Palo Alto Players to Present THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK This Fall

Palo Alto Players, the Peninsula's first theatre company, continues its 86th season with one of the most powerful stories of the 20th century, The Diary of Anne Frank, adapted by Wendy Kesselman from the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, based on the personal memoirs of Anne Frank. A timeless testament to the human spirit that resonates through generations, The Diary of Anne Frank plays November 4-20, 2016 at the Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, and is directed by Dennis Lickteig, with Roneet Aliza Rahamim of Palo Alto in the title role. Tickets are on sale now online at www.paplayers.org or by phone at 650.329.0891.

In this transcendently powerful new adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank by Wendy Kesselman, Anne Frank emerges from history a living, lyrical, intensely gifted young girl, who confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of her time with astonishing 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 - artfully bringing Anne's words to life for a new generation.

Dennis Lickteig, who staged Palo Alto Players' productions of Parade and The Heiress, returns to the company ?to direct The Diary of Anne Frank. "I feel honored to be directing this show. Telling the story of actual people comes with a great responsibility, especially people that lived under these extreme circumstances. The quest for making them resonate and inspire is mighty, but exciting!" says Lickteig. "The Kesselman adaptation does a terrific job of combining the framework of the original play while interpolating more insight into some of the characters, especially Anne. Certain recollections from the diary were unused in its original form due to restrictions and mores of a 1950s audience. This version brings the story of Anne and her Secret Annex family to a modern audience with fuller and more fleshed out characterizations."

Director Dennis Lickteig is a resident director for New Conservatory Theater Center, where he has directed Avenue Q, The Nance, American Dream, The Lisbon Traviata, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, The Story of My Life, The Busy World is Hushed, Anita Bryant Died for Your Sins, The Sugar Witch, Act A Lady, Thrill Me, Farm Boys, Theatre District and Harvey Milk -The Musical. Other directorial credits include productions at Contra Costa Civic Theatre, Broadway By the Bay, Contra Costa Musical Theatre, Hillbarn Theatre, Diablo Theatre Company, Masquers Playhouse, Lamplighters, and 42nd Street Moon. Lickteig served as Artistic Director for Peninsula Center Stage from 1992-96.

Lickteig directs a cast of 10 local Bay Area actors. The Diary of Anne Frank cast features:

Anne Frank Roneet Aliza Rahamim (Palo Alto)

Otto Frank Vic Prosak (San Jose)

Edith Frank Kelly Rinehart (San Francisco)

Margot Frank Megan Bartlett (Belmont)

Miep Gies Clara Reese (Sunnyvale)

Peter van Daan Anthony Stephens (San Jose)

Mr. Kraler John Musgrave (Belmont)

Mr. Van Daan Shawn Bender (Sunnyvale)

Mrs. Van Daan Rachel Michelberg (San Jose)

Mr. Dussel Tom Bleecker (San Francisco)

The creative team also includes scenic design by Kuo-Hao Lo, costume design by Shannon Maxham, properties design by Pat Tyler, lighting design by Selina Young, sound design by Jeff Grafton, and stage management by Lauren Howry.

Tickets for The Diary of Anne Frank can be purchased online at www.paplayers.org, by phone at 650.329.0891, or by visiting the Box Office at the Lucie Stern Theater located at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Performances at the Lucie Stern Theater begin on November 5 and continue through November 20, with a preview performance on November 4. Performance times are Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. Ticket prices range from $25 to $52. Discounts for seniors, educators, patrons under 30 (including students), and military are available for all performances except preview night. Special discounts of 20-25% for groups of 10 or more are also available.

Events taking place during the run of The Diary of Anne Frank include:

Opening Night AfterGlow Party

Saturday, November 5

Enjoy a post-show reception with drinks and appetizers while meeting the cast, FREE with the purchase of a ticket for that evening's performance.

Pre-Show Discussion with Gunn High School's Tim Farrell

Sunday Matinee Performances - November 6, 13, and 20

Meet in the Lucie Stern Theatre one hour before the show on Sundays for an engaging discussion with Tim Farrell, retired Gunn High School English teacher. Hear about the literary and historical context of the play and discover why Anne Frank's story is still relevant today. The 30-minute talk includes time for Q and A. FREE with the purchase of a ticket for any performance during the run.

Post-Show Talkback Series

Thursday, November 10 and Thursday, November 17

Enjoy our Talkback series with Artistic Director Patrick Klein, Stage Director Dennis Lickteig, and members of the cast following these performances, FREE with the purchase of a ticket for any performance during the run.

In cooperation with The City of Palo Alto, The Diary of Anne Frank and the shows of the 86th Season of Palo Alto Players are produced at the Lucie Stern Theater located at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, California. Use of this facility is made possible through support from The City of Palo Alto, Community Services Department, Division of Arts and Sciences, and from our patrons.

Founded in 1931, Palo Alto Players is the San Francisco Peninsula's first theatre company. Based at the Lucie Stern Theater, built explicitly for Palo Alto Players in 1933, Palo Alto Players produces a season of comedies, dramas, classics, and musicals from September to June. Audiences and participants come from all over the Bay Area to be a part of Palo Alto Players' productions. Palo Alto Players is committed to providing a meaningful theatre experience for both audience and production participants. Intrinsic in this is the belief that theatre benefits the community-at-large and enhances the quality of life of those who are touched by it through education, enlightenment, and enrichment. Palo Alto Players is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established for public benefit.

For more information about Palo Alto Players and upcoming shows, please visit www.paplayers.org or call the box office at 650.329.0891. Follow Palo Alto Players on Twitter @PaloAltoPlayers or twitter.com/PaloAltoPlayers and on Facebook at facebook.com/PaloAltoPlayers.

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