If your kids loved the animated film, get ready for the stage spectacular. The hit Broadway musical Anastasia is coming to Adelaide’s Festival Theatre in August 2026, and four local young performers have landed the coveted role of Little Anastasia.
Isla Bahrami (9), Audrey Burnett (11), Daisy Goodall (10) and Aria Rose Piteo (10) were chosen from a pool of keen auditionees to share the role in the Adelaide season. They’ll be joining a stellar cast that includes some of Australia’s most beloved theatre names.
The cast
Leading the production is Georgina Hopson as Anya, the brave young woman at the heart of the story. Robert Tripolino plays charming con artist Dmitry, with Joshua Robson as antagonist Gleb and Rodney Dobson as Vlad.
Theatre fans will be thrilled to see the much-loved Rhonda Burchmore as Countess Lily and theatre icon Nancye Hayes AM in the role of the Dowager Empress.
The ensemble cast includes Sophia Bae, Elliot Baker, Nicholas Cunningham, Davis Giotopoulos Moore, Todd Goddard, Stephanie Kurlow, Keian Langdon, Bella Minniti, Nathan Stafford, Alexis Van Maanen, Patrick Volpe, Annie Wilson, Deone Zanotto and Andrea Zappacosta. The Swings team features Manon Gunderson-Briggs, Iosefa Laga’aia, Nathan Pinnell and Emma Russell.
The story
Inspired by the mysterious tale of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov’s rumoured escape during the Russian Revolution, and the 1997 Oscar-nominated animated film, Anastasia transports audiences from the twilight years of Imperial rule to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s.
A brave young woman named Anya sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by an army officer determined to silence her, she enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family.
Award-winning creative team
The musical was brought to life by a Tony Award-winning creative team. The book was written by the late Terrence McNally (Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime), with music and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, described by the Chicago Tribune as “one of the greatest songwriting teams in Broadway history”.
Directed by Tony Award-winning director Darko Tresnjak, Anastasia premiered on Broadway in March 2017. It received a Tony Award nomination for Best Costume Design in a Musical and has won more than 15 major international awards, including Best Musical awards in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.
The details
What: Anastasia, The Broadway Musical
Where: Festival Theatre, Adelaide
When: August 2026
Tickets and info: anastasiathemusical.com.au
Produced by John Frost for Crossroads Live and Opera Australia in special collaboration with Stage Entertainment Productions, Tom Kirdahy, Hunter Arnold and Dan Hinde.
Images: Jeff Busby
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