Broadway's Anastasia arrives at Festival Theatre for strictly limited season

The wait is over!

Hit Broadway musical ANASTASIA to premiere in Adelaide this week

★ ★ ★ ★ “Theatrical Magic” – Time Out Melbourne
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ‘A wonderful, uplifting evening’s entertainment’ Theatre Matters
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ‘Visually stunning, costuming is divine and the cast are fantastic in every way’ Lilithia Reviews
★ ★ ★ ★ ‘A fairytale where history, heart and hope intertwine’ Melbournise Me

After wowing audiences in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, the highly-anticipated major Broadway musicalANASTASIA, will open at Adelaide’s Festival Theatre this Sunday for a strictly limited season.

The cast includes Georgina Hopson as Anya, Robert Tripolino as charming con artist Dmitry, Joshua Robson in the role of antagonist Gleb, Rodney Dobson as Vlad, themuch-loved Rhonda Burchmore as Countess Lily and theatre icon Nancye Hayes AM in the role of the Dowager Empress.

The local Adelaide performers who scored the coveted role of Little Anastasia are Isla Bahrami (9 years old), Audrey Burnett (11 years old), Daisy Goodall (10 years old) and Aria Rose Piteo (10 years old).

With its opulent settings, dazzling costumes and a soaring score, Time Out Melbourne called Anastasia a “charming theatre experience’” that was “destined to deliver theatrical magic” while The Music said it was “a theatrical spectacle that dazzles on every front and will leave you spellbound” and Beat Magazine said that the musical’s “dazzling Australian premiere is rich with powerful performances.”

The ensemble cast includes Sophia Bae, Elliot Baker, Nicholas Cunningham, Davis Giotopoulos Moore, Todd Goddard, Matthew Jenson, Stephanie Kurlow, Bella Minniti, Nathan Stafford, Alexis Van Maanen, Patrick Volpe, Annie Wilson, Deone Zanotto, and Andrea Zappacosta with the Swings team featuring Manon Gunderson-Briggs, Iosefa Laga'aia, Nathan Pinnell and Emma Russell.

Inspired by the mysterious tale of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov’s rumoured escape in the dawning days of the Russian Revolution, and the 20th Century Fox animated fairytale of the same name, ANASTASIA has been brought to life on the stage by the Tony Award-winning creative team of Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.

ANASTASIA is a lavish musical for all ages, transporting audiences from the twilight years of the Imperial rule to the euphoria and exuberance of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman named Anya sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by an army officer determined to silence her, she 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.

There have been two films telling the captivating story of Anastasia including the 1956 film with Ingrid Bergman, Helen Hayes, and Yul Brynner and the 1997 20th Century Fox animated film, which featured a score by the musical’s creators, Ahrens and Flaherty.

Directed by Tony Award winning director Darko Tresnjak, ANASTASIA premiered on Broadway in March 2017 and played to sold out audiences for three years before productions in Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Brazil, Mexico and Japan as well as two North American tours. It also received a Tony Award nomination for Best Costume Design in a Musical and won more than 15 major international awards including Best Musical awards in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.

The book for ANASTASIA was written by the late five time Tony Award winning writer Terrence McNally, whose credits include Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. Music and lyrics for ANASTASIA were written by the renowned writing team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens who have been referred to as “one of the greatest songwriting teams in Broadway history” (Chicago Tribune).

They have received theatre, film and music’s highest honours including the Tony Award, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Olivier Awards for Ragtime, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes and four Grammys. In 2014 they received the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement and in 2015 they were inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame.

“Fantastical, intelligent, well-crafted, and exhilarating, ANASTASIA deserves a coronation!” – The Wall Street Journal

“Captivating, beautifully staged and emotionally vital. ANASTASIA hits the sweet spot!” – The Hollywood Reporter

“One of the most gorgeous shows in years! Luscious, lavish, and a joy that leaves you cheering. This is a grandiloquent feast for the senses you won’t soon forget.” – The New York Observer

 ANASTASIA – THE BROADWAY MUSICAL

John Frost for Crossroads Live, Opera Australia and Adelaide Festival Centre in special collaboration with Stage Entertainment Productions, Tom Kirdahy, Hunter Arnold & Dan Hinde 

Festival Theatre, Adelaide
2-30 August 2026

 For further information, please visit www.anastasiathemusical.com.au or follow us on socials via @anastasiathemusicalau #AnastasiaAU