The Lawrence High School Music and Drama Department transported audience members back to 1920s Russia with their production of “Anastasia” this week.
“Anastasia” follows a young amnesiac woman who may be the long-lost daughter of Russia’s last royal family, as she journeys from post-revolutionary Russia to Paris in search of her true identity. Along the way, she teams up with two con men planning to pass her off as the missing princess, only to discover that her connection to the Romanovs may be real.
Director Shelly Goldman said she felt an immediate pull to this story the first time she saw it as her family is from Russia and her first language is Russian.
“This is definitely a story that need story be told,” Goldman said. “Not only historically and what it meant to live in Russia during that time. But, it’s also fascinating because the story of ‘Anastasia’ is real, there have been people throughout history that believe they were here.”
Lawrence uses projections during their productions and Goldman said she was sold on this show once she saw the projection package offered with obtaining the rights.
“When I pick a show I really do look at that,” she said. “That is what creates such an amazing atmosphere and helped decide the show.”
As a song heavy production, Goldman said that she had the right students to perform this show.
“It is a difficult production and a lot of thought process goes into it,” Goldman said. “From the moment it was cast in October, most of them started sleeping listening to the music and learning the show.”
Arbi Corbita, a senior who plays Anastasia, said she watched the movie two days before auditions and fell in love with the songs, the score and staging.
“When I found out I was Anastasia I was really happy,” Corbita said. “I didn’t really know what to expect or step into with this role. I feel like I went into this as a challenge in my senior year and I wanted it to be beautiful and wonderful on stage.”
Corey Shakur, a junior who plays Dimitri, said he was intimidated when he found out that was this year’s production.
“It’s a big show and understanding that the stage was going to be all of Russia was intimidating,” Shakur said. “I feel like this show fits us very well because we all could play so many different characters.”
Last year, in the “Addams Family” Corbita and Shakur played father-daughter roles as Gomez and Wednesday. This year, they portray love interests and learned how to channel their close friendship into a palpable relationship on stage.
“I’m more comfortable with it because [Arbi] is my girl I love her,” he said. “We had to try and find it, the love. We love each other but we had to find the physical chemistry.”
Senior Jay Nixon who plays Vlad said that they are able to pour more emotion into their performance because the topic relates to today’s society.
“Representing that kind of history allows us to give more emotion and character,” Nixon said. “That’s something really important that we need to stress more. Getting into the whole tone is something we came together with.”
Corbita said that the song “Stay I Pray You” relates to society, as you don’t know what is coming next.
“We don’t know what is coming after and that’s what we can put into the show,” she said. “It’s the emotion so when people are watching the show will relate to how we’re portraying the characters.”
