This Animated Film Classic Is Headed To Broadway

Once upon a December, millennials sat in front of their televisions watching the non-Disney animated princess, Anastasia, do what she could to find herself and reconnect with her royal family. And now, a full 20 years after the 1997 release of the film, Anastasia will be heading to Broadway in 2017. The fictional take on the true story of Russia's missing princess was formulated into a show for the stage this past year at the Hartford Stage Theatre. However, now it's time for the Russian princess to find her place on Broadway starting this April at the Broadhurst Theatre. And there's no need to fear, because the musical is still holding on to the music from the Meg Ryan-starring film.

“After finishing a record breaking run in Hartford, we look forward to bringing the magic of Anastasia to Broadway audiences next spring,” shared the musical's producers, Bill Taylor and Tom Kirdahy, in a statement. “In Hartford, we saw people ages 8-100 travel from all over the world to enjoy Anastasia’s enduring story." And, in accordance with the already standing success of the show, the original cast will be making the move to the Great White Way as well — With Christy Altomare (from Broadway's Mamma Mia, Carrie, Spring Awakening) as Anya, Derek Klena (Wicked, The Bridges Of Madison County) as Dmitry, and more.

But, just in case you're still not confident in your childhood favorite getting the portrayal it deserves, I can assure you that there's little to worry about. "We’ve kept, I think, six songs from the movie, but there are 16 new numbers," the show's Tony Award-winning director, Darko Tresnjak, told Playbill about the musical. "We’ve kept the best parts of the animated movie, but it really is a new musical." But, all of the new additions seem to be nothing less than wonderful, plus Variety praised the staged Anastasia musical: "New tunes flesh out the story, harkening back to sturdy and satisfying musical comedy tropes."

And with the Oscar-nominated hit, "Journey To The Past," definitely included along with the attachment of the film's original songwriters, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahren, I can't imagine that the additional songs would be any less amazing than the magic Flaherty and Ahren created 20 years ago. Yep, just let those childhood memories come flooding back in.

I am so ready for when Anastasia officially hits the Broadway stage April 24, 2017.

Images: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; Giphy