AKRON - Weathervane Playhouse presents a powerful new adaptation of the classic drama The Diary of Anne Frank April 4th through the 20th. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m., and Thursday, April 11th and 18th at 7:30 p.m. There are also daytime performances on April 4th, 10th, and 16th at 10 a.m. Tickets are $13 to $16 (see www.weathervaneplayhouse.com<http://www.weathervaneplayhouse.com> for a full listing of ticket prices) and can be purchased by calling 330-836-2626 or going to www.weathervaneplayhouse.com<http://www.weathervaneplayhouse.com> In this transcendently powerful and startlingly relevant new adaptation by Wendy Kesselman (from the original stage play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett), newly discovered writings from the diary of Anne Frank - as well as survivor accounts - are interwoven to create a contemporary and impassioned story. This is a new adaptation for a new generation in which 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 emotionally heartfelt drama about the lives of eight people hiding from the Nazis in a concealed storage attic during World War II, 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 spent in hiding, Anne's remarkably hopeful 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 production is directed by award-winning, former Karamu Artistic Director Terrence Spivey, who directed last season's critically-acclaimed Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill at Weathervane. Spivey says of the production, "Despite the constant discrimination and torment Anne Frank, her family and the Jewish community faced, their hope and resiliency touched me as an African American. The parallels between both communities speak volumes." The Diary of Anne Frank is presented through special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. CAST ALAINA TENNANT Anne Frank MAKENNA BIRD Margot Frank ROLAND MOORE Otto Frank CHARLI HABINGREITHER Edith Frank GARY DAVIS Mr. Van Daan SAMANTHA RICHARDSON Mrs. Van Daan JACKSON BIRD Peter Van Daan KEITH RASEY Mr. Dussel RACHAEL BROWN Miep Gies MIKE GROOM Mr. Kraler THE CREATIVE TEAM TERRENCE SPIVEY Director TIFFANY BIRD Stage Manager LOGAN CHAPMAN Assistant Stage Manager SCOTT K. DAVIS LAUREN SPROWLS Properties Co-Designers KATIE ROWLAND Sound Designer KYLE SHEARER Lighting Designer RICHARD MORRIS, JR. Technical Director/Scenic Designer KATHY KOHL Assistant Technical Director KELLIE ROSSINI Master Electrician JASEN J. SMITH Costume Designer CHUCK HATCHER House Sound Technician