Producers John Frost for Crossroads Live and Opera Australia are delighted to announce that Broadway musical ANASTASIA will premiere in Brisbane at the Lyric Theatre QPAC from September 2026.
The crowd-favourite musical made its Australian debut in December at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre wowing audiences and critics alike. Tickets will go on pre-sale for the Brisbane season to those who have signed up to the waitlist on Monday 2 March and to the general public from Friday 6 March.
The Scoop said the musical “is an incredibly well-told story and an artistic and creative delight. It provides a place for families to gather, feel a sense of home, and for audiences of all ages to embrace the past while imagining a brighter future that feels truly their own.”
The cast includes Queensland’s own Georgina Hopson as Anya, Robert Tripolino as charming con artist Dmitry, Joshua Robson in the role of antagonist Gleb, Rodney Dobson as Vlad, the much-loved Rhonda Burchmore as Countess Lily and theatre icon Nancye Hayes AM in the role of the Dowager Empress.
Georgina Hopson, who trained at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, said:
“As a very proud Queenslander, I just can’t wait to share the magic of ANASTASIA with Brisbane audiences. It’s a beautiful story to be immersed in, accompanied by iconic songs that invoke a nostalgic feeling of our shared childhood including Once Upon a December and Journey to the Past.
ANASTASIA’s message is the importance of home, love and family, and to me Queensland represents all of this so I can’t wait to share the story with local audiences.”
The ensemble cast members include Sophia Bae, Elliot Baker, Billy Bourchier, Nicholas Cunningham, Davis Giotopoulos Moore, Todd Goddard, Stephanie Kurlow, Keian Langdon, Bella Minniti, Nathan Stafford, Alexis Van Maanen, Annie Wilson, Deone Zanotto, and Andrea Zappacosta. The Swings team features Manon Gunderson-Briggs, Iosefa Laga’aia, Nathan Pinnell and Emma Russell.
Inspired by the mysterious tale of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov’s rumoured escape in the dawning days of the Russian Revolution, the story comes to life with intrigue and wonder. Based on the 1997 Oscar-nominated animated film of the same name, it brings that beloved world to the stage. ANASTASIA has been brought to life by the Tony Award-winning creative team of Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.
ANASTASIA is a lavish musical for all ages. It transports audiences from the twilight years of the Imperial rule to the euphoria and exuberance of Paris in the 1920s. The story sees a brave young woman named Anya setting 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 loveable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.
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. It also won more than 15 major international awards including Best Musical awards in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.
The book for ANASTASIA was written by the late five-time Tony Award-winning writer Terrence McNally. His credits include Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime.
Music and lyrics for ANASTASIA were written by the renowned writing team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. They have been referred to as “one of the greatest songwriting teams in Broadway history.” (Chicago Tribune).
Tickets will go on pre-sale for the Brisbane season for those on the waitlist on Monday 2 March and to the general public from Friday 6 March.
Anastasia runs in Brisbane from September at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC. See full tour dates below.
Tickes: https://anastasiathemusical.com.au/tickets/brisbane/
Website: https://anastasiathemusical.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/anastasiathemusicalau/
Photo credits: Jeff Busby
2026 Australian Tour Dates:
Melbourne on now until 20 February, Regent Theatre
Perth 3 – 28 March, Crown Theatre
Sydney 7 April – 5 July, Lyric Theatre
Adelaide 2 – 23 August, Festival Theatre
Brisbane from September, Lyric Theatre QPAC
