The CI Upper School is recreating the musical “Anastasia” for the coming year. The musical is planned to be performed from the 22nd to the 24th of March.

The musical “Anastasia,” set in 1907~1927 Russia, depicts a story of a girl named Anya, who is the long-lost Russian princess Anastasia Nikolaevna. With faltering memories due to amnesia, Anya finds her way toward her Grandmother, the Dowager Empress. She travels to Paris with the help of two men, Dimitry and Vlad; however, they are manipulating her to acquire money.

The main cast consists of Anya, Dimitry, Vlad, Gleb, the Dowager Empress, and Lily. The major supporting characters are Young Anastasia, Count Ipolitov, Tsarina, and the Tsar. 

There is a multitude of teachers and students working to enact this Broadway musical onstage at Chadwick International. The following is the transcript of an interview with Mr. Wafula, the chief director of this production and teacher of theatre. 

According to Mr. Wafula, the most noteworthy part about the musical is its relevance to our daily lives. Anya’s journey through amnesia is similar to how every individual in reality “needs to go through mental hurdles” to find their true identity. 

In addition, regarding the upcoming performance, Mr. Wafula is most excited about the “contrast in characters onstage” and views this year’s CI production as a substantial opportunity to showcase the “passion of the actors.” 

Mr. Wafula has always yearned to enact this play onstage since the release of the Anastasia film in the 90s and was inspired by the debut of the Broadway musical. He hopes that the students in CI bring out their best in this production.

Mr. Wafula also hopes the Upper School Musical will be hosted in the Main Theatre offline and without masks.