'Anastasia' is real for Kyla Stone, cast as the first Black actress in the role

WORCESTER — One of the mysteries of the musical "Anastasia" is whether Anya, an amnesiac, really is the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna.

Anastasia is the youngest daughter of Russia’s last tsar who was killed along with most of her family at the dawn of the Communist Revolution, but who was long rumored to have survived the ordeal. In the musical, a couple of conmen named Dmitry and Vlad hatch a plan to convince the exiled, surviving Dowager Empress now living in Paris that they’ve found Anastasia. They tutor Anya on the royal ways. The thing is, she not only looks like Anastasia but could, the realization dawns, actually be her.

The legend goes back to the Bolshevik Revolution and continues to intrigue, even though we now know the truth. "Anastasia," which ran on Broadway from 2017-19, is adapted from the 1997 animated movie of the same name, which itself was adapted from a 1956 film and earlier play by Marcelle Maurette.

"It's a mystery and full of intrigue and hope," said Kyla Stone, who is playing Anastasia.

The national touring production of "Anastasia" comes to The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts for six-performance run April 14-17.

In a journey that includes traveling from St.Peterburg/Leningrad to Paris, Anya finds herself.

For Stone, her sense that she had found the right role was with her from the start.

"When I got the first audition email, I think 5-year-old me instantly jumped on it," Stone said during a recent telephone interview.

If the adult Stone had any initial doubts, by the time she was "in the call-back process I was convinced," she said.

"It was a learning process. I got to discover more about myself by doing it."

And she became convinced that she was going to be cast as Anya. "I just had this knowing that this was going to happen."

Stone is the first Black actress to play the role of Anya in any production worldwide.

When she was auditioning she said she knew, "It's going to be important for me and for other people."

“We are thrilled to welcome Kyla Stone to the group of amazing actresses who have brought Anya to life, and we look forward to showcasing this entire cast to communities all over the country,” said director Darko Tresnjak when casting was announced. Other cast members include Sam McLellan as Dmitry, Brandon Delgado as Gleb (the Bolshevik agent assigned to follow Anya), Bryan Seastrom as Vlad, and Gerri Weagraff as Dowager Empress.

"Anastasia" has music and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (who also did the songs for the animated movie), and a book by the late Terrence McNally. Aherns, Flaherty and McNally were also responsible for "Ragtime." Anya's numbers include “Journey to the Past” and “In My Dreams.”

After the Broadway run for "Anastasia" ended, a national tour took the road, but was shut down by the pandemic.

The new national tour (with a new cast) officially opened Oct. 19 at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Connecticut, and is now on an itinerary of at least 40 cities.

As Stone was speaking she was in Jacksonville, Florida.

"The tour has been great. I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful group of people I'm working with," she said.

Stone, who is originally from Anaheim, California, graduated with a BFA in musical theater from Chapman University in Orange, Calif., in 2020.

The year may not have seemed an auspicious one for a theater major to graduate in. "The year everything shut down," she noted. "It was really something."

Still, with her hard work and and recognized ability she had secured representation and is managed by Sweet 180 and signed with HCKR Agency.

Stone did some short films and was cast in a production of "Sweeney Todd" last summer at the Hangar Theater Company in Ithaca, New York.

Then she heard that "Anastasia" was holding auditions for when its national tour would resume.

The auditions were done virtually from beginning to end. "I put myself on tape in May," Stone said. She auditioned with “Journey to the Past” and “In My Dreams. She also did a dance audition.

The final call-backs in July were supposed to be in-person but instead the audition was by Zoom with Stone in a room at the Hangar Theater Company as rehearsals for "Sweeney Todd" were taking place.

"I met the entire creative team on my computer. It was sort of wonderful," she said. It was also "chaotic" at points, with someone walking into the room while Stone was still on Zoom.

However, "We really clicked. I felt there was something special going on."

Afterward, "I was so giddy. I felt so confident In what I had done. (I said) 'I'm pretty sure I'm gonna do this.'"

She found out she had been cast for "Anastasia" on the opening night of "Sweeney Todd."

Asked what she thinks about Anya, Stone said, "I absolutely love her. I love to go on her journey of self-discovery every night."

Anya and Dmitry start to fall for each other amid playing at a con game and then realizing it may not be a con at all.

Current events in Europe may give the musical yet another dimension.

Bolshevik officer Gleb, hot on the trail, has orders: arrest Anya if she’s a fake Anastasia, kill her if she’s real. But Gleb is also having feelings for her.

"One of the underlying messages is vulnerability is not weakness. With all the horror of the Bolsheviks, this is a legend that made it out. It is a young woman who discovers where she belongs," Stone said.

Stone felt that musical theater was where she belonged going back to that confident age of 5, and there's that Anastasia link as well.

"My parents met working at Disneyland. I think princess has been my middle name," Stone joked.

"I saw 'Phantom of the Opera' when I was 5. That was the be all and end all for me. It just changed the whole scope of my life."

She studied musical theater, jazz and opera at the South Orange County School of the Arts, and then went to Chapman University.

As the first Black actress to play Anya she's aware she can be an inspiration to others.

"I hope so. It's so crazy because the show has such a huge following. I've heard from people how seeing me has inspired them. To get to come out for the final bow scene and see how many young girls with their tiaras are sitting in the audience, it's wonderful," she said.

When "Anastasia" comes to The Hanover Theatre in a few days the audience will also include some people she knows well.

"My boyfriend's from Maine. His entire family is coming down to see it," she said.

Another opportunity for the family will be in August when "Anastasia" is in Boston, currently the last listed stop on the tour.

But it wouldn't be surprising of the tour runs longer. Stone is prepared to keep going on the journey.

"As long as I get to work with people I love," she said. "And as long as it's fulfilling for me — which it is."

'Anastasia'

When: 7:30 p.m. April 14; 8 p.m. April 15; 2 and 8 p.m. April 16; 1 and 6:30 p.m. April 17. Audio Description Services at 1 p.m. April 17. ASL Interpretation at 6:30 p.m. April 17.

Where: The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester

How much: $39, $49, $62 and $79. (877) 571-7469; www.thehanovertheatre.org. Note, proof of COVID-19 vaccination will not be required for this performance. The wearing of a CDC-approved mask is optional.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: "Anastasia" is real for Kyra Stone, cast as the first Black actress in the role