Grant Deem, left, and Kaylie Davis appeared in “Anastasia." They will reprise some of their roles for "Great Moments in Time," a fundraiser to support the Opera House Youth Actors.

ELGIN — There’s a rumor in St. Petersburg that Broadway’s “Anastasia” is coming to the Elgin Opera House — and it’s true.

This production marks a number of firsts for the Elgin Opera House. One of those firsts is upgraded lighting and projection equipment to allow the opera house to use the same background projections used on Broadway.

Director Terry Hale said the Elgin Opera House is one of the first community theaters to showcase “Anastasia” and to use those projections.

“It’s quite an upgrade (in projection equipment), and then we have to re-light everything because the lighting is different for a projected show,” Hale said. “Our technicians have their work cut out for them.”

“Anastasia” also features two casts of lead actors. In half the shows, Anya/Anastasia will be played by Aubrey Slaughter. In the other half of the shows, Anya/Anastasia will be played by Kaylie Davis. Both Slaughter and Davis said they connect and relate with the character.

“This is my favorite musical. This is my dream role, and I think I’ve had this show memorized since I was 12,” Davis said. “I feel like Anya is very relatable. She has a lot of strong feelings, and that’s part of what’s special about it, being able to portray that and make the audience feel something. Anya is discovering who she is throughout the show, and it’s really beautiful to watch.”

Slaughter said she also grew up with Anastasia.

“The movie came out the year I was born, 1997, so growing up with somebody who had a strong personality and didn’t really feel like she belonged, I really related to her. I think a lot of people are going to watch this and really relate with her and think, ‘oh, she’s like me!’ She’s stubborn, and she’s a go-getter,” Slaughter said.

Both actresses said the hardest part of becoming Anastasia is learning the music.

“Every song is hard. They require a lot of technique. You’re belting and then you’re quiet and then you’re belting again,” Slaughter said.

Each Anya also has her own Dimitry. Slaughter is joined by Liam Bloodgood, and Davis is joined by Grant Deem.

“Everyone should come see this because it’s the first time we’ve done dual casts. You can come see it twice and get two different shows. Both will be good,” Bloodgood said.

Both Bloodgood and Deem said people may at first misunderstand Dimitry, who seems cynical and closed off.

“He’s a street rat, he’s a con artist, and he’s very closed off from his emotions, and that’s been really different and fun to play. I tend to play big, energetic characters, and it’s been fun to show emotions in a different way,” Deem said. “The movie and the Broadway musical are very different, so it’s been fun to delve into that.”

For fans of the animated movie, the stage musical will come with a couple surprises, including the replacement of Rasputin with Gleb Vaganov, a Bolshevik officer who is ordered to kill Anya to prevent the royal family’s return. Hunter Adams plays Vaganov.

“He is somebody who has been taught to fully love his country to the fullest extent, but he suddenly meets this girl who stands for everything that opposes what he’s been brought up in, so he’s a very complex character,” Adams said.

Typically a leading man, Adams said the best part of playing the villain is the challenge and how complex the character is.

“It’s really pushing me to try things that are out of my comfort zone,” Adams said. “A lot of what I do are the very heartfelt ballads, and he has more anthems than ballads. It’s hard, it’s steel compared to a warm summer day.”

While Anya and Dimitry are double cast, Ken Wheeler will appear as Vlad with both casts. He said it is almost like playing two characters at the same time.

“It’s really been kind of interesting because one group are my former students that I taught in college, and the other group are two 16-year-olds who are cutting their teeth on this show. I’ve had a great time,” Wheeler said. “This has some of the valley’s best actors in it. It really does. And the scenic elements are going to be fascinating. Unless they’ve seen a recent Broadway show, they’re not going to be prepared for this. It’s going to be a fun show, and I think the audience will love it.”

“Anastasia” opens with two Saturday shows this month, Nov. 18 and 25, then moves to Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 23 at the Elgin Opera House. Tickets are $18 and available at www.elginoperahouse.com.

All of the actors agreed audiences may want to buy tickets twice.

“You really do have to see it two times. You have these two casts that are telling the same story, but it’s so different,” Slaughter said. “The performers are so good and the caliber is so high you really have to see both of them. If you don’t, you’re doing yourself a disservice.”

Adams agreed.

“People should come see this show because it has a beautiful, beautiful message with gorgeous music and a fantastic cast,” Adams said. “Get tickets twice.”