“The Phantom of the Opera” stole Kyla Stone’s imagination.
At 5 years old, she attended the musical production with her mother and was whisked into the phantom’s magical world to be forever changed.
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“My heart is in theater. I grew up watching the classics,” said Stone, who plays the role of Anya in “ANASTASIA,” coming to the Columbia County Performing Arts Center, Oct. 15. “This is all I want to do.”
From there, she began pursuing her goal of musical theater.
Stone started rehearsal for the production Sept. 20 and has tried to imagine what it might be like the first time the curtain is raised. “ANASTASIA” is her national tour debut.
“I’m super excited. The process has been so fast, so exciting,” she said.
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One of Stone’s last stage productions was during her senior year at Chapman University, Orange, Calif. The performance was in February 2020, just before things began closing down due to COVID-19.
After graduating, she did some film and TV work, but she said she couldn’t wait to be on stage again. Prior to being cast in “ANASTASIA,” she performed the role of Johanna in “Sweeney Todd” with the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, N.Y.
“ANASTASIA” is inspired by the animated film from 20th Century Fox.
It “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. Pursue by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat,” according to the musical’s website.
Fans of the movie will recognize the songs “Journey To The Past” and “Once Upon a December,” a song Stone said she remembers dancing around her living room to at the age of 5.
Not only does Stone love the music, she said she admires her character’s spirit and her determination in this coming of age story in this family production.
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“The show is great for everyone,” she said.
“ANASTASIA” is the first production in the Broadway series. It will begin at 8 p.m.
Other shows in the series include “Fiddler On the Roof” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26; the 25th anniversary tour of “Rent” at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 7, 2022: and “Cats” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2022.
Season tickets are $225 to $340. Individual tickets are $50 to $80. For tickets, visit thecenterofcc.com or ticketmaster.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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