Anastasia musical?

[kurt.perry41]

I thought Aaron Lazar had been cast in that role?

[EricMontreal22]

I was kinda hoping they would cut Rasputin all together, but maybe that would be too hard. As long as we don't have someone playing Bartok the bat...

[JohnyBroadway]

He could be playing the Kelsey grammar character.

[random person 112]

He even looks like the character.

[kurt.perry41]

I hope he is, He'd be FABULOUS!!!

[beautywickedlover]

New people have joined:

"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."

In the film, Vladimir was Dimitri's friend. So, this must be a new character since they are not including Rasputin.





Exclusive: Crawford, Barrett, Halston, Page Join Tveit, Lansbury, Lazar in ANASTASIA Reading!

[jv92]

Wasn't Vladimir the lovable, chubby sidekick to the hero in the film? They're making him the villain? That's interesting.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

^ or Broadway World could be totally wrong. But who is Gleb?

[jv92]

They might not be wrong, since there's no actor listed as playing Rasputin, the villain in the film.

[Wynbish]

There's no Bartok. Thank God.

[degrassifan]

Aww! Vladimir was so nice and friendly in the movie! I hope they don't make him the villain, but who knows?

[JulesReverie]

Oh how I hated hated HATED Bartok as a kid, almost as much as I hated Alfie and Jar Jar Binks, so I too am beyond thrilled he's been cut(the Rasputin and Bartok scenes were so cringe-worthy not just for an adult)

If Vlad being the villain is the price to pay for not having Rasputin and Bartok then it's WORTH IT

[jv92]

Didn't Bartok get his own direct-to-video sequel too?

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Or maybe cuddly Vladmir from the film is replaced by Gleb (?) and this Vladmir is a new character. Or maybe Patrick Page won't be playing a villain, like he often has?

[jv92]

FIFTEEN new A&F songs? They're writing ROCKY, LITTLE DANCER and this? Sounds like they're pretty busy songwriters.

[loliveve]

I'm kind of sad that Bartok has been cut. I know it's not practical to have a bat character, especially if they drop Rasputin and the evil magic elements, but that little bat was funny. My favorite line: "Stress, it's a killer sir." That's followed closely by: "Oh sure, blame the bat, we're easy targets..." Regardless, I'm glad the movie is being brought to life! :)

[jv92]

I don't think Terrence McNally knew how to really write for a bat, though. He's too used to writing really good stuff for human beings. Maybe if they asked the great librettists behind LEAP OF FAITH, though?

I'm hoping, though, for a more serious take on the Anastasia story. By "serious" I don't mean gloom and doom. I mean, not a cartoon version. The cartoon was charming, but this is the theater.

[finebydesign]

I watched this movie a few months ago and thought it was so-so. The Rasputin/Bartok thing was just terrible. I might be mistaken, but most of the Rasputin stuff was just to push the plot along. He didn't really need to be in the and was more of plot device. Seems like there is more than enough material with the con and Anastasia self-discovery. That magic, Disney villain and action sequences are probably best left out.

[beautywickedlover]

"That magic, Disney villain and action sequences are probably best left out."

This film was distributed by 20th Century Fox.

[rjm516]

Oh I got confused between the Aarons. I would prefer Aaron Lazar as Dmitri!

[loliveve]

If I remember the history correctly, the magic and villain sequences were in there because of the myths surrounding Rasputin as "the mad monk," who supposedly possessed mystical powers. Rasputin was poisoned with cyanide but didn't die. Next, he was shot. Some reports said he died then and came back to life. The person who shot him said his face came off and his eyes came out of their sockets-- thus the scene in the movie when Bartok says Rasputin is losing his head and the eyes pop out.

Also, Vladimir (in real life) was one of the conspirators in the death of Rasputin. Vladimir he believed the tsar was secretly helping Germany in WWI. So I guess in that manner it makes sense to have him as a villain.

And if you're wondering why on earth I know this stuff, it's just because I like looking at animated portrayals of history, and then looking up the actual stories to compare.

[finebydesign]

"This film was distributed by 20th Century Fox."

And? Anyone that saw that movie knows exactly what I'm talking about.

[bwayrose7]

I really liked Vlad as the surrogate father figure- it made a dynamic more interesting than just a buddy-duo with Dimitri. Also, who are Gleb and Lily?? Could Lily be replacing the Sophie character?

[Jonwo]

Interesting that the producer is Stage Entertainment rather than 20th Century Fox although I imagine Fox has some involvement. Stage Entertainment have produced musicals for the European market like Elisabeth and Tanz de Vampire as well as shows like Sister Act so I think Anastasia is in safe hands should it become a full musical.

[finebydesign]

Here is the poster, sorry I couldn't get a bigger size. Despite this press release, the news today is that it will open in Moscow in 2013 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty.

[Will42]

Is this for real?
Could you, please, tell if there is any chance that actors who currently taking part in the reading would fly to Moscow as well (all I care is about Lansbury's involvement to be honest) or it will be a local production?