Constantine Germanacos catches your eye and leaves an impression in a variety of roles (and magnificent Linda Cho costume pieces) in the hit musical adaptation of Anastasia
. He kicks off the night as Russian royal Tsar Nicholas II, he breaks your heart as the ill-fated Count Ipolitov, and serves major looks as a bold-pattern-loving Parisian and a dandy count.
Scroll on as Constantine shares with BroadwayBox all his characters and detailed costumes.
It is a real privilege to wear our Tony nominated costumes designed by the masterful Linda Cho. Her artistry, meticulous research, and fearless creativity come through in every piece.
Tsar Nicholas II
My first glimpse of the physical world of Anastasia occurred during my very first fitting for the pre-Broadway Hartford Stage production, TWO years ago. The fitting was for the costume of Anastasia’s father, Tsar Nicholas II. Talk about first impressions! Of course, it pales in comparison to Lauren Blackman’s Tsarina Alexandra dress, which is just about the most exquisitely expensive costume on Broadway right now, BUT… as far as men’s period garb goes, it sure packs a punch.
The costume also serves as my diet. I’m serious. Our Tony Award-winning costume designer, Linda Cho, unknowingly is my diet guru. The costume was custom built on my body, and tailored to within an inch of its life. So—if I can breathe while wearing it, I’m good. If I cannot, I eliminate the visits to Christy Altomare’s dressing room candy shelf. The costume, subtly transforms my posture and gives me pretty much everything I need to play this role throughout the show. It’s important that I get him right. After all, the Tsar and Tsarina are the personification of ‘Home’, in our show’s motto of ‘Home, Love, Family’.
A Rumor in St. Petersburg
Forty seconds (yes, my fastest quick change in the show) after I step off stage as Tsar Nicholas, I re-enter as a citizen of Bolshevik Russia, ten years later. 'Rumor in St. Petersburg' is one of my two favorite numbers to perform in the show. It’s an opportunity for the ensemble to take the storytelling reins, to set the scene, and propel the action forward. And we’re having fun! 'Rumor' always leaves me with a smile on my face.
Comrade
My comrade uniform is for Gleb’s two office scenes in which I appear. The drab olive and sandy earth tones are a stark contrast from the shimmery white silk damasks of the Tsar’s Royal Family in the opening scene. It helps set the sobering tone of the world in which our protagonists, Anya, Dmitry and Vlad find themselves in.
In between the Gleb office scenes, I warm up vocally and physically in our physical therapy room, and later in a stairwell, in preparation for ‘Stay I Pray You’. I look forward to this every show. To check in with my voice and to drop in to the depth and emotionality of this song. It’s a real honor that our writers Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Terrence McNally, our director Darko Tresnjak and our musical director, Thomas Murray entrusted this powerful song in my care. I don’t take the responsibility lightly!
Count Ipolitov
Linda Cho brilliantly and subtly singles out Count Ipolitov with this costume, by dressing him in a long black double-breasted top coat, while keeping the rest of the ensemble on stage in wooly browns and nubby tweeds, weighed down by their luggage—the only possessions they’re taking on their quest to escape Communist Russia. Count Ipolitov enters with just a cane and his top hat. This is my favorite number in my track. The song is so human, so universal. I draw on whatever I’m feeling that day, or current event (joyful or tragic) that has impacted our nation. More often than not though, I think of my own homelands—an island in Greece, where I was born—all orchard, sea and sky. Or my mother’s hometown, San Francisco, a city that is known to welcome people in all their beautiful diversity. When fatigue gets the better of me, I take a minute to take in the Playbill covers of all the preceding Broadway productions that have appeared at the Broadhurst Theater. That gives me enough push to hike up the six flights of stairs to the men’s dressing room =D
Paris Chap
Paris! Here it is! The pants are repurposed from my Man Ray costume, (a prolific American expat photographer living in Paris in the 1920s) which was cut early in previews. Now, I’m just a regular, colorful Parisian chap! Who loves pattern on pattern! Just don’t tell my Tsarina, Lauren Blackman, I’m receiving a kiss from this beautiful flapper. Oh wait…=D... Commençons Acte 2!
Count Gregory
Count Gregory arrives on the scene! Or rather, his full name that we’ve christened him with, Count Gregory Gregory Bolshovsky Gregory. And his wife, the estimable, Janet Dickenson, Countess Thora Capitolina de Habsburg Gregory. (Must inject playfulness in a long run, when possible!) The beautiful teal brocade jacket, framed in black crushed velvet lapels, helps immensely in informing the physicality of this character. (Along with the stache, grey streak and spectacles). Oh, and those gemstone rings…can’t walk out onstage without ‘em. Joking. Sort of. He’s a dandy through and through.
Count Gregory Takes in a Show
Count Gregory at the ballet. I get to sit up in the stage-right opera box, behind Janet Dickenson and our fiery Gleb, Max von Essen. To get paid to sit on stage in a plush red upholstered chair and watch a beautiful ballet unfold before you? I can think of worse things =D
Tsar Again
And the show is done! I open and end the show as Tsar Nicholas! Up in the dressing room, having a face-off with my Nutcracker doppelganger.
But Also Gleb Vaganov
Here’s a glimpse of the role I understudy, Gleb Vaganov. He’s regimented, menacing, tormented…and I love this character to bits. Had some photo fun with Davy Mack the last time I was on.
Of course, none of these looks would be possible without the incredible team effort of our dressers, Davis and Lowell (10 costume changes for me) and our hair team, Alicia and Emily (9 hair changes!). The costumes in this show are no joke and it takes a small, hillside Russian village to keep it all going!
Check out Constantine Germanacos live in Anastasia at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre.
