Duluth Playhouse Youth Theatre to kick off 2024-2025 season

This Fall, Duluth Playhouse Youth Theatre is excited to present ANASTASIA: THE MUSICAL (Youth Edition), running November 8-10 at the NorShor Theatre.

Starring 28 talented young performers from the Twin Ports community, this one-act adaptation of the Broadway hit is crafted specifically for young actors and audiences.

From the Tony Award-winning creators of Ragtime and Once On This IslandAnastasia is a spectacular new musical about discovering who you are and defining who you’re meant to be. The story follows Anya, a brave young woman determined to uncover the mystery of her past. Orphaned and living in post-revolutionary Russia with no memory of her life before age 17, she embarks on a journey to find her family and, more importantly, herself.

Along the way, Anya is joined by Dmitry, a charming con man, and Vlad, a lovable ex-aristocrat, who believe she may be the long-lost Grand Duchess Anastasia. Together, they hatch a plan to escape Russia and journey to Paris, where Anya hopes to find her family and reclaim her heritage.

“Through her journey to remember who she is, Anya discovers that family extends beyond blood ties,” says Duluth Playhouse’s Director of Education & Youth Programming, Denise Ruemping, who is directing the musical. “Audiences today can relate to her quest for identity. In our increasingly diverse world, we all embark on similar journeys, searching for our own sense of belonging and connection with others.”

With its opulent settings, dazzling costumes, and soaring score, Anastasia features songs from the beloved animated film, including “Journey to the Past” and “Once Upon a December.”

Tickets are now on sale. To book seats, please visit the box office at the NorShor Theatre Monday through Friday 10am-5pm or call 218-733-7555, or visit duluthplayhouse.org

ANASTASIA: THE MUSICAL (Youth Edition)

Book by Terrence NcNally

Music by Stephen Flaherty

Lyrics by Lynne Ahrens

Inspired by the Twentieth Century Fox Motion Pictures by special arrangement with Buena Vista Theatrical

From the play by Marcelle Maurette as adapted by Guy Bolton

Performances:

Friday, November 8 at 7PM

Saturday, November 9 at 2PM

Saturday, November 9 at 5PM (ASL Interpreted Performance)

Sunday, November 10 at 2PM (Relaxed Performance)

Sunday, November 10 at 5PM

 

Creative Team:

Director: Denise Ruemping

Music Director: Elizabeth Brophy 

Choreographer: Karina Wyman 

Stage Manager: Katie Pakkebier

Assistant Director: JJ McManus

 

Cast:

ANYA: Bea Martin

DMITRY: Ferris Buhler

VLAD: Mikah Erdmann

DOWAGER EMPRESS: Addy Wheeler

GLEB: Elsie Sather

LILY: Isabella Lampi

YOUNG ANASTASIA/ENSEMBLE: Norah Benedict

COUNT LEOPOLD/ENSEMBLE & GLEB u/s: Liam Neitzel

TSAR NICHOLAS II/ENSEMBLE & VLAD u/s: Berlin Johnson

TSARINA ALEXANDRA/ENSEMBLE & LILY u/s: Gabriella McDonald

COUNTESS IPOLITOV/ENSEMBLE & DMITRY u/s: Iris Mae Granger

LUDA/ENSEMBLE & SWING: Nola Senarighi

MARFA/ENSEMBLE: Jones Luoma-Mattson

PAULINA/ENSEMBLE: Eleanor Eichman

DUNYA/ENSEMBLE: Sadie Pollard

GORLINSKY/ENSEMBLE: Peter Boman

MIRA/ENSEMBLE & YOUNG ANASTASIA u/s: Olive Clark

GALINA/ENSEMBLE & ANYA u/s: Natylee Anderson

POLICEMAN 1/ENSEMBLE: Atlee Laurent

MIKHAIL/ANASTASIA’S BROTHER/ENSEMBLE: Carson Waldo

SASHA/ENSEMBLE: Grace Annis

NIKOLA/ENSEMBLE & SWING: Emma Schuyler

GOVERNMENT WORKER/ENSEMBLE: Azalea Nelson

ALEXEI/EXILED RUSSIAN/ENSEMBLE: Violet Fletcher

POLICEMAN 2/ENSEMBLE: Amelia Hietala-Cavanaugh

ANASTASIA’S SISTER/ENSEMBLE & DOWAGER EMPRESS u/s: Hayden David

ANASTASIA’S SISTER/ENSEMBLE: Violet Granger

ANASTASIA’S SISTER/ENSEMBLE: Olivia McKenna

 

Duluth Playhouse offers exceptional entertainment, training, and performance opportunities in theatre arts that inspires, challenges, and engages the region we serve. Founded in 1914, the Playhouse is one of the nation’s oldest non-profit theatres. Producing year-round seasons packed with plays and musicals, Duluth Playhouse also provides the community with year-round programming within our School of Performing Arts for youth and adults alike.

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