(WESTFIELD, NJ) -- Westfield Community Players presents The Diary of Anne Frank across three weekends from March 7-21, 2026. This play is by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hacketts based upon Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, adapted by Wendy Kesselman. The production is directed by Sharon Coyle.
In this transcendently powerful new adaptation by Wendy Kesselman, Anne Frank emerges from history 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, their grief.
Each day of these two dark years, Anne’s voice shines through: “When I write, I shake off all my cares. But I want to achieve more than that. I want to be useful and bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death!” This is a new adaptation for a new generation.
The cast includes Caleigh Anne (Anne Frank), John Paul Durazzo (Otto Frank), Dawn Lanoue (Edith Frank), Danielle Becht (Margot Frank), Karen Lisa Javois (Miep Gies), Charlie Worthington (Peter Van Daan), Chuck Worthington (Mr. Kraler), Antje Weymann (Mrs. Van Daan), Victor Barella (Mr. Van Daan), Stephen Mennella (Mr. Dussell), Eric Parsler (First Man), Max Rogers (Second Man), and Joshua Gassert (Third Man).
Performances take place Saturday, March 7 at 8:00pm; Sunday, March 8 at 2:00pm; Saturday, March 14 at 8:00pm; Sunday, March 15 at 2:00pm; Friday, March 20 at 8:00pm; and Saturday, March 21 at 8:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase online. The theater is located at 1000 North Avenue W in Westfield, New Jersey.
Westfield Community Players (WCP), founded in 1934, has brought more than 300 comedies, dramas, musicals and mysteries to life on their stage. All productions are presented in their own 150 seat theater on the corner of Edgewood Avenue and North Avenue West in Westfield. With their productions, they continue to be part of the active cultural scene in Westfield and surrounding communities.
WCP is committed to offering hands-on participation for those wishing to learn more about various aspects of live theatrical production and performance while providing a varied theater experience to a broad audience. They do that by actively seeking volunteers to keep their theater functioning, and by maintaining an open-casting policy where everyone can audition for all of their scheduled plays.
