said, Ramin really sells it. "Paris Holds the Key to Your Heart" has been completely restaged--- they all sort of danced around a small Eiffel Tower in Hartford. There is none of that here-- it lands much better.
Happy to answer any questions!
bwayrose7- Meant to Be is the same melody and it is now used throughout the act. It really works nicely.
Concierge- as far as lack of responses here, the audience seemed to be almost entirely tourists, especially in the mezz. There was a massive tour group from the South behind me. It was packed with many tourists and people who are not traditional theater audiences.
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#70ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/24/17 at 9:23am
Hooray! Had been looking forward to hearing from you all night, neon 
Could you speak a little more specifically to Christy and her Anya? Has she grown in the role since you saw her last summer? Would you say she's giving a performance worthy of "locking" (though I hate that word) her in as a Lead Actress Tony nomination?
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#71ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/24/17 at 9:27am
If I was on the Tony nominating committee, I would certainly nominate Christy as Anya, but they don't usually do what I think they should do. So we'll see.
She has definitely grown in the role, but she is just so wonderful. She really captures the spunkiness and the optimism of the character but there is no doubt that she can take care of herself. She is massively vulnerable, but also really feisty, and she has a clear arc as she becomes Anastasia (spoiler!) in the second act. She handles all the big songs with absolute grace and she was in great voice.
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#72ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/24/17 at 9:35am
Sorry, me again. I also wanted to point out that Ramin's Gleb is more like a Javert character than it was before. He pops up in a few scenes following them to Paris, so it's not so abrupt when he appears at the end.
curel1
Featured Actor Joined: 6/15/16
#73ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/24/17 at 9:51am
Neon, thanks for your report! I can't wait to see this.
Just a couple of questions:
You already kinda answered this but compared to Hartford, is Anya a bit more feisty here?
I'm glad they changed the staging Paris is the Key! Could you go into more detail about that?
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#74ANASTASIA Previews
Posted: 3/24/17 at 9:59am
I mean I thought she was feisty in Hartford, so not a ton more so here.
They have some gorgeous projections of the city in the background, and it's just a different sort of big dance number. Some of the famous artists still appear (Gertrude Stein & Josephine Baker), but it may have less of them? Sorry, it's sort of hard to describe. It's more about Vlad, Anya, and Dmitry arriving and being excited about all Paris has to offer, with the sumptuous views behind them.
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