By Steve Oldfield
Children, Inc.
Actors at Thomas More University are sharing their powerful play about the Holocaust with younger students from across Greater Cincinnati.
They’re staging special daytime performances of “The Diary of Anne Frank” for middle and high school students this week.
For some kids, it’s the first time they’re hearing about the Jewish girl and her family in Amsterdam who hid from the Nazis during World War II.
“With the rise of anti-Semitism, we feel like this is an important time to share this show with young people,” said Greg Procaccio, TMU’s Theatre director.
“The difference between the diary and this show is that it’s live, it’s in front of you see the emotions of people, the interactions, the relationships,” Procaccio said.
Student performers say it’s been gratifying performing a show about real people and they want audiences to be prepared for a range of emotions.
“It takes you through a lot of twists,” said Natalie Beaulieu, a junior who plays Anne Frank. “At some points, you’re laughing and others you’ll be crying and other parts you’re going to be scared. So you really go through a whole whirlwind of emotions.”
The Diary of Anne Frank continues at Thomas More this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2 p.m.
