"Anastasia" Dazzles at the Hollywood Pantages Now Thru October 27

A magnificent magnum opus, Anastasia is playing at The Hollywood Pantages Theatre, now through October 27. Treat your loved ones to an enchanted evening of breathtaking sets, top notch talent, superb choreography, exquisite costumes, and mesmerizing musical numbers. Who can ask for anything more? You will be reminded that musical theatre at its finest surpasses all other forms of live entertainment.

Don't anticipate an adaptation of the Disney cartoon. Anastasia is adult fare, with a provocative and profound message. Each actor is a star in their own right. Kudos upfront to the dynamic duo of Tari Kelly as Countess Lily and Edward Staudenmayer as Vlad, with their scene stealing song, “The Countess and the Common Man.” These two superlative triple threats are a captivating couple who have the audience at hello. Powers that be, please get them their own show STAT!!

It never ceases to amaze me how the enthusiastic and energized cast keep up their stamina night after night. It’s not like film where you get take after take until you reach the optimum result. Yet these superb artists never seem to falter. No wonder theatre goers are left breathless. There’s nary a stir in the house from the moment the curtain opens until the much deserved bows and subsequent standing ovations. The crowd remains aghast throughout!!

Leave it to live musical theatre to lift your spirits, spark soulfulness, inspire passion, ignite creativity, and illicit joy and laughter. Forget your troubles, worries, and woes. Hurry on down to the Pantages, where every seat has an excellent view. You’ll feel like you’re in on all the action. Expect to experience the fire, fervor, zealousness, and emotion, further establishing the fact that Anastasia is a true work of art!

The Patch is privileged to have conducted an exclusive interview with the brilliant thespian, Edward Staudenmayer (Vlad), who is as charming and eloquent on the telephone as he is on the stage. “It’s a dream come true to perform at the Pantages,” Edward revealed. “I’m happy to be home. I miss California so much. It’s great to see family and friends and represent UCLA (his alma mater).”

Edward expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play a character such as Vlad, which called for developing distinct voices, e.g. using a lower register. “I did research for the role in Europe and got to hang out with a prince. I felt like Vlad, a common man, hanging out with royalty.”

“I first turned down the audition for Anastasia because I didn’t think it was for me,” Edward candidly relayed. However, “The part has been expanded with a huge story line for Vlad, an improvement on the cartoon.”

It was a bit of a burden to don the “big furry coats and hats in the first act which takes place in Russia," Edward explained when asked if there were any challenges. “It can get pretty hot under all that garb.” He’s thankful for the second act, which takes place in Paris, where he gets to “perform the show stopper number with the Countess Lilly (played by the beyond belief marvel, Tari Kelly).”

Edward disclosed how close he’s gotten to his costar Tari. “The idea of her ever leaving the show” would be unimaginable. He’s also blown away by the skill that little Anastasia (Delilah Rose Pellow) has, as well as, Dmitry (Jake Levy) who performed his role for the first time on opening night. He attributes Jake’s expertise to his training at UCLA, their shared place of studies.

According to Edward, the take away for Anastasia “in addition to being a story about hope, family, and love, is that American musical theatre is well and alive. Anastasia, written by the guys who did Ragtime, is the greatest American musical since Sweeney Todd. It’s a fantasy based on reality with incredible costumes, a great escape.”

Edward is in awe of the video screens used in Anastasia that “look like painted scenery. You ask yourself are they real or the video. It’s a forced perspective with technical special effects that have never been done to this level.”

During the scene on the train, the conductor has two buttons to push on the downbeat so everyone is in sync; similarly with the ride in the elevator up the Eiffel Tower. Edward acknowledges “it’s an enormous feat to keep the same beat.” (Praise for scenic design goes to the genius, Alexander Dodge.)

Edward admits the acting bug was inaugurated after getting a part in his high school production of The Music Man. He had been playing football, but gave it up to “be able to dance with the prom queen.” He began to win competitions and awards, which eventually got him into UCLA, and “sealed the deal in quitting football.”

Regarding advice for aspiring artists, Edward recommends “performing whenever and wherever you can. The more you do the more connections you can make.”

Edward left college to appear in a local production of Phantom of the Opera, where he met wonderful working actors who eventually ended up helping him in his theatrical pursuits. “You never know who you’ll meet,” he professes. “I credit leaving school to do Phantom for making connections that are still fruitful to this day, that opened doors, e.g. I got an agent out of it.”

Anastasia has played to sold out crowds on Broadway since officially opening in April 2017, in addition to garnering multiple Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards and nominations.

The original Broadway cast recording is available at BroadwayRecords.com, Amazon.com and iTunes. The 75-minute album includes the Academy Award-nominated favorite “Journey to the Past” alongside new numbers from the show such as Christy Altomare’s haunting “In My Dreams,” Ramin Karimloo’s passionate “Still,” and Derek Klena’s heart-racing “My Petersburg.”

Anastasia is playing now through October 27 at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, (323) 468-1770. At the corner of Hollywood and Vine, it’s a hop skip and a jump from the Metro station at Vine. You can easily avoid all parking ramifications.

Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, and Sunday at 1pm & 6:30pm.

Individual tickets start at $39 and are available at www.HollywoodPantages.com/Anas... and www.Ticketmaster.com, by phone at (800) 982-2787 or in person at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre Box Office (Opens Daily at 10am PT).

For more information on Hollywood Pantages Theatre, visit , , Facebook.com/PantagesTheatre and twitter.com/Pantages.