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The Story Of A Grand Duchess, 'Anastasia', Comes To Denver

DENVER (CBS4) - "Anastasia" is a new musical based on the story of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nokolaevna of Russia. The legend is that the young Grand Duchess may have escaped the execution of her family, and reappeared years later not remembering her origin story.

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The Broadway musical version of "Anastasia" is based on the 1997 animated film, in which an amnesiac orphan named Anya teams up with two con men to try to find some trace of her family.

"Anastasia" is playing at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts from August 7 - August 18.

LINK: For Tickets & Information for "Anastasia"

Playing "Anya" is a magical experience, because the role has such devoted fans, both young and old, and the musical version carries some important themes.

"The three things that really are the core of our show are home, love, and family. And, I think, what's so special about our show is that it shows that your home, your love and your family don't always have to be the same exact thing," said Lila Coogan, who plays "Anya/Anastasia" in the musical.

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Darko Tresnjak is the director of "Anastasia," and a directors job is never done.

"Well, you know, I like to check in on my family, my national tour family. And the show is also running in Germany, right now, so that's my German family. And starting in Spain and Madrid, and we just went into rehearsal in the Netherlands, so I check up on all my families around the world. So, you know, it needs a tune-up every once in a while," Tresnjak told CBS4.

The musical production is lush and lavish, a nod to the extravagance of  Imperial Russia, before the revolution.

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The show requires some quick change theatrical magic to help one actress change from the "Czarina Alexandra" to a down-trodden Soviet citizen within two minutes.

"If I'm putting the dress on, it's usually pooled down on the floor, so it's easy to step into, and then through the zippers, hooks, and magnets, it all comes together," said Lucy Horton, who plays "Czarina Alexandra."

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The whole story revolves around a tiny prop, a small music box.

"Anastasia later, older, opens it without any difficulty at all, and then it brings her back to when I sang to her as a little girl," said Joy Franz, who plays the "Dowager Empress."

The story is sweet, and taps into a mystery that captivated the world for decades, did Anastasia survive the deaths of her family?

"It's about love, hope, and family. It's about believing in oneself, and to follow your dreams. It's a beautiful show. It's for the whole family," Franz told CBS4.

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