RED DAGGER WILL PRESENT `DIARY OF ANNE FRANK' AT CENTRAL HIGH TONIGHT

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Central High School's production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" will be performed tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $2 for students and $3 for adults.

The play, about a family that hid from the Germans in the Netherlands during World War II, will be performed "in the round" in the new Cape Central High School Gymnasium.

"The Diary of Anne Frank" is based on just that, the diary of a young Jewish girl who spent years hiding from the Nazis.

The play, like the movie of the same name, is based on the dairy, which was released by her father after the war.

The setting for Act I, Scene I of the play is Amsterdam in 1945. Mr. Frank has just received Anne's diary after being released from a concentration camp. He starts to read the diary to the audience, and the scene fades back to Amsterdam in July 1942, when Anne is 13.

Scenes 2 through 5 take place in 1942, from July through December. As Act II opens, the scene shifts to January 1944. Almost two years go by during the final four scenes, ending in November 1945.

Carrie Peterman, one of three students who will be making their acting debut, portrays the title character, from age 13 to age 15.

Other newcomers to the Central stage will be Marla Jones, playing the part of Meip, and Jason Merkler, who will portray Mr. Kraler.

The play has a cast of 10. Seven of the players have appeared in other school plays. Senior Sean Lynch, who portrays Mr. Frank, will be appearing in his fourth play. Julie Logan will be appearing in her third school play, and will portray Mrs. Frank.

Others in the cast include Kelly Russell as Margot Frank, Tonia Stott as Mrs. Van Daan, Brian Campbell as Mr. Van Daan, Chad Reimann as Peter Van Daan, and Brent Felker as Mr. Dussel. The Van Daans lived in the attic with the Frank family.

The play is being directed by English teacher Cynthia Wyatt, who is also sponsor of Red Dagger, which is presenting the play.

Other behind-the-scene people include technical director Steve Lukens, an English teacher; student director Meleigh Buchanan; set designer Grant Rickard; and program designers Bill Chamberlain, Jan Jarrell and Lyla Warren.

A total of 21 students are involved in the props for the set, and another 19 students will be involved in make-up.

Students are also involved in other facets of the play, including lights, sounds, costumes and publicity.