By Frances Goodrich and Albert Hacke
Based upon "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl."
Newly
adapted by Wendy Kesselman.
Directed by Ezra Barnes
This gripping adaptation weaves together newly discovered writings from the diary of Anne Frank with survivor accounts to create a contemporary, impassioned story of the lives of people persecuted under Nazi rule. The Diary of Anne Frank captures the claustrophobic realities of their daily existence - their fear, their hope, their laughter, their grief. Each day of these two dark years, Anne's voice shines through: "When I write I shake off all
my cares. But I want to achieve more than that. I want to be useful and bring enjoyment to all people, even
those I've never met. I want to go on living even after my death!"
"Undeniably moving. It shatters the heart. The evening never lets us forget the inhuman darkness waiting to claim its incandescently human heroine." - New York Times
"An extraordinary theatrical adventure! Go and remember." - New York Post
Previews on October 25 & 26, all seats $17.50 for Previews only. For other pricing, see our tickets page.
Opening Night: October 27 - wine and cheese reception before the show.
Performances:
Wednesday & Thursday at 7:30 pm
Friday & Saturday at 8:00 pm
Sunday matinee at 2:00 pm, followed by a talk back with the cast.
Special Tuesday matinee on November 7th at 2:00pm - all seats $22.50 this show only.
Full Calendar
Reviews
--Talkin' Broadway
--CT Arts Connection-L. Yarger
--CT Theatre News & Reviews
--West Hartford Patch
--CT Critics Circle - T. Nissley
--CT Critics Circle - B. Goldberg
--Stu on Broadway
--From the Desk of Jim. R
Production Photos
Photo Credit: Curt Henderson
ISABELLE BARBIER (Anne): Playhouse on Park Debut! Dixon Place New York: Mercy THOSE GIRLS. New York Fringe Festival: Annie IT'S CHILL. Manhattan Rep: Snake KITTY CAPPY GYPSY & SNAKE. Isabelle graduated from Atlantic Acting School's conservatory program. Special thanks to mom and dad, Naomi Kolstein, and everyone at Schiller's.
FRANK VAN PUTTEN* (Otto Frank): Playhouse On Park debut. Some of his favorites are: Theatre - Lorenzo Happesberger in COLLABORATION WARHOL & BASQUIAT - director Lonny Price; Schaaf in A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY @ Classic Stage Company; Siemi in THE GOOD GERMAN @ Seymour Centre, Sydney Australia. Television: Johann von Kinkel in VINYL director Martin Scorcese (HBO); other appearances in THE KNICK; THE LEFTOVERS; THE BLACKLIST; THE GOOD WIFE and others. Film: THE WOLF OF WALL STREET; SILENCE; ANOTHER SUN; I DREAM TOO MUCH and others. This performance is dedicated to the memory of Henriette and Rachel van Ameringen.
JONI WEISFELD (Edith Frank): Playhouse on Park Debut! Connecticut Theater credits include: Fool KING LEAR, Smeraldina THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS, Actor/Co-Creator HUNGER, and Olivia TWELFTH NIGHT. NYC credits include: Ghost HAMLET, Jason MEDEA, Miami SEDUCED. Joni has performed in various national and tri-state tours. Currently, she is a Director and Teaching Artist focusing on physically driven work.
JONATHAN D. MESISCA (Mr. Düssel): Playhouse on Park Debut. Jonathan is thrilled to portray the visiting dentist based on holocaust victim Fritz Pfeffer. New York: Perón EVITA, Jacob Marley A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Higgins RACHEL, THE MUSICAL, Chief Bromden ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, Sheriff Buckley GOREE GROSSING, Devil THE DEVIL OF DELANCEY STREET, The Minstrel ONCE UPON A MATTRESS; Chicago: El Gallo THE FANTASTICKS; National Tour: Pa Ingalls LAURA INGALLS WILDER; Regional: Dean ‘Jarback’ Priest EMILY THE MUSICAL, Jim Haller ALL SHOOK UP, El Gallo THE FANTASTICKS. EMC. M.A. University of Southern California. www.jonathanmesisca.com
Instagram: jonathan_mesisca Twitter: @JDMe412 Facebook: @JDMesiscaActor
ALLEN LEWIS RICKMAN* (Mr. Van Daan): Film: the Coen brothers’ Oscar-nominated A SERIOUS MAN, YOU DON’T KNOW JACK (with Al Pacino), John Turturro’s FADING GIGOLO, etc. Television: BOARDWALK EMPIRE (recurring role), Buck Henry’s ARE WE ON?, Steven Spielberg’s PUBLIC MORALS (recurring), THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL (as Red Skelton), etc. Stage: RELATIVELY SPEAKING (Broadway; with Marlo Thomas), SO HELP ME GOD! (with Kristen Johnston), ROOM SERVICE (Cleveland Playhouse), VICTOR/VICTORIA (Paper Mill), WAITING FOR GODOT (Two River), etc. Mr. Rickman is also a writer. His co-written farce OFF THE HOOK has been produced across Europe and three times in the U.S.; his revue THE ESSENCE: A YIDDISH THEATER DIM SUM has toured widely and was published in Harvey Pekar's anthology “Yiddishkeit”.
ELIZABETH SIMMONS (Miep Gies): Playhouse on Park Debut! Select credits include: And Then There Were None (Judson Theatre Co.) Brighton Beach Memoirs (Broward Stage Door Theatre) The Norman Conquests (Garage Theatre Group) As You Like It (Actors Co-op) Boston Marriage (Actors Theatre of Washington), Hysteria, (Rep Stage), Mack and Mabel, Ugly Duck (Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati Intern Company) BFA Acting Point Park University/Pittsburgh Playhouse. Love to Tom, new friends, and family "down south".
ALEX RAFALA (Peter Van Daan): Playhouse on Park debut; Hudson Guild Theater: Chris SOLDIERS AND OTHER LIVING THINGS; Target Margin Theater: Chuck THE ICEMAN COMETH LAB (ACT 2); The Gallery Players: Catesby RICHARD III; Lyra Theater: Givola/Bowl/Goodwill THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI; JCS Theater Company: Rick THE DEVIL IS ON THE LOOSE WITH AN AXE IN MARSHALLTOWN. B.A. Drama, Minor in Film Studies from the University of Virginia. www.alexrafala.com
LISA BOSTNAR* (Mrs. Van Daan): is so grateful to be working with this talented company. She arrived in Hartford after shooting a Guest Star spot on The Blacklist to air in November. Other TV appearances include Guest Star spots on Law & Order, Pan Am, Criminal Intent and Conviction. Some favorite stage roles include Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Emma in Annapurna, Kate in The Taming of the Shrew, 7 Characters in The Blonde, The Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead, Genia in Arthur Schnitzler's Far and Wide and Sarah in Pinter's The Lover
RUTHY FROCH (Margot Frank): Playhouse on Park Debut! Credits Include: Barrington Stage Company: Nurse BLOOD DRIVE, u/s Dirty Girl PEERLESS; 59E59: Zillah, WELCOME TO THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA. Film: “GOTTI” (2017). Ruthy is a NYU/Tisch Graduate. Much love to Avalon Artists, Sean, Ezra, the entire company, and everyone here at Playhouse on Park. For my Zaida who survived, and my grandparents and cousins who perished, “Never Again!” IG: babyruthy93 www.ruthyfroch.com
MICHAEL ENRIGHT (Mr. Kraler): Playhouse on Park Debut! Ocean City Theatre Co: Mr. Banks MARY POPPINS; New Bedford Festival Theatre: Combefere/Bamatabois LES MISERABLES; Armory Theatre: Ghost Christmas Present A CHRISTMAS CAROL; Gateway Playhouse: Ensemble/Quartet PHANTOM; Hudson Guild: Senator Fipp URINETOWN. Other favorites: SUMMER OF '42, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST & THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE. NYC: Carnegie Hall, Atlantic Theatre Co. Commercial: Amazon Alexa, Volkswagen, eLend. TV/Film: Boardwalk Empire, Wonderstruck. Shenandoah Conservatory Alumni. Follow Michael @EnrightenMe. www.iamMichaelEnright.com "Good is not good enough, when you dream of being great"
EZRA BARNES (Director) is a director, actor and producer. Audiences at POP will remember his portrayals of John Barrymore in I Hate Hamlet and multiple characters in The Dining Room. Ezra founded Connecticut’s Shakespeare on the Sound and led the company for thirteen seasons, directing productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Merchant of Venice, Macbeth, Comedy of Errors and Julius Caesar. Other directing credits include plays and operas for Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, Allentown Symphony, Connecticut Grand Opera and Vertical Player Repertory. He has appeared often Off-Broadway, and is proud to have produced and acted in the US premiere of Fraser Grace’s award winning play Breakfast With Mugabe at the Signature Center, a NY Times Critics Pick that was nominated for Best Play by the Off-B’way Alliance. He has also performed at numerous regional theaters (including Hartford Stage), in film (Noah, Joshua, Once More With Feeling, the upcoming Unintended) and on television (The Sinner, Law & Order, SVU, Blue Bloods, Blacklist).
*Appears courtesy of Actors Equity, the profession union for actors and stage managers.
