"Anastasia"

When we purchased a season subscription for the 2018-19 Broadway in Pittsburgh season, we all felt that "Anastasia" would be the one show where our expectations were the lowest.  How wrong we were.

This musical version of what what might have happened to the Princess Anastasia after the Romanov Family was executed in the 1917 Russian Revolution (right off the bat you might say, "they're going to do THIS as a musical comedy?") was a delightful experience.  Perhaps the most amazing aspect of this show were the sets.  It looks like that used a rear projection type of thing to change the backdrops of the various scenes.  The scene where the characters are riding on a train car is really cool.

The star of the show was young Lila Coogan as Anya, the street sweep who con artists Demitry and Vlad want to pain her off as the long missing Princess.  Miss Coogan was a wonderful singer and dancer and is quite lovely....

Lila Coogan

And did I mention that she is very young, although her own website does not list her age, she has to still be in her twenties.

While none of the songs in the show are destined to become classic popular tunes, they were quite pleasant and told the story very well.  I will note that the comic number in the show, "The Countess and the Common Man" in Act II was very funny and well performed by Tari Kelly as the Countess Lily and Edward Staudenmayer as Vlad.

Tari Kelly

Very good show and quite entertaining and enjoyable.  Terrific actors, wonderful music, beautiful costumes, and terrific staging.  What's not to like?  It runs through Sunday at the Benedum here in Pittsburgh.