Geva Theatre Center Presents THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK

Geva Theatre Center's 2017-2018 Season continues with The Diary of Anne Frank, by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman and directed by David Ira Goldstein, in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from February 13 through March 18.

The Diary of Anne Frank is one of the most important literary works of the 20th century. In this powerful new adaptation, Anne Frank emerges from history a bright and talented young girl with the aspirations of any teenager. This impassioned drama about the lives of eight people in hiding from the Nazis in a concealed Amsterdam attic captures the claustrophobic reality of their daily existence. Anne's story of love, hope, courage and triumph of the human spirit has captivated audiences with its profound message for over 70 years.

Albert Maurice Hackett and Frances Goodrich began their joint career as Broadway playwrights in the 1920s. The success of their comedy, Up Pops the Devil, brought them to Hollywood to work on the 1931 screen version. They went on to write some of the most popular films of the 1930s and 1940s, including Easter Parade; The Thin Man and its sequel, After the Thin Man; Father of the Bride; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (all of which were nominated for Academy Awards for screenwriting); In the Good Old Summertime; The Long, Long Trailer and It's a Wonderful Life (co-written with Frank Capra and Jo Swerling).

Their adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank premiered at the Cort Theatre on Broadway in 1955 (directed by Rochester native Garson Kanin) and received the Tony Award for Best Play, the NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Playwright Wendy Kesselman, whose other plays include The Executioner's Daughter; The Notebook; The Foggy Foggy Dew; The Last Bridge; and I Love You, I Love You Not; adapted the Goodrich and Hackett script to include newly discovered writings from the diary of Anne Frank as well as survivor accounts. This new version premiered in Boston before opening at Broadway's Music Box Theatre in 1997. The production was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play and received two Drama Desk Award Nominations.

Geva's production of The Diary of Anne Frank is a co-production with Arizona Theatre Company and features Ann Arvia as Mrs. Van Daan; Gus Cuddy as Peter van Daan; Steve Hendrickson as Otto Frank; Anna Lentz as Anne Frank; Naama Potok as Edith Frank; Kit Prelewitz as Miep Gies; John Preston as Mr. Van Daan; Devon Prokopek as Margot Frank; Michael Santo as Mr. Dussel and Dick St. George as Mr. Kraler. Local actors Jake Dion, William McDonough, Kevin Plinzke and Tyler Wolff complete the cast.

The Diary of Anne Frank is directed by David Ira Goldstein, Artistic Director Emeritus at Arizona Theatre Company and director of Geva's 2014 production of Wait Until Dark. The creative team includes Bill Clarke (scenic design), Mimi Maxmen (costume design), Ann G. Wrightson (lighting design), Dan Roach (sound design), Adriano Gatto (violence consultant), and Becca Poccia (Dramaturg).

The 2017-2018 Wilson Stage Series is sponsored by ESL Federal Credit Union and Rochester Regional Health. The Honorary Wilson Stage Series Sponsor is Dr. Dawn Lipson. The Diary of Anne Frank is produced with support from Lead Co-Producer Ames/Amzelak Memorial Trust, Co-Producer Flaum Management, Associate Producer Bond Schoeneck and King, and Media Sponsors Entercom and WROC TV.

The Diary of Anne Frank begins previews on February 13, opens February 17 and runs through March 18.

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