According to an Equity casting notice, the June 12 reading will be directed by Tony Award winner Darko Tresnjak (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), who oversaw a developmental lab of the musical last summer.

The stage production has a book by Tony Award winner Terrence McNally (The Visit, Ragtime, Mothers and Sons). The developmental lab will have musical direction by Tom Murray. 

The musical, which incorporates characters not seen in the film, is based on the 1997 animated musical film. It incorporates a mix of songs from the film and new numbers. The film songs have been extensively revised and rewritten for the stage.

Stage Entertainment is shepherding the stage musical. The organization also brought Ahrens and Flaherty's Rocky to Broadway last season.

A 2012 reading featured Kelli Barrett in the title role with Angela Lansbury, who voiced Dowager Empress Marie in the film, repeating her performance.

The film adaptation featured Meg Ryan voicing Anastasia when she wasn't singing, and Broadway's Liz Callaway (Baby, Miss Saigon) sang the songs. "Journey to the Past" was Oscar-nominated for Best Original Song. The song was also Golden Globe Award-nominated, as was "Once Upon a December."

In addition to the Best Song Academy Award nomination, the picture was Oscar-nommed for Best Music — Original Musical or Comedy Score (naming Ahrens, Flaherty and David Newman).