Community theatre to present "The Diary of Anne Frank" next weekend

Washington County Theatre (WCT) will present “The Diary of Anne Frank” on stage at Gary W. Hartsook Hall in Salem on Friday and Saturday, January 16 and 17, at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, January 18, at 2:30 p.m. The show is sponsored by Salem Apothecary.

Anne Frank had just celebrated her 13 th birthday when she and her family went into hiding to escape being arrested by the Gestapo. The four Franks, the van Daan family, and a dentist named Dussel took shelter in a set of rooms above the business Otto Frank was barred by law from continuing to operate. The entrance to the “Secret Annex,” as Anne called their cramped living space, was camouflaged behind a bookshelf on hinges, and Otto’s former employees delivered

food and news of the outside world every day to those in hiding.

It's a familiar story from the pages of history, one that generations of students have studied when reading Anne’s Diary, first published in 1947, and that audiences have appreciated when viewing dramatizations on the stage and screen. Those audiences are introduced to Anne’s family and to the other Annex residents through the eyes of the young girl, and they see the Jewish individuals attempting to live as normal a life as possible in the middle of unimaginable oppression, terror,

and sadness.

Kayla Seybold, English teacher at West Washington Junior/Senior High School, has studied “The Diary of Anne Frank” with more classes than she can count and directed the play at her school in 2014. Seybold said she has witnessed the “profound impact” of Anne’s book on people of all ages. However, she added that acting the role of Mrs. van Daan in this WCT production has given her a different perspective from what she experienced previously, as teacher or director.

“When you are directing, you are constantly trying to see the big picture. As an actor, I've been able to dial in on my character, which can be a challenge all its own. I've had to tap into my own emotions to bring Mrs. Van Daan to life on stage. This play is an emotional show! We also have to keep in mind that we are representing and honoring real people,” Seybold explained.

Director Charity Main said that the actors portraying those hiding in the Secret Annex are “telling this story with care and honesty,” ensuring that audiences will come away with the sure knowledge that they have seen a true telling of what really happened—the uplifting moments as well as the crushing tragedy.

Main said, “It’s an important story, one that continues to remind us of the power of humanity, the weight of history, and the responsibility we share in remembering and listening.”

Cast members of WCT’s production of “The Diary of Anne Frank” are Juneau Main as Anne, with Lillie Perry portraying Anne’s older sister, Margot Frank. Daniel Main and Charity Main play Otto and Edith Frank. Hermann and Petronella van Daan are played by Jacob Dufour and Seybold, and Brooks Deaton plays their son, Peter. Dentist Alfred Dussel is played by Darren Hurst. Otto’s courageous former employees, who enable the Annex residents to survive, are

portrayed by Rachel Dufour as Miep Gies and Nathan Smith as Mr. Kraler. Rebecca McKinley operates sound during the production, with Sound Design by Dan Moses Shreier.

Gary W. Hartsook Hall is located in Salem at 405 N. Shelby Street, behind the Church of the Nazarene. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students, with those four years old and under admitted free. Doors open a half-hour before showtime, and no reservations are required.

This production contains mature themes related to war, persecution, and the Holocaust, as well as brief sexual references and language. While appropriate for many students and families, parental discretion is advised.

“The Diary of Anne Frank” is a stage adaptation written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett and revised by Wendy Kesselman to give a more complete and honest depiction of Anne and the other Annex residents. This production is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection (www.dramatists.com).