'Diary Of Anne Frank' Explored In New Holmdel Theater Production

HOLMDEL, NJ — The Holmdel Theater Company will present "The Diary of Anne Frank" in a new theatrical production this weekend.

The story of Anne Frank is based on her journal as a young girl who lived in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.

The Holmdel Theatre Company at the Duncan Smith Theater is dedicated to presenting fresh interpretations of classic plays - and this production will be just that, the company says.

Producer Laurie Devino said the theater space lends itself to the setting of the story.

“The intimacy of our historic 125-year-old barn makes for a unique experience for our audience. Whether you’ve been to our theatre before or are attending for the first time, the way we’ve transformed the barn into this 1940s annex makes this a totally new, immersive show,” Devino said.

Anne is being played by Katie Bauer, who is a student at Holmdel High School. The full cast list can also be found on the production website here.

The play is by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, and this is a production of an adaptation by Wendy Kesselman. The play is based on the 2016 edition of "The Diary of Anne Frank."

The production "explores themes of isolation, fear, and hope, as well as the enduring power of the human spirit in even the darkest of times," the company says.

It brings to life the experiences of Frank and her family as they struggle to survive in a cramped attic space for years. Anne Frank kept a diary in which she documented life in hiding from 1942 to 1944. She and other family members were discovered, however, and all ultimately died in a concentration camp, except for her father.

But Anne Frank's diary was saved in the house. Her father Otto, when he returned, published the diary in 1947. It has since been published in 70 languages.

The production, directed by Amy Jones and produced by Devino, will run weekends from Saturday, April 15, to Sunday, April 30.

Hours are Fridays at 8 p.m., April 21 and 28; Saturdays at 8 p.m., April 15, 22 and 29; and Sundays at 2 p.m., April 16, 23 and 30.

Tickets are now available for the show here at $20 for students/seniors and $25 for adults.

Holmdel Theater Company is dedicated to providing opportunities for students and non-professionals to work with professional theatre artists in a collaborative, artistic and educational exchange, the company says.