On April 17, 18, and 19, the play “The Diary of Anne Frank” was directed for all parents and students to see. The play was about Anne Frank and the time she spent in hiding, keeping a diary and adding entries as the years went by. The students played the part of each character splendidly, giving them mannerisms and emotional reactions that built up their personality fantastically.

Though performing was difficult for the cast, it was all worth it to them in the end. To be able to tell these characters stories was a thrilling, once in a lifetime experience. The cast felt as though they were passing on the important story, and showing people how truly emotional it was for Anne Frank and her loved ones to go through what they did.

“It felt really good and satisfying, because the subject matter we have is so powerful. Being able to be Anne’s voice is so surreal. Before the show yesterday, Milhous pulled us aside and told us that we were speaking for those who couldn’t. Being able to keep her story alive made me feel connected with it,” Cael Nolan (Mr. Otto Frank) explained.

Some of the actors and actresses felt that while playing the part of a real person, they were able to connect to that person and the struggles they went through.

“While I was performing, I felt really connected to my character and the people around me. As you play the part, you feel what they must have felt in the attic,” Isabell Nutt (Mrs. Edith Frank) said.

Possibly the most impactful role was that of Anne Frank. Living through the time she spent in the attic and reading out her journal entries as her must have been a thrilling and new experience.

“I wanted to play Anne Frank because I wanted to learn more about her as a person and portray her legacy as much as I possibly could,” Hannah Christ said. Playing the role must have been very difficult, but no one could have been better for the part.

Though the cast is a major factor in any sort of play, another difficult role is that of the crew. Making props, sound, lights, make-up, and much more is an essential part of any quality production, and the crew is what makes it all possible.

“I am so proud of everyone for all the hard work that they put into this production. I hope everyone enjoys the show,” Sydney Tamborski, who was part of the house crew, said.

Since the play is about such a difficult time in history, it is easy to imagine that it must have been very satisfying and even emotional to see all of their hard work pay off in the form of a beautiful and touching play.

“The hardest part was keeping myself professional and not getting emotional about the story while trying to keep everyone focused,” stage manager Kayla Petelik admits.

Finally, The Diary of Anne Frank would have never even happened without the wonderful theater teacher Mr. Milhous. He devoted so much time and energy into this production, and without his guidance none of it would have ever been possible.

“It’s always a great feeling to see everything come together, especially in the last week. Seeing all of them work together and create a beautiful production is amazing,” Milhous said.

Everything went beautifully in the end, and the students were able to tell Anne Frank’s story in the best way possible. Being in this production was a life changing experience for them, one that they will always remember.