Preview: Sturgis High School to present ‘Anastasia’

Michelle Patrick, Sturgis Journal
·3 min read

Students from Sturgis High School this week have been putting the finishing touches on their presentation of “Anastasia.”

The group presents the musical Feb. 4-6 at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts.

“Anastasia,” as a musical, is a mix of true history and the animated film, said producer Patricia Goble. The musical only recently became available to high schools and Sturgis is one of the first schools in the area to perform it, she said.

“It’s very exciting,” Goble said. “It’s a brand-new experience for everyone.”

Students began rehearsing for the show in early November. Goble said what she really enjoys about this year’s musical is the student involvement.

“This show has definitely been a lot different from a lot of the other shows,” she said. “We have lots of students not only in the cast, but running our backstage, running the lights and sound for our show, and even playing in our pit. It has really been a student-focused show. It’s been a whole-school involvement.”

Goble also is excited to return to the stage at Sturges-Young. Sturgis students have not performed there since presenting “Once on This Island” in 2020, one month before the start of the pandemic. Last year’s “Little Women” was produced on a smaller scale and took place at the high school.

“It really is just so exciting to be back,” Goble said. “We just really hope our community comes to support the incredible hard work of all these kids in the cast, crew, pit and tech. We hope to see lots of people here enjoying this fun, family show. We can’t wait to get in front of an audience.”

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Ticket cost is $12 for adults, $7 for students and senior citizens, available for purchase online at Sturgis Box Office or at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts.

Sturgis High School students Ana Merchant (Anya), Aidan Whitehead (Dmitry) and Julio Garcia Hernandez (Vlad) rehearse a scene from “Anastasia.”
Sturgis High School students Ana Merchant (Anya), Aidan Whitehead (Dmitry) and Julio Garcia Hernandez (Vlad) rehearse a scene from “Anastasia.”
Eathan Klar performs “Still” as Deputy Commissioner Gleb Vaganov.
Eathan Klar performs “Still” as Deputy Commissioner Gleb Vaganov.
The Russian Chorus performs “The Last Dance of the Romanovs” as Tsar Nicholas II’s family.
The Russian Chorus performs “The Last Dance of the Romanovs” as Tsar Nicholas II’s family.

Cast and crew

(Listed in order of appearance)

  • Little Anastasia: Malia Langworthy.

  • The Dowager Empress: Anna Wickey.

  • The Tsarina: Nylah White.

  • The Tsar: Elijah Bates.

  • Teenage Anastasia: Allison Hoyt.

  • Alexi Romanov: Ian Whitehead.

  • Gleb: Eathan Klar.

  • Dmitry: Aidan Whitehead.

  • Vlad: Julio Garcia Hernandez.

  • Anya: Ana Merchant.

  • Marfa: Tess Scheske.

  • Paulina: Mackenzie Webb.

  • Dunya: Mackenzie McMillin.

  • Countess Ipolitov: Kaici Charles.

  • Smoker: Mary Butler.

  • Comrade #1: Aubrey Mealor.

  • Comrade #2: Zoiya Geroux.

  • Gorlinsky: Seth Falkenstein.

  • Lily: Sophia Compton.

  • Count Leopold: Ian Earl.

  • Sergei: Tristan Clark.

  • Countess Mikhailovich: Tina Tran.

  • Countess Gregory: Vianey Cardiel.

  • Russian Chorus: Elijah Bates, Mary Butler, Tristan Clark, Ian Earl, Seth Falkenstein, Olivia Happel.

  • Eleeana Kelley, Nylah White.

  • Dance Chorus: Zoey Kane, Naidelin Luna Bucio, Aubrey Mealor, Tina Tran.

  • Swan Lake Dancers: Victoria Smith, Mackenzie Webb.

  • Ensemble: Savannah Adams, Jenna Bart, Katelyn Brott, Ariela Cardiel, Evelyn Cruz, Elizabeth Gonzalez, Kelly Nguyen, AnnaBelle Pant, Kitrina Romero, Johanna Rooyakkers, Jospeh Rosario, Lauren Whitehead.

Production team:

  • Producer: Patricia Goble.

  • Director: Clare Palenchar.

  • Choreographers: James Whitehead, Michelle Klar.

  • Pit Orchestra Conductor: Joseph Ehlert.

  • Set designer: Eliot Gitelman.

Pit orchestra:

  • Clarinets: Mia Moreno, Katie Strawser.

  • Flutes: Trisha Fontanilla, Alexis Tobias.

  • Horns: Braydon Gaspelin, Alexander Smith.

  • Percussion: Dominik Ditmer, Ray Swinsick.

  • Piano: Russell Gates.

  • Trumpet: Ryan Davis.

  • Trombone: Kelly Franks.

Crew

  • Student Director: Teagan Bush.

  • Assistant Stage Director: Lauren Alwine.

  • Student Choreographer: Mackenzie Webb.

  • Costumes: Jenna Bart, Amaya Belote, Abi Belote.

  • Hair & Makeup: Savannah Adams, Devin Dague.

  • Props: Lauren Alwine, Alayna Taylor.

  • Lights & Sound: Ari Connelly, Isabelle Karlsson, Lauren Kinder, Dustin Krontz, Trey Pant, Natalie Randall, Georgeanna Taylor.

  • Stage Crew: Halle Brooks, Devin Dague, Sal Gomez, Aleah Hodges, Isabelle Karlsson, Skylor Kolady, Trey Pant, Rosa Soto

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: news-Sturgis High School-Anastasia-Sturges-Young Center for the Arts