ANASTASIA the MUSICAL

May 22-31, 2026

Douglas Morrisson Theatre, Hayward

Music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahens, book by Terrence McNally

Inspired by the beloved film, Anastasia the Musical transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya 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.

The show runs approximately 2 and a half hours, which includes 1 intermission.

CAST

Anya …………………….. Charlotte Thomas

Dmitry ……………………………. Sam Canny

Vlad …………………………………. Nico Choi

Lily …………………………………. Lucy Fisch

Dowager Empress …………….. Will Lewis

Gleb …………………………. Borna Mahdavi

Tsar/Count Ipolitov ……….. Ernst Wang

Tsarina ……………… Amelia Astalis-Buell

Olga ………. Monique Hightower-Gaskin

Tatiana/Dunya …….. Valentina Vazquez

Maria/Countess Gregory …. Elise Talbot

Teen Anastasia ……….. Journey Heusner

Alexei …………………………… Diego Osorio

Little Anastasia ……………………. Erin Koh

Count Gregory ………………. Emmet Davis

Count Leopold ……………. Kaelo Hickman

Commissioner Gorlinski ……………… Milo
Astalis-Buell

Paulina ……………. Teagan Nichols-Marcy

Marfa ……………………………….. Yael Kelley

Vince Armstrong ………………………. Sergei

Ensemble ……. Amelia Astalis-Buell, Charlise Hill,
Diego Osorio, Elise Talbot, Emmet Davis, Erin Koh,
Ernst Wang, Hudson Eade-Duesberg, Journey Heusner,
Junia Martens, Kaelo Hickman, Klee Brechtel,
Milo Astalis-Buell, Monique Hightower-Gaskin,
Sadie Adler-Westervelt, Sasha Mandel,
Teagan Nichols-Marcy, Valentina Vazquez,
Vince Armstrong, Yael Kelley

Rehearsal Teaser

Trailer

Meet the Creative Team

Jennifer Boesing – Director
Jennifer (she/her) worked professionally as a singer and actor in Minneapolis from the age of nine. Before graduation from high school, she had performed with At the Foot of the Mountain Theater Company, Mabou Mines Theater, Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Minnesota Opera. Jennifer studied acting at the Northwestern Summer Theater Institute, with Wesley Balk at the New Music Theater Institute in Minneapolis, and with Sanford Meisner and Richard Pinter at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater in New York City. In 2002, she earned a master’s in music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Operatic Performance. Locally, Jennifer has performed opera, oratorio, and musical theater. Professional credits include work with San Francisco Opera Center, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Pocket Opera, Berkeley Opera, Oakland Opera Theater, Festival Opera, North Bay Opera, 42nd St. Moon, and Mountain Play. Jennifer began working as a director and educator with Korsa in 2000, when it was called Youth Musical Theater Commons. She has served as founding artistic director for Kordsa since the company became a nonprofit organization in 2004.

David Möschler – Music Director
David Möschler (he/him) is an award-winning conductor based in Oakland who has been the Resident Musical Director for Korsa since 2012, where he has worked on over 35 productions. In addition to this, he has music-directed over 140 professional theater productions with companies such as Berkeley Repertory Theatre, American Conservatory Theatre, Guthrie Theater, Shotgun Players, West Edge Opera, Ray of Light Theatre, Mountain Play, Lamplighters Music Theatre, SF Playhouse, San Jose Repertory Theatre, and Center REPertory Theatre among many others. Möschler has also toured with bands like The Dear Hunter and Pop Up Magazine throughout North America. Last fall he made his debut at Oregon Shakespeare Festival as a guest conductor for Into the Woods. He has served on the music staff at College Light Opera Company in Cape Cod since 2005. In 2013 he founded Awesöme Orchestra Collective, which he conducts every month. www.davidmoschler.com.

Pam Crane – Choreographer
Pam’s past choreography credits include Kiss Me Kate, Anything Goes, How to Succeed in Business, Guys & Dolls, Godspell, Cabaret, Fiddler On The Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, The Drowsy Chaperone, Urinetown, The Music Man, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Sound of Music, and Into the Woods Act One. She was a founding board member when Korsa Musical Theater was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2004, and served as Board President until 2009, and as Managing Director until 2010. She is currently Korsa Musical Theater’s Registrar, but is trying to fade into obscurity.

Laura Cornwall – Stage Manager
Laura Cornwall (they/she) began their theater career as a student stage manager with Korsa (then YMTC) back in 2006-11, and is delighted to return as Korsa’s Resident Stage Manager. They have a BA in Stage Management and Dramaturgy from Oberlin College and an MFA in Theater Management from the Yale School of Drama. Laura spent a number of years creating theater in New York City with partner Philip Waller, has worked as an Access and Sensory Consultant—including with National Disability Theater—and has a passion for bringing Disability Justice work and the performing arts together. 

Kathy Rogers – Scenic Designer
Kathy Rogers is honored to collaborate with such a talented group of fellow artists on this show! Some of her favorite past designs for Korsa include Matilda, RENT, The Light in the Piazza, Sweeney Todd, and Shrek. She is the principal architect of Sogno Design Group, a residential architecture and interior design firm in Albany, CA. 

Jason Coale – Techbical Director, Lighting & Projections Designer
Jason Coale (he/him) has been involved in theater and education for over 15 years, with a focus on design and production. Jason’s background spans teaching theater to students of all ages, from elementary school to university, as well as designing for theme parks like Busch Gardens and SeaWorld. He holds an MFA in Scenic Design from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and loves using his creativity to bring shows to life.

Lauren Fitts – Costume Designer

Em Dwyer – Wardrobe Manager

Lucretia Froke – Hair & Makeup Designer
Lucretia (she/her) is excited to run her 10th show with Korsa and has been running and designing hair and makeup as well as set building, scenic painting, and prop fabricating in the Bay Area for the past 7 years. For Korsa she worked on Matilda, Sunday in the Park with George, Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Sound of Music, Legally Blonde, Heathers, Oklahoma!, and Spring Awakening. Her favorite show was Little Shop of Horrors, where she designed and built the giant Audrey 2 and is excited to bring magic to the stage again for Anastasia.

Adri Schurmann – Hair & Makeup Assistant

Dawn Nakashima – Props Designer & Scenic Artist
Dawn is so pleased to have found a niche in theater stagecraft (props, set dressing, paint & build). One of her favorite pastimes is to “make things” and as the property master she gets to flex her creative, problem solving and resourceful-ness muscles. Turns out Dawn is well suited for this type of work with a BS in Industrial Design (SJSU) and an MFA in Studio Arts (Mills College). Some of Dawn’s favorite Korsa shows to work on for their unique challenges – Light in the Piazza, Shrek the Musical & Matilda. Check out Dawn’s website for her latest creations: www.nakfinearts.com

Thomas Soto – Sound Designer & Mixer
Thomas is excited to join Korsa again the 25/26 season. He has mixed and designed SFX for Korsa since the summer of 2022. Notable performances include Sound of Music, Legally Blonde, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Korsa’s comissioned show Don’t Stop Me. He also has worked with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music on various musical projects such as The Apple Tree and Little Women, and with ACT on their youth production of Carrie. He currently works at the Fairmont Hotel as an A/V specialist, A1, and Assistant Project Manager. During his down time you can find him hosting game nights, hunting monsters, and spending time with his dog Bowie.

Glen Epperson – Technical Consultant
Glen Epperson came to Berkeley by way of a long technical and institutional walk through American regional theater—Old Globe (outdoor), Alaska Rep, Denver Center, Bonfils—after getting his start in 1977 at A.C.T. Playhouse. He landed at Berkeley Rep in time for the first season on Addison Street and, like anyone who’s ever tried to leave a theater for good, learned that this is only mostly an exit. Since 2008, he has worked with Korsa (formerly YMTC), doing the uncredited work that keeps shows opening and organizations upright. He currently manages the Live Oak Theater, where “cleaning up” means dealing with deferred maintenance, inherited mysteries, and getting the building back to a place where “places” actually means something. Second act, no interval—because anyone who’s been Into the Woods knows the story doesn’t resolve, it just gets more interesting.

Bill Brewer – Build Assist
Bill has been working with Korsa in a variety of production roles for several years. His background in design and manufacturing has integrated well with assisting in the production of nearly two dozen Korsa performances. He is excited to be part of Heathers. BS, MS University of Oregon

Bertrand Blank – Sound Engineer
Bert (he/him) is a sound engineer, DJ, and event producer in the Bay Area.  He is the founder of By the Bay Productions, an innovative entertainment production company that specializes in sound design, lighting, and audio-visual effects. Bert has designed the sound for productions of Little Shop of Horrors, Be More Chill,  Heathers: The Musical, Into the Woods, Matilda, Sunday in the Park With George,  Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson Musical, Once Upon a Matteess (musical), Don’t Stop Me, Fun Home, Urine Town, Sound of Music, Legally Blonde, Oklahoma! and Sweeney Todd.  He is thrilled to be working with Korsa again, and very excited to be part of the team bringing Anastasia to Bay Area audiences. Visit bythebayproductions.com for more info.

Bessie Zolno – Violence & Intimacy Director
Bessie Zolno (She/Her) is a mental health coordinator, and violence and intimacy choreographer. She helps performers of all ages care for their own wellbeing while navigating heightened moments of storytelling.. She is also a member of Society for Directors and Choreographers, National Society of Intimacy Professionals, and a certified through the Association of Mental Health Coordinators. To learn more please visit: bessiezolno.com

Pear Michaels – Volunteer Coordinator & House Manager
Pear has been a proud parent and supporter of Korsa for several years. Her daughter was in eight Korsa productions and is now pursuing a BA in Musical Theatre at UCLA’s School of Theatre Film and Television. Pear is in her second year of a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and Drama Therapy at the California Institute for Integral Studies. She applauds Korsa for producing shows that challenge casts to think deeply about difficult topics and to find resilience in adversity. When able, Pear enjoys participating in local theatre and has performed with Marin Shakespeare Company, Pittsburg Theatre Company, Berkeley Shakespeare Company, Ross Valley Players, and in productions at UC Berkeley. She invites parents to reach out and learn more about Korsa, its vibrant community of families and its resources for students interested in a vocation in musical theatre.