The Federal Way High School Drama Department has been busy preparing for their run of “The Diary of Anne Frank.” The show opens on Nov. 14, and it will feature some Highline College Running Start students in its cast and crew. 

These Highline students include Alinea Kirshenbaum, who will play Anne Frank, Avi Taylor, who will play Otto Frank, and Gale Miller, who is the Stage Manager Senior Trainer. 

“The Diary of Anne Frank” is a two act play that gives audiences a taste of what life was like for the Franks, the van Pels (called the van Daans in the show), and Mr. Pfeffer (called Mr. Dussel in the show) while they were hiding in the Secret Annex, located in Amsterdam during World War II. Using real diary entries throughout, the audience sees scenes from within the Annex from their first day to the dreadful last, when the people in hiding were discovered.  

The Franks, van Pels, and Mr. Pfeffer went into hiding as a result of the antisemitic laws that were in place in Nazi occupied Amsterdam. Anne’s sister, Margot, received a call-up notice to report to a work camp, and the family knew that their only choice was to go into hiding. 

Avi Taylor, when asked about how it feels to portray Otto Frank, the only survivor who hid in the Annex, said, “Playing Otto for me has been a sort of rite of passage. I’m Jewish on my Dad’s side and have always really resonated with my Jewish heritage … It’s honoring my true culture.” 

When asked about the reason for choosing this show in particular, the director Holly Rose, said, “In times when we witness the erosion of civil liberties and the targeting of vulnerable communities, Anne Frank’s story becomes not just a historical lesson but a mirror reflecting our present moment – reminding audiences that the preservation of human dignity and the courage to speak truth in the face of oppression are as vital today as they were in that hidden annex.” 

Rose also spoke on how theatre is an impactful tool for communicating important messages to audiences, “Theatre has the power to awaken our collective conscience and inspire us to recognize that ‘in spite of everything, people are truly good at heart,’ even when the world around us seems to forget this fundamental truth.”

If you are interested in seeing the show, which will run until Nov. 22, you can buy tickets online via the Federal Way High School Drama Department website, or buy tickets at the door. For more information about the Federal Way High School Drama Department, you can follow them on Instagram @fwhs_drama_dept.