“A powerful new version that moves the audience to gasp, then tears.” —Associated Press.

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., April 13, 2015 — West Liberty University students will present a new adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank” this weekend and next at Kelly Theatre. Curtain is at 7:30 p.m., April 16, 17, 23, 24 and 25 and at 3 pm, Sunday, April 26.

Anne Frank (Gina Diomedi) shares a tender moment with her father, Otto (Jed Shook), in this scene from “The Diary of Anne Frank.”

This gripping new reworking of the original 1955 stage play by Goodrich and Hackett was done by American playwright Wendy Kesselman. It incorporates newly discovered writings from the diary of Anne Frank, as well as survivor accounts, interwoven to create a contemporary impassioned story of the lives of people persecuted under Nazi rule.

The play reveals the lives of eight people hiding from the Nazis in a concealed storage attic and captures the claustrophobic realities of their daily existence—their fear, their hope, their laughter, their grief.

Each day of these two dark years, Anne’s voice shines through: “When I write I shake off all my cares. But I want to achieve more than that. I want to be useful and bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death!”

It’s now been 70 years since her death from typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

“This is a new adaptation for a new generation,” said Mike Aulick, director of the production and associate professor of theater at the University.

“It is a tremendously succinct script that humanizes the people in the diary and makes the story of the Holocaust deeply personal and moving.  This production has been challenging for me, and the cast. We have researched the lives of the characters and the horrors of the Holocaust in significant ways and I am sure we are all going to be forever changed by the play,” he said.

From left, Otto Frank (Jed Shook) looks over his daughter Anne’s (Gina Diomedi) shoulder as her friend Peter (Alex Franke) looks on.

The cast includes: Geena Diomedi as Anne Frank, Jedediah “Jed” Shook as Otto Frank, Alexandria Glotfelty as Edith Frank, Caitlin Reasbeck as Margot Frank, Alex Franke as Peter van Daan, Laurna Grubb as Mrs. van Dann, Zac Morris as Mr. van Daan, Christian Witt as Alfred Dussel, Ingrid Young as Miep Gies, Michael Blatzer as Mr. Kraler, Dustin Shepard as the Nazi and Caleb Engle as the Dutch Collaborator.

Set and costume design is by Assistant Professor of Theater Meta Lasch. Assistant costumer designer is student Michael Blatzer. Lighting design is by WLU alumnus Nathan Dunn.

To purchase tickets online (at a discount) visit brownpapertickets.com or call the WLU Ticket Office at 304.336.8277 to make a reservation.

West Liberty University is a forward-looking, four-year public university steeped in a rich heritage as West Virginia’s oldest institution of higher education. For more information on WLU, please visit westliberty.edu or call 1.866.WESTLIB.

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