Concordia presents The Diary of Anne Frank

Seward, NE (10/26/2018) — Concordia University, Nebraska, will present an evening of historically, ethnically and religiously thought-provoking theatre in the production "The Diary of Anne Frank" at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2; Saturday, Nov. 3; Friday, Nov. 9; Saturday, Nov. 10, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11, all in Weller Hall auditorium.

"The Diary of Anne Frank" is a powerful emotional drama and classic about eight people secretly hiding from the Nazis for three years in a storage attic, including a young girl who documents the societal and personal changes in their lives-and especially her own.

"In this production, we strive to honor and raise awareness about those individuals forced to hide and their allies," said Bryan Moore, director of theatre at Concordia. "The families represented in this play were just one of many groups of people who were oppressed and struggling to survive at that time. In the case of Anne and the other teens, they had to grow up and mature under extreme and confined circumstances. Our performance will show their daily activities and necessary routines, many challenging but sometimes joyful, and their attempts to lead normal lives while never knowing when they will leave the annex or under what circumstances."

Tickets for the performance are available in the Concordia bookstore in the lower level of the Janzow Campus Center on Concordia's campus. They can also be purchased at the door prior to the show. Tickets are $8 for general admission and $5 for Concordia faculty, staff and students. Admission for children ages 10 and under is also $5.

Student members of the production include (listed alphabetically by state, city and then last name):

Samantha Pietanza, junior, San Diego, Calif., playing Kraler

Breann Huber, junior, Arvada, Colo., props

Bethany Schilling, junior, Littleton, Colo., playing Mrs. Edith Frank

Logan Matters, sophomore, Overland Park, Kan., scenery

Broderick Schofield, freshman, Sylvan Grove, Kan., playing Peter Van Daan

Rachel Krome, junior, Fairmont, Minn., playing Miep Gies

Mary Kohnke, sophomore, Concordia, Mo., playing Mrs. Van Daan

Brett Mueller, freshman, Concordia, Mo., ensemble

Linnea Buchholz, sophomore, St. Charles, Mo., costume shop

Miriam Wolf, freshman, St. Louis, Mo., playing Anne Frank

Dana Simpkin, junior, St. Peters, Mo., stage manager

Joseph Greenmyer, junior, Stirum, N.D., playing Mr. Otto Frank

Chad Berg, senior, West Fargo, N.D., ensemble and scenery

Savannah Jordan, sophomore, Harrisburg, Neb., scenery

Emma-Rose Grothaus, freshman, Lincoln, Neb., assistant state manager

Jonathan Kisker, junior, Lincoln, Neb., sound

Cecelia Minchow, freshman, Lincoln, Neb., playing Margot Frank

Katherine Draucker, senior, Ogallala, Neb., assistant director

Eric James, senior, Omaha, Neb., playing Mr. Van Daan

Matthew Murphy, junior, Seward, Neb., playing Mr. Dussel

Christopher Kasparek, junior, The Woodlands, Texas, lighting

Josh Frerking, sophomore, Tomball, Texas, ensemble and costume shop

Concordia faculty/staff contributing to the production include (listed alphabetically by last name):

Alexa Kirchgasler, Concordia staff, costume design

Bryan Moore, Concordia faculty, director

Robert Olson, Concordia staff, set design

About Concordia University, Nebraska

Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university located in Seward, Nebraska, that currently serves more than 2,700 students. Concordia offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in an excellent academic and Christ-centered community that equips men and women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church and world. For more information, visit cune.edu.

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