Do you love musicals and plays? The COS Performing Arts Department is performing the musical Anastasia at the COS Theatre in Visalia for three more nights. And it is being interpreted by COS interpreters. The musical is about the real-life story of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia and was inspired by the Twentieth Century Fox Motion Picture. Small snacks are available at the door for those in attendance.
More than 160 crew members, artists, musicians, and staff were involved in the production of ‘Anastasia.’ They spent months dedicating their time and effort to this fantastic show. Not only were COS students performing, but three of the cast members are in middle school. Roxie Cole, who is in middle school, played young Anastasia. She described being on stage as “having a big adrenaline rush as if you had the whole audience in your hand.” She wants to pursue acting and hopes to make it big. Roxie’s performed in her first show when she was ten years old but performing didn’t become a hobby until she became a teen. Her favorite role was Anne Frank in ‘ ‘The Diary of Anne Frank: The Musical’.
The ensemble is made up of 53 members and has been in the works since November, starting with casting. Rehearsals also began in November. Robin Denise-Fox, part of the ensemble, described the show as magical and uplifting. His favorite part of working with the cast was working with the band. His favorite song from the show is ‘Stay, I Pray You,’ performed by Robert M. Rodriguez, Mattie Cole, Rahim Pullom, Job W. Whetstone, and the ensemble. He described the song as “a wonderful blend between the chorus/ensemble and the band. It is an overall beautiful moment to soak in”. Audience members claimed to have chills throughout the show.
Only three days remain to experience the show: Thursday, May 2nd, through Saturday, May 4th. The show starts at 7 p.m., and the doors open at 6:30. Saturday has two shows: the first starts at 1 p.m., and the last begins at 7 p.m. Buy your tickets in advance at College of the Sequoias Box Office Tickets (ticketleap.com) or the door.
