Parsippany Arts Center Presents "The Diary Of Anne Frank," Proceeds To Benefit Food Bank

PARSIPPANY, NJ — ”The Diary of Anne Frank” is set to be performed at the Parsippany Arts Center next month, and some of the show’s proceeds are going towards a good cause.

Performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. for July 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26, with a 3 p.m. matinee on July 20. It’s set to be performed at the Parsippany Arts Center in the Parsippany Senior Center, 1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha.

The play is an adaptation of the non-fiction story of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl forced to hide with her family in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. The groundbreaking book was adapted into a play in 1955 by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.

The Parsippany Arts Center called the production “a timeless story of courage and the human spirit.”

The show is directed by Lauren Moran, who actually played the character of Miep Gies in a production 30 years ago. Moran added that the smaller, 99-seat theater allows an “immersive experience” for the audience, being that Franks were hidden away in a small annex during the occupation.

“(The Diary of Anne Frank)” is a beautiful piece of theatre, and it’s a story that needs to continue to be told,” Moran told Patch. “I think hearing the words from Anne’s diary is really, really moving… I want to make sure that this Jewish story is told and never forgotten.”

The show stars Rachel Perl as the titular Anne Frank, Kara Freedman as Margot Frank, Elissa Strell as Edith Frank, and other local talent.

Portraying Otto Frank, Anne’s father, is Ben Weisman, a local actor and often collaborator with Moran.

Weisman approached Moran with the idea to put on the play, which he had directed himself back in college. Weisman said he feels a strong connection to the story, given his Jewish roots, adding that his family lost many relatives during the Holocaust.

“What the play does is it speaks to the sheer humanity… We have such a shared humanity, especially in a divided world, I think we forget that sometimes,” Weisman said. “I think human stories, like Anne’s, help remind us of that, and maybe help us adjust how we treat other people.”

Weisman added that he was drawn to the character of Otto Frank, particularly his sense of duty even in horrific circumstances. He describes Otto as “a man without bitterness or anger,” but rather someone who still “puts everybody else’s needs first,” despite the terrible situation the Franks endured.

Tickets cost $30 at the door or can be purchased in advance online.

A portion of the show’s proceeds will be donated to the Parsippany Emergency Food Pantry, an organization that provides non-perishable food items to families in need.

In the past, Parsippany Arts Center performances have given proceeds to several local causes, including the Club Connect, the Boonton Volunteer Fire Department, and more.

“I do like to balance between doing community work, community service, through the arts, and also just entertainment,” said Moran. “And sometimes we can do both.”