UNITY THEATRE TO PRESENT ‘THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK’
Unity Theatre, Brenham’s small town, professional theatre, is bringing The Diary of Anne Frank to life on the Main Stage from February 9th–26th.
The Diary of Anne Frank is one of the world’s most widely known books, and has been the basis for several plays and films. The version presented by Unity Theatre was written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, based upon Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, and is newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman. In it, we join Anne and her family, along with others pressed into hiding, as Anne documents her life hidden in an attic from 1942 to 1944 during the German occupation in World War II. She confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of her time with 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. 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!".
Unity Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director, Kate Revnell-Smith will direct the play, and says “Although the world of Anne Frank may seem distant from our current times, it was not so long ago, nor is it impossible that it could happen again. I feel it is vitally important that we remember, and remind ourselves of what may happen when we take our freedom for granted and when we stand by and tolerate injustice or tyranny against any group of people that are not 'like us'. I am thrilled to be directing this wonderful true story of survival and courage as seen through the eyes of this remarkable young woman”.
The cast consists of local talent as well as actors from the Houston and surrounding areas. Hannah Prince will portray the iconic Anne Frank, bringing to life her inspirational journey of hope and determination. Jamie Ward (just seen as Marmee March in Unity’s production of Little Women) and Jon Egging (Equity actor, Mac Sam in Unity’s The Miss Firecracker Contest) bring Anne’s loving parents to the stage. Anne’s sister, Margot, is played by Ally Oliphant (her Unity debut was as Edith, the quick-paced maid in Blithe Spirit earlier this season). Tony Teodoro of College Station will play the role of Peter Van Daan, with Alan Hall and Lisa Thomas as his parents. All of these characters are thrust together in the attic, and then are joined by Mr. Dussel (a dentist friend of the family), played by Equity Actor, Kevin Crouch. Cora Hemphill and Barry Brass play the roles of the Frank family’s helpers, Miep Giles and Mr. Kraler. Long time Unity Theatre actor, stage manager, and crew worker, Tam Treviño, makes a stage appearance as well, as does Jordan Gaskamp. Creating the atmosphere of the play with their many talents, the design team includes Claire “Jac” Jones (Set Design), David Gipson (Lighting Design), Kerry Bechtel (Costume Design), and Yezminne Zepeda (Sound Design). Unity’s Production Manager, Alan Will, stage manages the production.
The Diary of Anne Frank is sponsored by generous donation from Gretchen Jones, and Equity actor sponsorship by Jerry and Jill Kyle.
The Diary of Anne Frank runs for three weekends at Unity Theatre, previewing on Thursday, February 9th, opening on Friday, February 10th, and playing through Sunday, February 26th. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 4:00 pm.
Tickets are $27 and they are reserved, however $19 tickets are available for Preview, February 9th, student tickets are always $15, and all unsold seats are $15 at 15 minutes prior to any performance. The Brenham Heritage Museum will have an historical installation in the lobby during the run of the show. A talk-back with the cast and crew immediately follows the Preview performance. Subscribers can begin making their reservations on January 23rd, and tickets go on sale to the public on January 30th. Reservations can be made through the Unity Theatre Box Office at 300 Church Street, open Monday through Friday, 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, by phone at (979) 830-8358, or by email to tickets@unitybrenham.org. On January 30th, tickets are released to be purchased online at https://Tickets.UnityBrenham.org. For more information, visit the website at www.UnityBrenham.org.