Anastasia the Musical Costumes: Anya
Russia
The first costume we see an adult Anya wearing is her iconic Russian coat and skirt. This costume is nearly identical in nearly every production. The main differences between productions are in the wigs, which can differ when it comes to braid placement, waves vs curls vs straight, and shade. Some productions include dirt smudges on Anya’s face. The costume features a brown woven coat, thick belt, patterned skirt, and boots. Underneath, Anya actresses wear a peasant blouse, wool stockings, and striped bloomers. Some scenes feature fingerless gloves.
(Christy Altomare, Broadway)
Learn To Do It
The Russia costume with the coat removed, so we can see the peasant blouse underneath. The exact pattern can sometimes differ, and some productions will use just one garment as a blouse while others will use two layered pieces.
(María Arévalo Saez, Madrid)
Paris Holds the Key to Your Heart
The design for this gown is a white suit-like dress with blue accents. She also wears matching shoes and new jewelry. At this point her hairstyle changes to an updo, either a low bun or roll, with finger waves. Anya also begins wearing brighter red lipstick. The Hartford production had Anya in a completely different pink dress with a more 1920s silhouette, though no pictures exist of this costume.
(Molly Rushing, Broadway)
In a Crowd of Thousands
Here, Anya wears a nightgown/chemise. The exact shimmery pattern can be different between productions. This is the only point in act two that Anya does not wear her updo, instead wearing a long wig with loose curls pulled away from her face.
(Christy Altomare, Broadway)
Pink Ballet Hartford
The original design for this gown was a light pink, flowing dress with short transparent gloves. The original collar gradually got raised over the course of the Hartford production, the only production to ever use this design.
(Christy Altomare, Hartford)
Blue Ballet
When the show moved to Broadway, the gown was designed to reflect the animated film’s ballet dress. Every replica production since has used this design. It is a more structured gown with blue beading and long white gloves.
(Kathryn Boswell, Broadway)
Marketing Post-Ballet OUAD Reprise Coat
When packing after the ballet, Anya has changed into a long purple velvet coat. It is relatively simple, though it has some embroidery over the front buttons. Though the marketing posters show her wearing this dress with a long wavy wig, that wig is never featured in the show and instead the dress is worn with her usual act two updo. The marketing wig looks very similar to the wig worn during In a Crowd of Thousands, however the marketing wig generally had tighter waves rather than loose curls, and it also had a knotted bun in the back.
(Christy Altomare, early marketing for Hartford and Broadway)
Finale
The last outfit Anya wears in the show is her red gown to reflect the royal status she’s come to discover (and will soon reject). Exact embroidery can differ between productions. It is strapless with a wide and low waistline, featuring gold and red decals. The skirt is severely pleated to give the appearance of a split in the front to reveal a red beaded underskirt. It is worn with long white gloves, a large red and gold tiara, matching earrings, and a bracelet. Sometimes it is short enough that Anya’s shoes are visible.
(Victoria Madden, Second National Tour)
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
During the parade, the Broadway cast of Anastasia performed Once Upon a December and Anya got a new costume, only ever used for this performance and never in the actual stage show. Anya starts the song in a brown hooded cloak, removed to reveal a pink Russian court dress, pink shoes, and tiara. The hairstyle is the act one braided look, but slightly shorter, more voluminous on top, and with loose curls instead of waves.
(Christy Altomare, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade)
