SHOW INFO
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
A Play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett
Based upon “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl”
Newly Adapted by Wendy Kesselman
Adaptation originally produced on Broadway by David Stone,
Amy Nederlander-Case, Jon B. Platt, Jujamcyn Theatre, and Hal Luftig
in association with Harriet Newman Leve and James D. Stern.
The Diary of Anne Frank is one of the most famous and haunting stories to emerge from the 20th Century. The memoirs of this young Jewish girl, forced to hide for nearly two years to escape Nazi persecution, are an essential part of how we remember one of the darkest periods of our human history. Wendy Kesselman’s adaptation of the original, Pulitzer Prize award-winning script by Goodrich and Hackett draws from previously unpublished parts of Anne Frank’s real-life diary, allowing the audience to experience Anne in a way that breathes life into this passionate, complex young woman. We also share her relatable experience of adolescence as a familiarly modern teenager. For nearly two years, Anne, her father, mother, and sister, joined with the Van Daan family to hide in a secret annex space above her father’s former office in Amsterdam, as the Nazis deported Dutch Jews to their deaths. In her secret attic, Anne comes of age: she laughs, plays, fights with her mother, and falls in love for the first time. In spite of her oppressive circumstances and the horrors that surround her, Anne’s spirit transcends, as she voices her belief, “in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.” Anne’s dynamism, her luminous spirit, and her story of resilience continue to resonate deeply, making her story as vital today as when her diary first was published.
Presented by The Levoy Theatre
Producer: Sean Pedrick
Director: Lauren Van Embden
Assistant Director: Curtis Matias
Stage Manager: Carrie Ellis
PERFORMANCE DATES:
Thursday, October 3rd, 10am (school show)
Friday, October 4th, 8pm
Saturday, October 5th, 4pm
Sunday, October 6th, 3pm
All performances will take place at The Levoy Theatre, 130 High St N, Millville, NJ 08332.
ROLE BREAKDOWN
📖 ANNE FRANK (13-18)
13 year-old girl, ages to 15, warm, witty, intelligent, charming, self-aware, sensitive, often impatient, sometimes a know-it-all, open, determined, easily hurt, spirited, hopeful, fun-loving, desperate, with all the longings, expectations and attitudes that adolescence brings. Though hiding and living in constant fear and isolation, she never gave up. She had a fraught relationship with her mother, adored her father, and lovingly envied her sister.
📖 MARGOT FRANK (15-20)
15 year-old sister of Anne, ages to 17, pretty, quiet, obedient, demure, frail, friendly, very intelligent, overwhelmed by the trials of hiding, very close to her mother and father. Like Anne, she longed for a friend in whom she could confide. She played the role of peacemaker when Anne overstepped. She was a good girl and was admired by all.
📖 MRS. EDITH FRANK (35+)
A lovely woman, wife and mother, mid-40s, from a wealthy German family, reticent, loving, moral, concerned, gracious, cultured, devoted to tradition, devastated by her relationship with Anne, barely able to cope with the demands of everyday life in hiding and isolation, tries very hard to accommodate the lower middle-class van Daan family whose uncouth and argumentative ways are an irritant to her and causes her to finally erupt into a seething rage.
📖 MRS. PETRONELLA VAN DAAN (35+)
Mid-40s, loud, egotistical, talky, often crude, suspicious, bossy, moody, self-important, overbearing, critical of others, flirtatious, manipulative, sometimes depressed, enjoys a good laugh or story, more accepting of her introverted son, delusional about her younger self’s popularity and looks, feels if she is the Queen Bee in the group, chafes under her husband’s control, tries to run the household. A big stirrer-upper! Yet she is amazingly acceptable.
📖 MIEP GIES (20+)
25-40, Austrian refugee living in the Netherlands, employed by Mr. Frank, entrusted by Otto Frank with provisioning the occupants of the Annex and hiding them from the outside world, she collected fake ration cards, purchased all their foodstuffs, visited the library on their behalf, and generally tried to keep their spirits up. She was courageous, empathetic, compassionate, and friendly.
📖 MR. OTTO FRANK (35+)
Father of Anne and Margot and head of the group living in his Annex, middle 40s to early 50s, upper middle class background, a wise man, fair, loyal, attentive, patient, intelligent, soft, level-headed, optimistic, genuinely liked people, decision-maker, teacher, beloved by his workers who protected him and his family as well as the other tenants of the Annex throughout the war. He was especially susceptible to Anne’s charms. He was devoted to his wife, Edith, and comforted her whenever she was depressed about their living conditions, the attitudes of the van Daans/Dussel, or her relationship with Anne.
📖 MR. HERMAN VAN DAAN (35+)
Mid-40s to 50s, dour, selfish, complaining, ungrateful, superficial, quarrelsome, dictatorial, highly critical of his son Peter, easily irritated, is rather withdrawn from the other occupants of the Annex. His transgression causes the great blow-up in the Annex.
📖 MR. ALBERT DUSSEL (35+)
Mid-40s-50, dentist, stodgy, old-fashioned, disciplined, hypercritical, selfish, horrified at Anne’s behavior, genuinely does not like people, picky, unhappy with everything, a man who has not come to terms with his situation, whiny, a perfectionist, ungrateful, and easily angered.
📖 PETER VAN DAAN (15-20)
17 year-old boy, ages to 19, withdrawn, unsure, awkward, immature, shy, sometimes amusing, attached to his cat, tries to stay out of everyone’s way, hates his mother and father’s constant quarrels, ages from the introverted teenager to the more mature 19 year-old who enjoys the company of the girls and who begins to be interested in all the other occupants of the Annex.
📖 MR. KRAHLER (30+)
35-45, Dutch, helps Miep with the responsibilities of feeding and hiding the occupants of the Annex, is an employee of Mr. Frank’s company, a trusted colleague and friend. He is sympathetic to their plight, does what he can for them, and runs the company in Mr. Frank’s name, an honest and good man.
📖 NAZI SOLDIERS (20+)
AUDITION INFO
GENERAL INFO
- This is a non-equity, community theater production. However, all roles will receive a small travel stipend.
- No conflicts will be accepted during our final tech week, September 29-October 2, or for any performances, October 3-6.
- All performances will take place at The Levoy Theatre, 130 High St N, Millville, NJ 08332.
- Rehearsals will take place at The Levoy Theatre and The Levoy Arts & Education Center, 16 E Pine St, Millville, NJ 08332.
- Questions? Please email annefrank@levoy.net.
AUDITION & CALLBACK DETAILS
- Auditions: July 8th, 6:00-9:30pm, & July 9th, 6:00-7:30pm
- Callbacks: July 9th: 7:30-9:30pm
- Fill out the form below to reserve your spot at auditions! Walk-ins will be accepted between appointments.
- All auditions and callbacks will take place at the Levoy Theatre, 130 High St N, Millville, NJ 08332 (enter through the front doors).
- For auditions, you may either come with a 30-60 second monologue prepared and/or be prepared to read selections from the script.
- Sides from the show are available below if needed, or you may choose your own.