Overview
Synopsis
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adaptation of the original, Pulitzer Prize award-winning script by Goodrich and Hackett draws from previously unpublished parts of Anne Frank’s real-life diary, allowing the audience to experience Anne in a way that breathes life into this passionate, complex young woman.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.
Show Information
- Book
- Wendy Kesselman
- Based On Book By
- Frances Goodrich , Albert Hackett
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1997
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Unit/Single Set, Period
- Time & Place
- amsterdam, holland, world war ii
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Early Teen, Late Teen, Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Anne Frank’s personal diary survived World War II, thanks to family friend Miep Gies, who aided the Franks during their two years in hiding. After the Franks were captured, Gies managed to save Anne’s diary from the Annex. After the War ended, Otto Frank, Anne’s father -- the only member of the Frank family that survived the Holocaust -- returned to Amsterdam, where Gies gave him Anne’s diary. Anne, herself, died of disease (probably Typhus) in Auschwitz in 1945, shortly before the
to read the context for The Diary of Anne Frank and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The play opens in an attic, decorated sparsely, but with the intention of becoming a home. It is July 6, 1942. World War II is waging outside on the streets of Amsterdam, and the Nazis have taken control of the city. The Frank family — Anne, her older sister (Margot), and her parents (Otto and Edith) — arrives, soaking wet from the rain and, as they shed their layers, one can see a yellow Star of David sewn to each one. It is an identification badge, proclaiming for all to see
to read the plot for The Diary of Anne Frank and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
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Featured |
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Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A young person in the process of developing from a child into an adult.
Hostility and prejudice against Jewish people.
The Nazi secret police, notorious for their cruelty and brutal methods.
A Jewish festival in winter, lasting eight days and celebrating the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees after it was destroyed by the Syrians in 165 BCE.
The systematic genocide of six-million Jewish people during World War II.
The woman who is the head of the family.
A candelabrum used to commemorate the eight days of Hanukkah. Menorahs may have seven, eight, or nine holders.
The head of a tribe or community.
An award for an achievement in American journalism, literature, or music
A contagious disease (or group of diseases) transmitted by lice, fleas, or mites. Epidemic typhus outbreaks generally happen in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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