Photo Flash: Bay Street Theatre's THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK

Bay Street Theatre's new educational program, LITERATURE LIVE!, kicked off with THE DIARY OF Anne Frank, playing now through November 21. The show runs weekdays at various times (to accommodate school groups) and Saturday evenings at 7pm. All shows are open to the public, as well as to groups from schools, churches and synagogues. Tickets are $10 and $15.

Sponsored in part by Target, LITERATURE LIVE! presents full theatrical productions, complete with professional actors, sets, wardrobe and props-everything for which Bay Street is already well known. The differentiating factor is that this program focuses on literary works that fall within the core curriculum in schools, as well as being of interest to the public at large. In addition, each LITERATURE LIVE! selection will serve as a launching point for discussion with study guides offered to teachers prior to the performances, as well as Q&A sessions following each show for both students and adults alike.

THE DIARY OF Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett is a stage adaptation of the book. The story, which made its debut in 1956, won both a Tony award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. This riveting play about the lives of eight people hiding from the Nazis in a concealed space above a warehouse, allows audiences to feel their claustrophobic existence, their hopes, their fears and their indomitable will to survive. In addition to the performance, a Holocaust survivor will participate as part of the discussion following each performance.

This production of DIARY OF Anne Frank is significant beyond just being the premiere selection under the new LITERATURE LIVE! umbrella. In this case, it's also the story of a local student performer becoming a professional. Featured in this production as Anne Frank is Sag Harborite, Elizabeth Oldak. A student of Pierson High School, Liz has been connected to Bay Street Theatre for many years through her mother, Barbara Oldak, Bay Street's volunteer coordinator. Liz has also performed numerous times on the Bay Street stage through productions with STAGES children theatre workshop. But this performance will mark her induction to Actors Equity Association, the union representing professional stage actors. Liz will be joined by fellow cast members, all of whom are from Long Island, and include: Matthew Charles, Michael Downing, Ken Forman, JoAnna Howard, Darren Kelly, Caryn Osofsky, Sandra Powers, Patrick Rooney and Lynne Taylor.

While LITERATURE LIVE! is designed with middle and high school age students, their teachers and administrators in mind, it is also a great show for families and other groups such as seniors, churches, and temples who may wish to attend. Weekday performance times will vary. All tickets are $10 for students and chaperones. Saturday November 14th and 21st performances are at 7pm. Tickets for these performances are $10 for students and $15 for adults.

All tickets are available by calling the box office at 631-725-9500. For a complete listing of Bay Street events, go to www.baystreet.org. Or visit the box office, located on the Long Wharf in Sag Harbor, open daily Wednesday thru Sunday, from 11am till 6pm.

Sandra Powers, Elizabeth Oldak and cast