Opening Soon at Avon Players: The Diary of Anne Frank
Witness History with Avon Players’ The Diary of Anne Frank
Play shines a light on a chapter of world history that must not be forgotten
ROCHESTER HILLS, MI, October 12, 2025 – One girl’s true account of a growing up in extraordinary circumstances makes for a harrowing and hopeful play as Avon Players Theatre presents The Diary of Anne Frank, running November 7-22.
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. 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 that, “in spite of everything, 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.
The play is adapted from Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. In July 1942, the then-thirteen-year-old Anne and her family went into hiding in the sealed off upper rooms of the annex at the back of her father’s company’s building in Amsterdam. The Frank family, including Anne, her older sister Margot, her father Otto, and her mother Edith, hid in the tight quarters for more than two years along with four others aided by trusted colleagues of Otto. In August 1944, the group was discovered and deported to Nazi concentration camps. Of the eight, only Otto Frank survived the war. Miep Gies, one of the family’s helpers, retrieved Anne’s writings from the secret annex and gave the them to Otto when he was released. The diary was first published in Dutch in 1947, and the first English translation was published in 1952. The book has since sold over 30 million copies in 70 languages. The 1955 stage adaptation by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett earned the Tony Award for Best Play as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The revised version of the script adapted by Wendy Kesselman debuted on Broadway in 1997 and starred Natalie Portman as Anne.
Director Angel Maclean first read Anne Frank’s book at age 13 (the same age at which the author entered hiding). Initially she found Anne’s story terrifying. “It was hard to imagine such events happening, and yet, they did happen,” Maclean said. As she continued reading, she saw that her initial terror was only one part of a tapestry of feelings that the true story inspired: “I learned that the promise of a better future, even joy, can be found in the worst of conditions. And—what’s more—there are people who will help if you can find them.” As with so many readers over the decades, Maclean became ravenous about reading everything she could about the history that surrounded the novel. She is proud to be able to channel her lifelong interest in the novel and the historical period into this moving and inspiring play. According to Maclean, “this is a story about resilience, about connections among family, and about community support, all themes that resonate today as much as they ever have.”
The Sunday, November 16 performance of The Diary of Anne Frank will be followed by a special talk-back with cast and designers and an educator from the Zekelman Holocaust Center.
Tickets for all shows are $28. Call 248.608.9077 for tickets or order online at www.avonplayers.org. Discounts on group rates are available by calling the box office. “Like” Avon Players Theatre on Facebook for special offers on tickets. All major credit cards are accepted. All seats are reserved. Show dates and times follow:
Saturday, Nov 8 8:00 PM
Sunday, Nov 9 2:00 PM
Friday, Nov 14 8:00 PM
Saturday, Nov 15 8:00 PM
Sunday, Nov 16 2:00 PM
Friday, Nov 21 8:00 PM
Saturday, Nov 22 8:00 PM
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Avon Players is celebrating its 79th season of bringing quality entertainment to its community. Founded in 1947, Avon Players is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit community theatre located along the winding banks of Stoney Creek in the quaint Historic District of Rochester Hills, only about two miles from the heart of downtown Rochester. Avon Players has been performing shows in its unique A-frame theater since 1965. With ticket prices set at a fraction of those at professional theaters (plus free parking), a family of four can experience a sensational live theatrical event for about the cost of one ticket at a "downtown" venue. And for regular theatre-goers, an affordable outing can be an even better bargain by taking advantage of Avon Players’ season ticket packages, which yield discounts of up to 15% per ticket. Additionally, season ticket holders enjoy priority seating selection and voting privileges in Avon’s annual “Stoney Awards.” Additional information regarding tickets and productions is available by calling the Avon Players box office at 248.608.9077 or by visiting the website: www.avonplayers.org.
Cast and Production Staff by Community:
Clarkston
Erica Suszek (“Petronella Van Daan”)
Macomb
Lisa “D” Denomme (“Edith Frank”)
Oakland Township
Angel Maclean (Director)
Lisa Miller (Wig Design)
Ortonville
Joy Oetjens (Set Dress)
Oxford
Charlotte Bondy (“Anne Frank”)
Rochester
Aaron Barnes (Ensemble)
Kristine Barnes (Producer)
Lana Brusokas-Hastings (Hair and Makeup Design)
Maia Fetter (“Margot Frank”)
Steve Grady (“Mr. Krahler”)
Rochester Hills
John (JD) Deierlein (Lighting Design)
Nicholas Furwa (“Peter Van Daan”)
Nick Kibler (Sound Design)
Judy Privasky (“Miep Gies”)
Michael Zois (“Otto Frank”)
Royal Oak
Brandon Niemi (“Hermann Van Daan”)
Shelby Township
Kelly Miller (Costume Design)
Sterling Heights
Emily Brown (Properties Design)
Waterford
Tagg Smith (“Albert Dussel”)
Jeffrey Stillman (Set Design)
Photo: Charlotte Bondy as "Anne Frank." Photo Credit: Bryan Clifford.
Avon Players
Michelle Box Office Manager
Friday, Nov 7 8:00 PM