Download The Diary of Anne Frank

Press Contact
Janis Logsdon
Amish Acres, LLC
1600 West Market Street
Nappanee, IN 46550
(574) 773-4188 extension 240
fax (574) 773-4180
[email protected]
www.AmishAcres.com
AMISH ACRES®
Historic Farm & Heritage Resort
THE ROUND BARN THEATRE®
The Pulitzer Prize Winning Diary of Anne Frank
Takes The Stage At The Round Barn Theatre at Amish Acres.
NAPPANEE, Indiana—September 22, 2014 — The book of writings kept by Anne Frank while
she and her family hid for two years during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands was
published and subsequently translated into 60 languages. One of the adaptations of the now
famous diary was the 1955 Broadway adaptation which won both the Tony Award for Best Play
and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This eventually led to a film adaptation of the play and a 1997
Broadway revival starring Natalie Portman as Anne. Now, one of the most important stories
ever told will find a new home at The Round Barn Theatre beginning Wednesday, October 22nd
on the Joseph Stein Stage and continuing through Sunday, November 9.
On June 12, 1942, Anne Frank’s parent gave her a small red and white
plaid diary for her thirteenth birthday. More than fifty years later, this
diary has become one of the most widely read personal journals of all
time. Through writing, she gave voice to her inner self. She records the
fear and trauma of living during World War II as a young Jewish girl and
be hunted by the Nazi regime. On June 26, 1942, Anne and her family
were forced to go into hiding or be sent to a concentration camp. For
over two years, Anne wrote about her life with seven other people in a very small upstairs attic
annex. On August 9, 1944, the Nazis raided the secret annex and arrested the residents. Anne’s
entire diary remained behind. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, was the only member of the family to
survive. Miep Gies, the Dutch citizen who hid the Frank family, discovered Anne’s diary and
gave it to Otto when he returned to Amsterdam. He decided to publish the diary to honor his
daughter’s wish to be a writer, and to educate against discrimination and war.
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The Diary of a Young Girl was first published under the title, Het Achterhuis. Dagboekbrieven by
Contact Publishing in Amsterdam in 1947. It received widespread critical and popular attention
upon its English language translation Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Doubleday &
Company and Valentine Mitchell in 1952. The book, which is included in several lists of the top
books of the 20th century, inspired the 1955 play The Diary of Anne Frank by
screenwriters Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, who also adapted it for the screen in 1959.
The Diary of Anne Frank opened on Broadway in 1955, where it enjoyed a two year run,
amassing 717 performances prior to closing in 1957. In 1956, the play opened simultaneously in
seven German cities with Queen Juliana attending the Amsterdam opening. In addition to the
Tony and Pulitzer Prize, The Diary of Anne Frank also received the Theatre World Award, the
New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, and the Tony Award for Best Revival of a
Play in 1998
This outstanding theatrical drama will be directed by Guest Director, Charles Burr. As the
Artistic Director of the Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, Michigan, Mr. Burr is a veteran of
Regional Theatre, bringing over 30 years worth of experience in the business to The Round Barn
Theatre’s unique theatrical interpretation. The show stars Round Barn Theatre and Joseph Stein
Young Actors Studio veteran, Joelle Rassi as Anne Frank. Joelle is no stranger to RBT patrons
having won the hearts of holiday audiences for her portrayal of Susan Walker in The Round
Barn production of Miracle of 34th Street, and again as the Mayor of the Munchkin City in The
Wizard of Oz. The cast also features some of The Round Barn’s most prolific performers, led by
Matthew C. Scott who plays Anne’s father, Otto Frank, and Amber Burgess as Anne’s Mother,
Edith Frank.
All patrons are invited to join the cast and the staff of Amish Acres for an opening
night reception which includes wine, cheese, information about the show and a toast to
opening night. The reception will take place in the Wine Tasting Loft in the Restaurant Barn on
Wednesday, October 22 from 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm. The cast, director and Round Barn Theatre
staff will be mingling during a meet and greet and also readily available to give you their insight
into the production. In addition, learn the history and research that went into the making of the
show from the director, Charles Burr, Artistic Director, Jeremy Littlejohn and Executive
Producer, Richard Pletcher.
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The Diary of Anne Frank opens on October 22 and runs through November 9 with 2:00 p.m.
matinees and 8:00 p.m. evening performances. A complete show schedule and ticket
information is available by calling The Round Barn Theatre Box Office at (800)800-4942
extension 2 or online at www.amishacres.com. Theatre tickets can be combined at a savings
with Amish Acres’ famous family style Threshers Dinner served daily or a Theme Dinner buffet
served on Friday, October 24. Theme Dinner seating is limited and reservations should be made
in advance by calling The Round Barn Theatre Box Office at (800)800-4942 extension 2.
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