Footlighters is proud to announce auditions for THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
By Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett
Adapted by Wendy Kesselman
“In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”
In this powerful new adaptation, Anne Frank emerges from history as a living, lyrical, intensely gifted young girl who confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of her time with astonishing honesty, wit, and determination. An impassioned drama about the lives of eight people hiding from the Nazis in a concealed storage attic, The Diary of Anne Frank captures the claustrophobic realities of their daily existence – their fear, their hope, their laughter, and their grief.
Directed by Jim Curtis
Produced by Michelle Burdett, Janet Wisner, and Chris Wolff
Stage Managed by Janet Wisner
Audition Dates:
Sunday, October 4 from 4:00pm – 7:00pm
Monday, October 5 from 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Callbacks, if needed – Wednesday, October 7 at 7:00pm
Expect cold readings from the script. Please provide your theatrical resume (headshot appreciated, but not mandatory) and a list of any scheduling conflicts for the rehearsal season. All auditionees must be 18 years old to audition. Accents are not required.
Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0448AEAE2BABFC1-65363265-auditions#/
Location:
The Stained Glass Theatre, 802 York Street, Newport, KY 41017
Rehearsals:
Rehearsals will begin after the “Meet & Greet” on November 10.
Show Dates:
January 28 – February 14, 2027
Please contact the director, Jim Curtis (jjt9461@yahoo.com) with any questions or accommodation requests.
Characters:
Anne Frank (Female / Stage age – teenager)
A 13-year-old girl, aged 15, warm, witty, intelligent, charming, self-aware, sensitive, often impatient, sometimes a know-it-all, open, determined, easily hurt, spirited, hopeful, fun-loving, desperate, with all the longings, expectations and attitudes that adolescence brings. Though hiding and living in constant fear and isolation, she never gave up. She had a fraught relationship with her mother, adored her father, and lovingly envied her sister.
Margot Frank (Female / Stage age – teenager)
Anne’s 15-year-old sister, aged 17. Pretty, quiet, obedient, demure, frail, friendly, very intelligent, overwhelmed by the trials of hiding, very close to her mother and father. Like Anne, she longed for a friend in whom she could confide. She played the role of peacemaker when
Anne overstepped. She was a good girl and was admired by all.
Mrs. Edith Frank (Female / Stage age – mid 30s)
A lovely woman, wife and mother, mid-30s, from a wealthy German family, reticent, loving, moral, concerned, gracious, cultured, devoted to tradition, devastated by her relationship with Anne, barely able to cope with the demands of everyday life in hiding and isolation, tries very hard to accommodate the lower middle-class van Daan family whose uncouth and argumentative ways are an irritant to her and causes her to finally erupt into a seething rage.
Mrs. Petronella Van Dean (Female / Stage age – early 40s)
Early 40s, loud, egotistical, talky, often crude, suspicious, bossy, moody, self-important, overbearing, critical of others, flirtatious, manipulative, sometimes depressed, enjoys a good laugh or story, more accepting of her introverted son, delusional about her younger self’s popularity and looks, feels if she is the Queen Bee in the group, chafes under her husband’s control, tries to run the household. A big stirrer-upper! Yet she is amazingly acceptable.
Miep Gies (Female / Stage age – 20 – 40s)
25–40, an Austrian refugee living in the Netherlands, employed by Mr. Frank, entrusted by Otto Frank with provisioning for the occupants of the Annex and hiding them from the outside world. She collected fake ration cards, purchased all their foodstuffs, visited the library on their behalf, and generally tried to keep their spirits up. She was courageous, empathetic, compassionate, and friendly.
Mr. Otto Frank (Male / Stage age – 40s – 50s)
Father of Anne and Margot and head of the group living in his Annex, in his middle 40s to early 50s, of his upper middle class background, a wise man, fair, loyal, attentive, patient, intelligent, soft, level-headed, optimistic, genuinely liked people, decision-maker, teacher, beloved by his workers who protected him and his family as well as the other tenants of the Annex throughout the war. He was especially susceptible to Anne’s charms. He was devoted to his wife, Edith, and comforted her whenever she was depressed about their living conditions, the attitudes of the van Daans/Dussel, or her relationship with Anne.
Mr. Hermann Van Dean (Male / Stage age – 40s – 50s)
Mid-40s to 50s, dour, selfish, complaining, ungrateful, superficial, quarrelsome, dictatorial, highly critical of his son Peter, easily irritated, is rather withdrawn from the other occupants of the Annex. His transgression causes the great blow-up in the Annex.
Mr. Albert Mussel (Male / Stage age – 40s – 50s)
Mid-40s-50, a dentist, stodgy, old-fashioned, disciplined, hypercritical, selfish, horrified at Anne’s behavior, genuinely does not like people, picky, unhappy with everything, a man who has not come to terms with his situation, whiny, a perfectionist, ungrateful, and easily angered.
Peter Van Dean (Male / Stage age – teenager)
A 17-year-old boy, aged 19, withdrawn, unsure, awkward, immature, shy, sometimes amusing, attached to his cat, tries to stay out of everyone’s way, hates his mother and father’s constant quarrels, ages from the introverted teenager to the more mature 19-year-old who enjoys the company of the girls and who begins to be interested in all the other occupants of the Annex.
Mr. Kahler (Male / Stage age – 30s – 40s)
35–45, Dutch, helps Mien with the responsibilities of feeding and hiding the occupants of the Annex, is an employee of Mr. Frank’s company, a trusted colleague and friend. He is sympathetic to their plight, does what he can for them, and runs the company in Mr. Frank’s name, an honest and good man.
Nazi Officers (Male / Stage age – 20s – 50s)
3 soldiers affiliated with the Gestapo are tasked with the capture and the arrest of Anne and her fellow fugitives. A brief yet impactful role. Accents will be required and taught.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 