FHS to present ?The Diary of Anne Frank?

The Broadway Players of FHS will present the classic ?The Diary of Anne Frank? Oct. 28-30, according to Scott Slechta, Fairfield High School drama director.

?The Diary of Anne Frank,? the play adapted from Anne Frank?s famous diary, made its theater debut in 1956. Since then, it has been reproduced countless times on stages across the country and abroad. Collaborators Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, longtime Hollywood writers, had little experience with such a story as that of the Frank family. However, Goodrich and Hackett researched the play meticulously, drawing not only on Anne?s diary but also on the experience of visiting Otto Frank and the attic hideout. This play won the Pulitzer Prize in 1956.

?The Diary of Anne Frank? was an immediate critical and popular success, with reviewers particularly enthusiastic about Anne?s spirit, optimism and nobility. The play represented the pinnacle of Goodrich and Hackett?s career. However, over the years, criticism mounted against the play for inaccurately representing Anne?s own words, as well as the Jewish experience of the Holocaust.

Wendy Kesselman revised the script and mounted a production in 1997, but the commentary brought about by this new version of Anne?s life in hiding contributes to the reader?s understanding of the monumental task that faced Goodrich and Hackett in the 1950s, as they attempted to bring together the contradictory aspects of Anne Frank.

Slechta chose to produce the original script which Otto Frank himself had more immediate input and involvement with the playwrights. Slechta also produced this show at the high school nearly 15 years ago.

?It is a powerful script with a message that demands its repetition over and over again to audiences,? said Slechta

The cast 15 years go included: Emily Brown as Anne Frank; Joy Wotherspoon as Margot Frank; Mandi Hickenbottom as Mrs. Frank; Rusty Weeks as Mr. Frank; Matt Hektoen as Peter; Rachel Fredericks as Mrs. VanDaan; Mitchell Day as Mr. VanDaan; Frank Broz as Mr. Dussell; Alisa McCracken as Miep Giles; and Aaron Miller as Mr. Kraler. Corinna Haworth was the student assistant.

Slechta hopes that this anniversary/reunion show information will be shared via phone calls, emails or social networking.

?It would be great to have former cast members return to see this production ? in their eyes they will see their production done with a new cast,? said Slechta. Former cast members will be admitted free along with their guests.

The cast this year includes:

Claudia Sloat as Anne Frank; Heidi Menke as Margot Frank; Shannon Cochran as Mrs. Frank; T.J. Wood as Mr. Frank; Mukund Martin as Peter; Sarah Flinspach as Mrs. VanDaan; Tyler Breeding as Mr. VanDaan; Michael Gookin as Mr. Dussell; Rachel Biggs as Miep Giles; and Seth Miller as Mr. Kraler. Coren Hucke is the student assistant.

The show will be performed for the community at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 and Oct. 29 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 30 at at the FHS Auditorium.

The show also has been chosen to perform as a main stage production at the Iowa Thespian Festival Nov. 11 on the University of Northern Iowa campus at Cedar Falls.

?This is quite an honor for the drama club, for the cast, for the school and for the community,? said Slechta. ?Our production will be showcased for an audience of nearly 1,000 students and adults from across the state.?

Fairfield has been previously showcased at the festival with productions of ?The Odyssey? and ?Steel Magnolias.?

To prepare for the event, ?Anne Frank? also will be staged on at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 free of charge. However, donations will be accepted to covers production and trip costs.

Furthermore, donations for The Lord?s Cupboard will be accepted. ?A theme that comes through in this show is to give of self ? food donations are a simple way to continue this theme in our own community,? said Slechta.

Senior citizens are invited to a dress review at 7 p.m. Monday.