As a fan of the 1997 film Anastasia, I had high expectations and was excited for the musical adaptation. The Tony-nominated musical, although slightly different from the film, did not disappoint.

Anastasia tells the story of the Grand Duchess Anastasia whose family was executed when their palace was invaded by the Bolsheviks. Years later, two men, Dmitry and Vlad, hear a rumor that Anastasia may have survived the attack, and they create a scheme to find a local girl who can pass as the Duchess in order to get money from her grandmother. They choose an orphan named Anya who is curious about her past. As their task goes on, they discover that Anya might actually be the Duchess.

The most impressive part of the show for me was the performance of lead Christy Altomare, who plays Anya. She had a charming stage presence and a beautiful, powerful voice. Altomare worked well alongside the characters of Vlad, played by John Bolton, and her love interest Dmitry, played by Derek Klena.

The musical featured songs from the film such as “Journey to the Past” and “A Rumor in St. Petersburg,” and the soundtrack was expanded with a number of original songs.

Although the actual set was somewhat simple compared to other Broadway productions, the use of projection screens in the background was an interesting aspect. However, an intricate set wasn’t really needed because the costumes, Anya’s in particular, are standouts of the show.

Overall, I would give Anastasia 4.5/5 stars. Although I felt like the story ended somewhat abruptly, the music, production and talent were impressive. I would highly recommend this musical to any fans of the film.