ARTS&LIFE
MUSICAL THEATER

A

musical rooted in Russian
history became a catalyst for
reactions based on current
events as Anastasia tours the country
and will stop May 3-8 at Detroit’s Fisher
Theatre.
The production, set in Russia and
France and developed years before the
ongoing invasion of Ukraine, explores
the actions of young women claim-
ing the identity of a daughter of Czar
Nicholas II after his family was killed by
a group of Bolsheviks in 1918.
Imposters have maintained Anastasia
escaped execution.
“In West Palm Beach, we had three
straight performances where audiences

vigorously applauded at a line that I
say,
” said Gerri Weagraff, who takes the
role of Dowager Empress, mother of
the czar and grandmother of Anastasia.
“It was so interesting because the line is
‘Russia has damned itself to eternity for
what it has done.
’
“For my character, I was saying it
because her son and her son’s children
had been murdered, but it took this
current day twist when I said that
line [that] sparked this statement of
applause.
“Immediately, I knew what was hap-
pening, and it was fascinating to me. It
was spontaneous and different from any
other kind of applause. This reaction

Jewish actress sees new
meaning for audiences in
her role in Anastasia.

Rooted in
Russian History

SUZANNE CHESSLER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

42 | APRIL 28 • 2022

Details

Anastasia will be performed May
3-8 at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit.
Tickets start at $39 and can be
purchased at ticketmaster.com.
(313) 872-1000, ext. 0. Proof of
full vaccination or negative test
required along with masking.