REVIEW: ANASTASIA THE MUSICAL—La Mirada Theatre & McCoy Rigby Entertainment

JUNE 5-28—LA MIRADA, CALIFORNIA

There’s an overwhelming element of excitement, a sense of anticipation in the air as we wait for the long-awaited odyssey to unfold before us—one that is not only visually captivating but emotionally powerful. This sumptuously enchanting fairy tale of a musical will please fully the sentimentality for those who thought the old templates for musical epics were passé, as it fills this grand theatre this night, bursting to capacity, while taking us on an adventure-filled musical journey from the twilight of Imperial Russia to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920’s.

It’s ANASTASIA, inspired by the 20th Century Fox animated film, playing now through Junes 28th at La Mirada Theatre, and with great ostentation. The musical also retains beloved classics from the animated motion picture, including "Journey to the Past," the “Let It Go” of the ’90s, the inescapable ear worm that leapt from an animated film to the radio charts to international concert halls.

Suzanna Guzmán and Elayne Cowden star in the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of “ANASTASIA,” directed and choreographed by Parker Esse and now playing at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

The much-cherished show premiered on Broadway in April 2017, resulting in many award nominations, including two Tony’s, nine Drama Desk, twelve Outer Critic Circles and a Chita Rivera nomination for dance and choreography.

Present also are the broad strokes of the familiar—a romantic young couple, a villain in hot pursuit, merry supporting characters, an endearing family member—all this, performed in irresistible taste and craftsmanship. And all that’s asked is that you experience it with a willing suspension of disbelief.

The company of the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of “ANASTASIA,” directed and choreographed by Parker Esse and now playing at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts

Unsurprisingly, the animated film’s supernatural villain Rasputin is completely removed. He is replaced by Gleb, a conflicted Bolshevik officer caught between his orders to hunt down the runaway princess and his own personal feelings.

In this updated version, featuring a book by the acclaimed playwright Terrence McNally and songs by the Tony-winning team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (who collaborated on “Ragtime”), the author adapts the legend of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, who is at the center of the piece, and who may be the lone survivor in the royal family.

Lena Ceja stars in the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of “ANASTASIA,” directed and choreographed by Parker Esse and now playing at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Largely set in Saint Petersburg and spanning two decades (1907-1927), the musical starts with a dream-like prologue in which a young, spirited Anastasia (Annabelle Bergold, alternating with Elayne Cowden) bids farewell to her grandmother, who’s leaving for Paris, but is gifted a special music box by her.

Director Parker Esse weaves an enchanting spell as it tells the story of Anya (Lena Ceja), a young amnesiac in post-Revolution Russia, who is convinced by street Svengalis Dmitry (Dillon Klena) and Vlad (Peyton Crim) that she is Czar Nicholas II’s youngest daughter, the Grand Duchess herself, rumored to have escaped her family’s fate. Teaming up with the two con men, who are looking to collect a reward—their ticket out of Russia—Anya is groomed to present herself to the surviving royal grandmother, the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna (played by Suzanna Guzman), born Princess Dagmar of Denmark.

The company of the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of “ANASTASIA,” directed and choreographed by Parker Esse and now playing at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

She is the grandmother of Grand Duchess Anastasia, and was devastated by her disappearance after the Russian Revolution, but determined to reunite with her again. As the Dowager Empress, Ms. Guzman brings imperial gravitas, as well as a grandmother’s heartbreak and joy to the role.

Her fun-loving loyal aide, Countess Lily (Sarah Wolter), is also present in Paris as dutiful gatekeeper to the Empress, helping to screen out royal imposters and protect her from a relentless string of scammers. However, when she realizes Anya's validity, she becomes a champion for her.

Richard Bermudez and Lena Ceja star in the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of “ANASTASIA,” directed and choreographed by Parker Esse and now playing at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Songwriters Flaherty and Ahrens reprise their duties here, adapting their melodic score to the stage. New numbers have been added to pump up emotions, excitement and comic shtick, and to fill in the gaps in the refashioned and expedient-to-a-fault script.

The musical, in fact, has been sharpened considerably since its original premiere with more sophisticated staging, especially for the second-act opener. Major credit goes to Aaron Rhyne’s hi-def projections, which brings a sense of cinematic sweep and depth to the show. Also beefed up is the part of Gleb, the musical’s autocratic-yet-conflicted Bolshevik, played with a dark sentiment and clarion pipes by Richard Bermudez.

Dillon Klena (far left), Lena Ceja (center) and Peyton Crim (far right) star with the company of the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of “ANASTASIA,” directed and choreographed by Parker Esse and now playing at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

As the young woman who finds not only her identity but sense of self, Ms. Ceja takes the spotlight with the same assured conviction with which Anya takes the crown. And if thoughts of Julie Andrews pop up on occasion, it isn’t inappropriate—or undeserved, given Ms. Ceja’s vocal strength and the “My Fair Lady/My Fair Princess” blended theme.

In fact, one of the best constancies from film to musical is the independent, vivacious quality of Anya’s character—not only does she still have a massive streak of sassy independence but a healthy dollop of self-reliance (she manages to fend off a phalanx of attackers nearly single-handedly to the roar of the audience’s delight).

Sarah Wolter (center) stars with the company of the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of “ANASTASIA,” directed and choreographed by Parker Esse and now playing at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Mr. Klena fills in the charismatic hero outline with boyish charm, humor and a gorgeous voice, and dramatically evolves from a cynical, opportunistic con artist with a slick exterior into a courageous hero. His relationship with Anya is defined by classic enemies-to-lovers banter. They constantly challenge and outsmart each other, creating a grounded, gradual romance. Together, they strike a special bond with “In a Crowd of Thousands,” an unexpected emotional highlight.

Mr. Crim’s count-turned-con and Ms. Wolter’s libidinous lady-in-waiting score big with their comic turns. Their mad ham waltz, “The Countess and the Common Man,” is delightfully staged by Director/Choreographer Esse, whose choreography includes a rousing expat number “Land of Yesterday,” as well as a bit of “Swan Lake” with lots of swirling ghosts around an elegant set, exquisitely lit by Jennifer Edwards and enhanced by Josh Bessom’s vivid sound design.

And Aaron Rhyne’s photorealistic images and hi-def screen-based moving projections are true standouts of the show, bringing depth and cinematic sweep to Mr. Hammer’s sets as they transport the audience from one moment in Saint Petersburg, then on to a realistic multi-dimensional speeding train, then arriving in a cherry-blossom-filled park in Paris. All deserve standing ovations.

Ahrens and Flaherty have also enhanced the melodic score and added 16 new songs to pump up emotions, excitement and comic shtick, as needed, to fill in the expedient-to-a-fault script by McNally, keeping five of the animated movie's most-popular tracks including two haunting, robust numbers, "Once Upon a December," and “In My Dreams,” which deepen the narrative's emotional core.

ANASTASIA is a musical you will never forget, exploring one determined girl’s journey to find home, love, and family as she embraces not only who she once was, but who she is meant to be. In this alt-reality, history is rewritten, and a princess finds her bliss—and an old-fashioned musical manages to live happily ever after.

THE BROADWAY SERIES AT LA MIRADA THEATRE, PRODUCED BY THE CITY OF LA MIRADA BY MCCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS, ANASTASIA THE MUSICAL, INSPIRED BY THE 20TH CENTURY FOX MOTION PICTURES BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH BUENA VISTA THEATRICAL, FROM THE PLAY BY MARCELLE MAURETTE AS ADAPTED BY GUY BOLTON; BOOK BY TERRENCE MCNALLY; MUSIC BY STEPHEN FLAHERTY; LYRICS BY LYNN AHRENS; DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY PARKER ESSE; MUSIC DIRECTION BY RYAN O’CONNELL; ORIGINAL SET DESIGNER ANDREW HAMMER; ORIGINAL COSTUME DESIGNER RICKY LAURE; LIGHTING DESIGNER JENNIFER EDWARDS; SOUND DESIGNER JOSH BESSOM; HAIR/WIG/MAKEUP DESIGNER KAITLIN YAGEN; PROJECTION DESIGNER AARON RHYNE; PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER JULIAN OLIVE.

STARRING: LENA CEJA, DILLON KLENA, RICHARD BERMUDEZ, PEYTON CRIM, SUZANNA GUZMAN, SARAH WOLTER, SOFIA ANICETO, ANNABELLE BERGOLD, TUCKER BOYES, ELAYNE COWDEN, WES DAMERON, LAUREN DECIERDO, MICHAEL DENI, CHRISTOPHER HO, ANTON HARRISON LAMON, MICHAEL LAVERDE, SHANON MARI MILLS, SABRINA MARIELLE, TAYLER METTRA, NATALIE PALMGREN, KYLE VAUGHN, TONI ELIZABETH WHITE, & RASHA WILLES SAMAHA.

ANASTASIA THE MUSICAL had an official Press Opening on June 6th 2026 and will continue their run through Sunday, June 28th at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Fridays at 8 pm; Saturdays at 2 pm & 8 pm; and Sundays at 1:30 pm & 6:30 pm. Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission. Tickets can be purchased at www.LaMiradaTheatre.com or by calling the Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310.

 CHRIS DANIELS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT REVIEWER

THE SHOW REPORT

PHOTO CREDIT: Jason Niedle