Park Square Theatre Offers Three Public Performances in March

Park Square Theatre presents its annual production of THE DIARY OF Anne Frank, based on one of the 20th Century's most inspiring and enduring narratives.  The story comes to life in three public performances March 1 & 3 at 7:30 p.m., and March 31 at 1 p.m. at Park Square Theatre, 20 W. Seventh Place, Saint Paul. Daytime performances for students run February 27 through May 18, 2012. 

This extraordinary account of eight Jewish people hiding in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam is based on the personal diary of its protagonist.  Anne Frank emerges from history as a lyrical and intensely gifted young woman.  Her spirit, optimism, and nobility amidst the horrors of the Holocaust are brought to life through this heart-felt production, directed by Scott Rubsam. 

THE DIARY OF Anne Frank made its theater debut in 1956. Since then, it has been reproduced countless times on stages across the country and abroad. Collaborators Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, longtime Hollywood writers, had little experience with such a story as that of the Frank family. Previous scripts included sophisticated comedies such as The Thin Man or lively musicals such as Easter Parade. However, Goodrich and Hackett researched the play meticulously, drawing not only on Anne's diary but also on the experience of visiting Otto Frank and the attic hideout.  As Evelyn Ehrlich noted in Dictionary of Literary Biography, Hackett in 1956 said, ''We all felt we were working for a cause, not just a play.'' 

Kathryn Lawrey returns to the role of Anne Frank, joined by Robert-Bruce Blake and Julie Ann Nevill (Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan), Joy Rakerd (Edith Frank), Heather Raiter (Margot Frank) and Stephen Pearce (Mr. Kraler). Charles Fraser (Mr. Dussel), David McMenomy (Peter van Daan), Karla Reck (Miep Gies) and Peter Thomson (Otto Frank) complete the cast. During a portion of the run, Stephen D'Ambrose will play Otto Frank, a role he created for Park Square during the theatre's first performance of THE DIARY OF Anne Frank.

Park Square inspires 25,000 students each season-one of Minnesota's largest teen theatre audiences. Students come from all over Minnesota, Wisconsin and northern Iowa, attending the play and adding enrichment through workshops, post-show talk back opportunities and Park Square's trademark "Build a Moment" demonstration.  More than 100,000 teens have seen THE DIARY OF Anne Frank at Park Square Theatre. 

THE DIARY OF Anne Frank is a part of the 3M Student Series.

Performance Schedule: Weekday matinees of THE DIARY OF Anne Frank begin on February 27 and run through May 18. The three public performances will be held Thursday March 1 and Saturday March 3 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, March 31 at 1 p.m.  All performances are in the company's intimate theater in Saint Paul's historic Hamm Building, 20 W. Seventh Place. 

Ticket prices: General Audience Performances March 1, 3 & 31: $38 & $58. Discounts are available for seniors, those under age 30, and groups. Tickets are on sale at the Park Square box office, 20 West Seventh Place, or by phone: 651.291.7005, (12 noon-5 p.m. Monday through Friday), or online at www.parksquaretheatre.org.