TMC Arts’ ‘Anastasia’ Opens April 19

photo credit: Ben Krantz

Tori Speed stars as Anya in Anastasia.

TMC Arts’ Creative Director Dayna Speed is excited to announce the opening of Anastasia, April 19-29 at the Douglas Morrisson Theatre in Hayward. “There are a lot of ‘FIRSTS,’ Speed enthused. This is the first musical at the Morrisson Theater since before the pandemic and the first opportunity Bay Area audiences will have to see this Tony Award-winning musical as a full-scale production.  Don’t miss this amazing production set in Imperial Russia and the roaring 20s of Paris. With a cast of 32 actors, a live orchestra, the beautiful Alan Menkin score and luscious costumes by Ronda White, audiences will experience “the full magic of a musical.”

Anastasia is based on the 1997 animated film.  The survival of Anatasia, the youngest member of the Romanov family, after the Bolshevik Revolution has long been part of Russian folklore. In this version, there is no Rasputin and Bartok the Bat.  Anya (Anastasia), a Russian orphan, travels from Russia across Europe to Paris to discover the secrets of who she once was.  Though she struggles with memory loss, she keeps fear at bay and never loses sight of her self-determination.

As a mother of a daughter, Speed chose Anastasia as her first production with the Douglas Morrisson Theatre to celebrate strong women. Yes, this show has the markings of a Disney princess, but Anya is never a damsel in distress.  Speed says, “It is so important to see a princess who is resilient and has a strong survival instinct. Anya is a champion.  She’s a fierce princess with a positive attitude.  She encourages all those around her to become better versions of themselves.”  This is a grownup version of Anastasia. For tickets:  Douglasmorrissontheatre.thundertix.com or 510-881-6777.