THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK Plays Stage of Harrisburg Today

Open Stage of Harrisburg presents the highly acclaimed, award-winning play THE DIARY OF Anne Frank. The play is an inspiring story of perseverance and hope, which serves as a timeless lesson that the spirit of a child is impossible to deny. Adapted by Wendy Kesselman, the play was first dramatized by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett from the novel Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, edited by Otto Frank. This production is sponsored by Capital BlueCross.

Local director and actor Karen Ruch is directing this production, the professional theatre's 14th annual presentation of THE DIARY. The production will play one public performance only, today, March 2 at 2pm, at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St. in downtown Harrisburg.

Most recently, Ms. Ruch directed Romeo and Juliet for Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival and appeared on stage in Gamut Theatre's Stage Door production of Beowulf. She also directed The Tempest and Lysistrata for Harrisburg Shakespeare Company, and A Midsummer Night's Dream at Hershey Area Playhouse. Last summer, she worked with Central PA playwrights, composers and choreographers to create and direct Sonnet Inspirations - a collection of original pieces inspired by Shakespeare's Sonnets. She has worked with several theatre organizations in Central PA, including Gamut Theatre Group, Open Stage of Harrisburg, Theatre of the Seventh Sister, Hershey Area Playhouse, Pennsylvania Youth Music Theatre, Harrisburg Opera, Theatre Harrisburg, and PA Historical Dramas.

Second only to the Bible, THE DIARY OF Anne Frank is one of the world's most read books. Even if audiences have read the diary and watched the movie, experiencing the live stage play is a unique and moving experience that brings new life to the story and the characters. Set during one of history's most brutal periods, the Holocaust, the play is based on the actual diary of a young girl who comes of age while hiding from the Nazis in a tiny, overcrowded attic with her family for more than two years. During their confinement, Anne discovers herself as a beautiful, thoughtful, and extraordinary girl. Her story is a constant reminder to us all of the power of the human spirit.

Susquehanna Township High School Sophomore Kara Miller will be playing the role of Anne Frank. Brian Schreffler returns to the production as Otto Frank, Lisa Pantano plays Edith Frank, and Mabel Schreffler plays Margot Frank. Other actors in the production include Kim Greenawalt, Brendan Downey, Tim Lehman, Nancy Kraft, David Hurlbert, Patrick F. Sanders, Preston Schreffler, Aidan Roth, and Ian Potter. The production is stage managed by Jess Roberts.

The Set Designer is Jim Woland, Lighting Design is by Karen Gasser, Sound Design by Mike Banks, and costumes are by Open Stage Resident Costume Designer Gwen Alsedek.
THE DIARY OF Anne Frank will be performed today, March 2 at 2pm in the beautiful Sunoco Performance Theatre at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St. in downtown Harrisburg. Parking is available in the Walnut Street Parking Garage.

Admission to THE DIARY OF Anne Frank is $15-$30. For all advanced ticket reservations, call 717-232-OPEN (6736), visit openstagehbg.com, or stop by our box office, located at Open Stage, 223 Walnut St., on the street level of the Walnut Street Garage in downtown Harrisburg.

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