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.