As the curtain rises on Eagle High’s production of “Anastasia,” the actors get excited for the show. Tryouts were on Nov. 5 and callbacks were on Nov. 6. The theater teams spends all the way from November to February rehearsing for their production that will be in mid-February in the Eagle High auditorium.
The story begins in 1906 with a very young Anastasia receiving a beautiful music box from her Dowager Empress grandmother during the Russian revolution, during which, the entire royal family is captured and executed, leaving Anastasia presumed dead. The story then fast forwards to 1927 when rumors circulate that Anastasia lives.
A con man named Dimitri tries to find a girl who is a look alike to Anastasia to receive the bountiful reward from the Dowager Empress. They come across Anya, a girl who cannot remember her past. Dimitri convinces her to pretend to be Anastasia, and their adventure only starts as truths come to life.
“In the Disney film, the main villain is a wizard of some sort,” said senior Ally Godfrey. “In this musical, the villain isn’t someone who you would expect.” Godfrey gets to play the lead role as Anya.
Anya is a character who is strong-willed and compassionate. All she wants to find is her past and her family. Maybe even just a place of belonging. She is based on Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia and the whole story is based on the conspiracy that she may have survived the Russian Revolution.
Perhaps, Eagle High theater is putting their own twist on Anastasia. Several versions have been done of Anastasia, whether it’s Broadway or film adaptations.
“My favorite part so far has been getting to know the people around me. The drama program here at Eagle is amazing,” Godfrey said, “It’s so welcoming and if you want to join you will be accepted immediately.”
Tracy Harrison, the drama teacher at Eagle High, is putting together the whole show as well as her normal teacher responsibilities.
“I’m so excited for the performance. It’s going to be an amazing show,” Godfrey said. “It’s a lot of hard work but it’s going to be worth it. Come watch and find out.”
