Veronica Stern portrays Anya in the North American tour of “Anastasia.” The musical comes to Indianapolis from Oct. 18 to 23 at Old National Centre.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
The fate of Princess Anastasia is a historical mystery that has captured the imagination.
Legend has it that the teenage scion of the Russian czar may have survived execution by Bolsheviks in the revolutionary days of 1918 Russia. What may have become of her is the framework around “Anastasia,” the hit Broadway musical coming to Indianapolis Oct. 18 to 23.
But more than solving a royal mystery, the heart of the performance comes from quest of discovery of the central characters, Anya.
“It is the story of her trying to figure out who she is. That’s something we can all relate to — we’re all searching for that each and every day,” said Veronica Stern, the actress currently portraying Anya in “Anastasia.”
The musical, based on the 1997 animated film of the same name, takes audiences from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.
Adapted into a musical by the Tony Award-winning creators of the Broadway classic “Ragtime,” the show debuted on Broadway in 2017 and subsequently played to sold out audiences for more than three years before expanding. The touring show has gone across North America, and to Japan, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands.
Stern, who played Anya for the first time on Aug. 26, took some time between performances to share about herself and what makes this musical so special.
What led you towards musical theater in the first place?
I think that I just love that theater is this live, performing arts kind of thing. You get to just experience it in the moment. I saw a lot of Broadway shows as a kid; I grew up in New York. So seeing that up on stage, I was very interested in doing that. It kind of all led from there.
At what point did you realize it was something you wanted to do as a career?
I went to a performing arts sleepaway camp as a kid, and I remember there being a class one time where they were like, ‘If this is what you love to do, you should do it.’ I really thought about that, and said to myself there are a lot of different things that I love, but really, really want to do this one day, on a big stage. So I kind of went from there and followed that passion.
How did you come to be part of “Anastasia”?
I got the audition from my agent, and went through the audition process, the call-back process. I’ve always loved (Lynn) Ahrens and (Stephen) Flaherty’s musicals, like ‘Ragtime’ and ‘Once on this Island,’ so this music really drew me to this story. It’s the most beautiful music in musical theater, so I just feel really lucky that I get to sing it every night.
What is it that makes this show so special?
What makes ‘Anastasia’ special is that everyone can walk away from it feeling like they identify with Anya. It’s also filled with mystery and adventure and romance, so it’s really a well-rounded musical in that sense. You can come in and enjoy the music, then leave really loving the story.
With your character Anya, how did you try to convey what she was like?
Terrence McNally, the author of the play, really made that easy for me. And of course, through the direction of Sarah Hartman, they really helped me realize that Anya is a woman searching for her identity. The questions she asks throughout the show, the dreams she has, really propels her forward. That’s how I got into who Anya is.
What has it been like working on the show since you joined on in August?
It’s been a whirlwind. It’s been so fun, the cast is amazing, the crew is amazing. Like I said, I grew up in New York, so the idea of a national tour is new for me. It’s so exciting to get to see the country in this way, to explore a city during the day and do what I love during the night. I just feel really, really lucky. It truly is unreal.
For people who come to the show in Indianapolis, what do you hope they take away from it?
“I hope that anybody who comes to see ‘Anastasia’ walks away feeling a renewed sense of excitement about what life has to offer. I feel like ‘Anastasia,’ for lack of a better term, the story doesn’t exactly have an ending — it’s more of a beginning. The story ends at the beginning of Anya’s next adventure. Hopefully that will leave audience members excited and so eager to see what they can do next.”
IF YOU GO
“Anastasia”
What: The touring Broadway musical based on the hit film
When: Oct. 18-23
Where: Old National Centre, 502 N New Jersey St, Indianapolis
Tickets and information: ticketmaster.com
