FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 28, 2007
For more information: (216) 521-2540
Yvette A. Hanzel, extension 225
Scott Spence, extension 239
Beck Center for the Arts
Brings back four commanding
performances of
The
Diary of Anne Frank ~ new adaptation by Wendy Kesselman
Based on the original play by
Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett
January 26 – February 9, 2008
Lakewood, OH – Beck
Center for the Arts is privileged
to bring back four commanding performances of Wendy Kesselman’s powerful
new adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank, opening
January 26 through February 9, 2008
on the Beck Center’s
Main Stage.
Kesselman’s
compelling new adaptation of Anne’s famous diary, based on the original
play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, captures the terrifying existence
of eight European Jews hiding from the Nazis in war-torn Holland
for more than two years. This
impassioned drama depicts their fears, their hopes, their laughter, and their
grief. Each day of these two dark
years for these eight individuals shines through Anne’s clear and
powerful voice and for millions who can’t tell their stories.
The Diary of Anne Frank features Heather Farr as Anne Frank, George
Roth* as Otto Frank and Paula Duesing* as Mrs. Van Daan. Also, with Brian
Bartels, Mark Cipra, Kevin Coughlin, Eric Fancher, Gareth
Harris, Bob McCoy, Anne McEvoy, Lisa Siciliano, John Stuehr, and Dawn Youngs.
Director
Sarah May is well known to audiences, most recently through her direction of The Children’s Hour and Boy Gets
Girl at the Beck
Center. She received the Northern Ohio
Live Award in 2001 for A Piece of My Heart,
and was honored by Cleveland Scene Magazine, which named her Charenton
Theatre production of Six Degrees of Separation
the “Best Theatre Production” of 2003.
“What
a unique opportunity it is to get to revisit this amazing play with most of our
original cast intact!” exclaims May.
“Two years ago I had the honor to work with these great actors to
tell Anne's story. Her saga represents the tragedy suffered by millions
during the Holocaust, and it must never be forgotten! We are so thrilled to be able to
celebrate their courage and pass their legacy on.” As part of Beck’s ongoing
commitment to theater education, we will also be presenting ten performances
for school groups.
The Beck
Center’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank is funded by the Martha Holden
Jennings Foundation. Other sponsors
include Cox Communications, WFHM
95.5 The Fish Radio, Cleveland Jewish News, The National
Conference on Community and Justice (NCCJ), the Ohio Arts Council, WCLV 104.9
FM and Lakewoodbuzz.com.
Educational materials were provided by the NCCJ. Programming at the Beck Center is made possible through the generous
support of The Cleveland Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, The John P.
Murphy Foundation, The Kulas Foundation, The Eva L. & Joseph M. Bruening
Foundation, The Abington Foundation, and the Thomas H. White Foundation. Beck Center gratefully acknowledges the citizens of Cuyahoga County for their support through Cuyahoga Arts and
Culture.
Show
dates and times are 8 p.m.
Friday, February 1, Saturdays, January 26 and February 9 and 3 p.m. Sunday,
February 3. Student matinees at 10:00 or 10:30 a.m.
on January 22, 24, 25, 29, 31 and February 5, 7, 12, 14 and 15. Special discounts available. For tickets to The Diary of
Anne Frank call the Beck Center
box office at (216) 521-2540 or log onto www.beckcenter.org. Ticket prices are $28 for adults,
$25 for seniors and $17 for students (22 and under with I.D.). Group discounts are available for
parties of 13 or more. Rush tickets
for students (22 and under with I.D.) are offered for $10 each on Sunday only,
30 minutes prior to curtain, based on availability. Members of the Maltz Museum of Jewish
History will receive a $5 discount on each ticket purchased. Beck
Center for the Arts is located just
10 minutes west of downtown Cleveland
at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. Free, convenient on-site parking is
available.
###
* George Roth
and Paula Duesing appear courtesy of Actor’s Equity Association, the
union of actors and stage managers.