A 31-member cast will present the Broadway musical 鈥淎nastasia鈥� April 24-26 on 野狼社区 University's historic Kirkpatrick mainstage.
The theatrical adaptation of the 1997 Oscar-nominated animated film debuted on Broadway in 2017, where it won raves from The New York Times (鈥淎 monster hit!鈥�) and Time Out New York which praised the show as 鈥渁 sweeping adventure, romance and historical epic that piles discovery upon discovery.鈥�
The OCU Bass School of Music鈥檚 production, featuring a 15-piece chamber orchestra and original costumes, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. April 24 and 25, with a 2 p.m. April 26 matinee. A pre-show tea celebrating 鈥済randmothers, granddaughters, queens and princesses鈥� will be held at 1 p.m. April 26 in the Bass Music Center Atrium.
Tickets to the musical ($20-$36) and the celebration tea ($10) are available at or by calling 405-208-5227. A free talk by director Karen Coe Miller will be held 30 minutes before curtain of each performance.
Inspired by the real-life story of a princess rumored to have escaped revolutionaries鈥� 1918 execution of the imperial Romanov family, the show transports audiences from the final days of the Russian Empire to Paris in the Roaring 鈥�20s. The title character is an enigmatic orphan trying to unravel the mystery of her past while dealing with a pair of charming conmen and fleeing a Soviet officer determined to hunt her down.
鈥淭his musical is a powerful story about each character鈥檚 search for identity,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淎nastasia is haunted by her past and driven by dreams of a future in which she finds a sense of home. Through her journey she finally discovers what home truly means for her, and that it rests in her heart.鈥�
The Tony-nominated show features music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and a book by Terrence McNally. Its songs include 鈥淛ourney to the Past鈥� and 鈥淥nce Upon a December.鈥�
OCU鈥檚 creative team includes Miller as director; Matthew Mailman, music director; Alana Martin, choreographer; Taylor Hutchinson, assistant conductor/vocal coach; Ari Johnson, costume design; Tess Rosen, scenic design; Peyton Rucker, lighting design; Zadari Elizondo, sound design; Dixie Huckabay, props designer; and Jessica Seaton, production stage manager.
The Bass School of Music is home to the nation鈥檚 oldest campus-based troupe specializing in both opera and music theater, now celebrating its 74th consecutive season.
OCU has been honored with 11 National Opera Association production awards, and selected multiple times by Playbill for its honor roll of top schools educating Broadway performers. For details, visit okcu.edu/music.
