By SALINA POST
A musical that takes the audience "from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s" will be the next production for the Salina Central High School Theatre Department.
The musical Anastasia is scheduled to be performed at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 and 29 and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Central auditorium.
Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and may be purchased in advance on the department's website. There will be no assigned seating. Audience members will be required to wear facemasks.
"This production is an elevated level of high school performance! The choreography is intense. The music is challenging and beautiful, and the acting is out of this world!" said Emma Kelly, who plays Countess Lily.
A synopsis of the musical from Concord Theatricals: From Tony winners Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, creators of such Broadway classics as Ragtime and Once On This Island, this dazzling show transports its audience 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 con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family.
"This is a magical show where Anya figures out that she is a princess during the production so that reveal of character has been a great experience for me," said Harper Johnston, who plays Anya/Princess Anastasia. "I have enjoyed working with the other cast members on this production. This is a huge production that is a never-ending love story that you do not want to miss. This show really exemplifies what is great about musical theatre!"
Cast and crew
Anya/Princess Anastasia: Harper Johnston
Dmitry: Isaac French
Vlad Popov: Tyler Campbell
The Dowager Empress Maria Feodorvna: Lillian Myers
Gleb Vaganov: Joshua Warner
Countess Lily Malevsky-Malevitch: Emma Kelly
Tzar Nicholas II: Ethan Henry
Tzarina Alexandra: Peyton Wood
Young Anastasia: Camille Grabe
Princess Olga: Audrey Jagazinske
Princess Tatiana/Odette: Camille Morris
Princess Maria: Brynn Shaft
Alexei Romanov: Nathan Goldbach
Gorlinsky/Count Leopold: Charles Goldbach
Count Ipolitov: Tayge Jones
Marfa/Countess Gregory: Chloe Highsmith
Dunya: Brooklynne Longino
Paulina: Michelle Simmons
Count Gregory and other roles: Israel Barlow
Sergei and various other roles: Benjamin Campbell
Police Man No. 1 and various other roles: Josh Rodriguez
Police Man No. 2 and various other roles: Will Ebel
Prince Ziegfried: Andrew Graber
Von Rothbart: Wyatt Angell
Ensemble members: Izzy Hopkins, Keirstyn Monts, Riley Wedgewood, Andee Ornelas, Abby Vaupel, Chloe Vega, Alyssa Maas, Kasheia Peterson, Kaiden Christmann, Mykah Trusty, Liv Owings, Thaliah Lopez, Mackenzie Martinez, and Gage Gibson
Direction: Barbara Hilt
Music Direction: Ryan Holmquist
Technical Director/Scenic Design: Bill Weaver
Choreography: Karen Brassea
Pit Conduction: Lindsay Modin
Stage Manager: Maddison Farthing
Assistant Stage Manager: Israel Barlow
Scenic Construction: Bill Weaver, Charles Goldbach,* Tyler Campbell, Daniel Allen, Colton Britt, Makyla Dixson, Colton Grogg, Anna Gutierrez, Ethan Henry, Trace Horniman*, Cadence Lane, Dontai Martinez, Jesse Simpson, Peyton Wood, Alex Riley, and Nicole Cademartori
Costume Design: Robyn Hilt
Costume Construction: Robyn Hilt, Barbara Hilt, Jenn Morris, Mandi Graber, and Garden City High School Costuming Class (Jessica Boutdara, Esme Corado, Joscelyn Hoff, Joeselin Adame, Savannah Garcia, Nerit Jurado, Daniela Leyva, Amilia Baca, Quince Koehn, Kaory Morales, Babriela Morales, Alexys Ochoa, Lizbeth Rebolloso, Laura Reyes, Kai Robins, Elmy Saldana, Yesenia Arroyo, Amelia Kessler, and Sara Herman
Costume Crew: Imani McFadden*, Eave Taylor, Kassidy Cottingham, Chloe Vega, and Theatre Arts and Technical Theatre classes
Costume Changers: Vix Rasmussen, Abby Luddes, and Imani McFadden
Sound Board Operator: Barron Talbott
Projection Operation/Sound Effects: Nils Lenhert*
Properties: Barbara Hilt, Ethan Henry*, Peyton Wood*
House Manager: Lillian Myers
Lighting Design: Barbara Hilt and Bill Weaver
Light Board Operator: Aryn Kevat
Lighting Crew: Jack Angell*, Tayge Jones, Tyler Campbell, Charles Goldbach, Nils Lenhert, Ethan Henry
Publicity: Joshua Warner*
Poster Design: Bill Weaver
Program Design: Joshua Warner
Spotlight Operators: Diego Heysquierdo, Kenneth Fishburn
Train Construction: Jerry Wardyn
An * indicates that student is a student crew chief.
Musicians
Flute
Hope Keiswetter
Clarinet
Sam Cusick
Bethany Schulte
Saxophones
Jackson Angell
Sam Cusick
Trumpet
Karson Griffin
Seth Bush
Trombone
Andrew Fields
Annzia Howard
Violin I
Brandon Phachanla
Olivia Gubareva
Camille Copeland
Vy Nguyen
Violin II
Rashada Smith
Vy Le
Joanna Ryan-Torres
Cello
Lucas Nutter
Maxwell Phachanla
Nolan Soukup
John Rose
Bass
Ben Kraft
Percussion
Corbin Banninger
Madelyn Craft
Keyboard
Jasmine Kassem
Piano
Sue Will