By SALINA POST
On October 27-29 Central High School Theatre will present the play, The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman.
Tickets are on sale online and will also be available at performances. Ticket prices for the production are $7 for adults, $5 for students with ZERO credit service charges added to this price if using a credit card online to pre-purchase tickets. Running time is approximately 2 hours, which includes one 15-minute intermission between each act.
They are looking at a newspaper that says that the war is almost over and gives them hope that they might be able to be free soon.
The production is directed by Bill Weaver, Central High School Technical Director, who is assisted by Barbara Hilt, Central High School Theatre teacher and program director.
The Diary of Anne Frank
In this transcendently powerful new adaptation by Wendy Kesselman, Anne Frank emerges from history a living, lyrical, intensely gifted young girl, who confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of her time with astonishing honesty, wit, and determination. An impassioned drama about the lives of eight people hiding from the Nazis in a concealed storage attic, The Diary of Anne Frank captures the claustrophobic realities of their daily existence—their fear, their hope, their laughter, their grief.
A new adaptation for a new generation
Each day of these two dark years, Anne's voice shines through: "When I write I shake off all my cares. But I want to achieve more than that. I want to be useful and bring enjoyment to all people, even those I've never met. I want to go on living even after my death!"
"The play The Diary of Anne Frank is an important piece of theatre that needs to be done and done again and again. We need to be reminded that the Holocaust should never happen again. These are real people and their stories need to be told, ” Weaver said.
“I want to say how grateful I am for the opportunity to be a part of the telling of Anne’s story. I say story rather than show because that’s what The Diary of Anne Frank is; a story accounting real events that happened in real people’s lives. They aren’t made up characters who live lives on the stage that never actually happened in real life. They’re people who had to go through the horrors of the Holocaust. I believe that this story is vital to be shared beacuse of how it humanizes the victims of the Holocaust. It wasn’t just six million Jewish people that died. It was six million lives, and each life had their own story just like you and I. I hope you will join us as we walk through the stories of eight people whose lives were turned upside down by the Holocaust. While I can’t promise that it’ll be as fun as a comedy…I can promise that it will truly touch your heart.”
-Alyssa Maas portrayal of Anne Frank
The Cast
Alyssa is a junior and the daughter of Terri and Scott Maas. Alyssa is the Secretary for troupe 639. You may have seen her before in The Children's Hour, Anastasia, A Game, Squad Goals, Death Knocks, The Nerd or the award-winning one act Trifles. She was also the stage manager for Noises Off. She placed 3rd in the English Speaking Union's Shakespeare monologue competition in Kansas City. She hopes that you enjoy the show!
Wyatt is the son of James and Tara Angell and Samantha Angell. His past shows are The Explorers Club, Mamma Mia!, Head Over Heels, and Trifles. He also was the light board operator for The Nerd and Noises Off. Wyatt designed the lights for this production.
Anna Kraft is a sophomore and the daughter of Carmen Lucia San Martin and Robert Kraft. She has served as a crew member for Noises Off, The Explorers Club and The Nerd at Central and A Christmas Story at Theatre Salina. You may have seen her in The Children's Hour at Central last fall, Cinderella or Descendants at Theatre Salina. She is also involved in Central’s Choir!
Carson is a junior and son of Matt & Leslie Ablard. This is Carson's first time taking on a role in a mainstage production. He is excited to be a part of this production. Carson also is a part of the swim team and is a sports writer for The Pylon. He was also part of the running crew for Noises Off.
Madison is a sophomore and the daughter of Pam and Dennis Berndt. She has been involved in shows and classes at Theatre Salina for over ten years. She was a dresser in The Explorers Club and A Christmas Story (Theatre Salina). She has helped with costumes for Cinderella (Theatre Salina) and loves helping the the costume shop.
Ellie is a sophomore and the daughter of Alison and John Riekhof. She has served as crew for Noises Off, The Explorers Club, and The Children's Hour. This is Ellie's first mainstage role at Central High School.
Gabriel is a sophomore and the son of Kristina and Michael Freeland. He has previously run lights for Something Rotten and was in A Christmas Story at Theatre Salina as well as running lights for The Children's Hour and running crew for Noises Off.
Jayda is a junior at Salina Central High School. This is Jayda's second role in a mainstage production. You may have seen Jayda play Mrs. Tilford in The Children's Hour last fall. Jayda has been backstage working crew for Anastasia, the spring one acts, and Peter and the Starcatcher.
Joseph Zepeda is a senior and is the son of Kimberly Trigg and Joe Zepeda. He has been in the musical “Anastasia” his Sophomore year of high school as Drunk #1. He has helped with “The Children’s Hour,” “The Explorers Club” and “The Nerd” during his junior year as tech backstage. He has been in “Mamma Mia!” as ensemble. He was an assistant stage manager for an amazing British comedy named “Noises Off.” “The Diary of Anne Frank” is his first role in a main stage play! He hopes that you enjoy this wonderful show in which all the students put in such hard work!!
Keaton has been crew for five productions. This is Keaton's first role in a mainstage production at Central High School. He is also a member of the marching band. He owns a purple trumpet.
Alyx is a sophomore and the child of Lacey Wendlandt and the grandchild of Patty and Craig Wendlandt. Alyx served on the running crew for The Children's Hour and The Explorers Club.
Zander most recently portrayed the role of Garry in Noises Off at Central High School. He is the son of Chris and Angel Flener. Zander is the Treasurer for troupe 639. Zander is a member of Free Spirit and has been in choir for seven years. This is Zander's second year in theatre at Central High School and you may have seen him in Mamma Mia! (Sky), or The Nerd (Willum).
Benjamin is the son of Robert and Susan Campbell. Ben is the President of troupe 639 and has worked on every show since the Antigone his freshman year. You may have seen him in productions such as Noises Off, The Explorers Club, One Man Two Guvnors, and Mamma Mia! Ben wants you to know that "it has been such a wonderful experience being a part of this show and I want to give a big shout-out to my fellow cast members for their wonderful performances."
John Rose (Cello)
Crew and Creative Team
Director……………………………………….……………………………….….…Bill Weaver
Technical Director……………….....………..………………………..……….….Barb Hilt
Stage Manager………………………………..………………………..…Bishop Talbott*
Assistant Director………………………………………………………………....Q Duxler*
Lighting Design………..………………………………………………………Wyatt Angell*
Lighting Crew……..…………………………..…..Andrew Graber*, Wyatt Angell*
Light Board Operator…………………………………..…….……………....Lillian Crow
Sound Board Operator……………….………………….………..…..………Lin Miller*
Running Crew........................Marcos Lira*, Alex Kemp, Kenadee Kohler, Mars Schultz, Taelon Roper
Hair/Makeup……………………………………………………….…Michelle Simmons*
Costume Design………………………………………………….Addilyn Jagodzinske*
Costume Crew…………………………………...Barbara Hilt, Michelle Simmons*
Properties……………..……………….Mackenzie Martinez*, Andrew Graber*, Barbara Hilt
Poster Design…………………….…………………….……..……..………..…Bill Weaver
T-shirt Design…………………………….……………….…………...………...Bill Weaver
Program Design……………….………………………….………….…………Barbara Hilt
Publicity……………………………………………………...……..Mackenzie Martinez*
Shop Foremen.……………………………………………………...…Montana Morgan
Ticket Design……………………….………………………….…………..…….Barbara Hilt
House Manager……………….…………………………………….…Katherine White*
Photography…………………………..………………………….…………….Matea Gregg
Scenic Design………….………………………………………...……………..…Bill Weaver
* indicates Thespian
bold names indicate Crew Chief
Scenic Construction/ Painting
Bill Weaver, Montana Morgan, Mark Anderson, Anastasia Corl,
Lillian Crow, Lin Miller*, Nikolas Morgan, Gavin Schneider, Kale Shafer,
Ethan Shank, Benjamin Campbell*, Kasheia Peterson*, Barbara Hilt,
Mac Sheforgen*, Ellie Riekhof*, Wyatt Angell*, Zander Flener*,
Mackenzie Martinez*, Alyssa Maas*, Anna Kraft*,
Keaton Myers*, Michelle Simmons*, Jamie Mull, Caleb Morris*,
Wyatt Angell*, Andrew Graber*, Seth Lepping, Keaton Myers*,
William O’Neal, Mars Schultz, Abby Vaupel, Alexander Vopat, Carson
Ablard, Q Duxler*, Katie Morgan, Jaxson Rutz*, Kattherine White*,
Joseph Zepeda*, Bishop Talbott*, Alyx Parker*, Gabriel Freeland*,
Taelon Roper, Lukas Roper, Kenadee Kohler, Dayzie Frank,
Ashton Tollison, Sarabeth Taylor, Lexi Foos, Ava Weaverling, Ava Miller
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK KESSELMAN is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)