For the long Presidents Day weekend, I hopped on a bus to the Big Apple to visit some friends, do some sight-seeing, and, most of all, pay a visit to Broadway. With all of the crazy things happening in the world today, seeing the musicals Anastasia, The Band’s Visit, and Come From Away showed me that there are still reasons to smile and ways to be inspired.
Anastasia
Based on the animated movie of the same name, Anastasia tells the story of a Russian princess on her “journey to the past” as she rediscovers her royal roots. Along the way, she makes some new friends, encounters hatred, and, of course, falls in love, as many princesses do in their stories. The musical brings together the values of belonging, family, and destiny to portray a beautiful and magical narrative, leaving the audience in astonishment and optimistic.
The Band’s Visit
Showing a different perspective of the Middle East, The Band’s Visit tells the story of an Egyptian band that gets stuck in a town in the middle of the desert in Israel. Through humor, romance, and broken English, the musical presents a cross-cultural instance in which both cultures learned from and taught each other. The powerful performances each actor and musician presented on the stage truly showed the impact the short interaction had on the Israelis and Egyptians in the story. While it was not fantastical, The Band’s Visit’s realistic performance was uplifting, thought-provoking, and inspiring.
Come From Away
After opening on Broadway in early 2017, Come From Away became a huge hit. The musical tells the story of Gander, Newfoundland, the Canadian town that took in thousands of people flying to the U.S. that that could not land the week of 9/11. Taking on a serious and heart-wrenching narrative, Come From Away emphasizes the hospitality, acceptance, and togetherness that resulted from such a tragic historical event. The show’s unexpected comical aspects combined with the strong performances by each actor present the people of Gander’s story as a sign of hope.