Anastasia

The 1997 Fox film Anastasia remains easily the best “Disney animated princess musical” that wasn’t actually made by Disney. The story centers on a young Russian woman who’s forgotten her past and becomes quickly (unknowingly) cast as the lost-long Princess Anastasia by a couple of con men aiming to bilk the royal family out of some reward money. The twist? She actually is Anastasia (and begins to fall for one of the young hustlers). The Broadway stage adaptation of the music removes the magical antagonist Rasputin, but still features plenty of adventures and timeless songs like “Once Upon a December” and “Journey to the Past.” Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre’s production features national-level talent in actors Melody Munitz and David Eldridge and choreographer Antoinette DiPietropolo (all on break from The Addams Family national tour). While Coeur d’Alene may be far from the rumors in St. Petersburg, at least it’s relatively close to a Moscow.

Anastasia • Through Sun, July 27; Thu-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm • $56-$200 • Schuler Performing Arts Center • 880 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene • cstidaho.com