A. D. Players to Present THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, Begin. 1/31

A. D. Players will present the award-winning play The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, January 29 through March 9, and is partnering with Holocaust Museum Houston to present special events at the museum connected to the story of the play. The Diary of Anne Frank will preview January 29 and 30, open January 31, and run through March 9.

Winner of the 1956 Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award, and Critics Circle Award, The Diary of Anne Frank continues to impact audiences with the story of the two years Anne Frank, her family, and her friends hid from the Nazis in a small attic. As she confronts the increasing horror around her with determination, honesty, and wit, Anne records her experiences in a diary, through which her voice continues to shine with the hope of a better tomorrow.

Events at Holocaust Museum Houston will include guided "Anne Frank" tours which place the Frank family in the context of the events of the Holocaust. The tours will take place on Saturdays from 11:30a.m. to 1:00p.m. during the run of the show. The museum will also host a reception on February 4th from 6:30pm - 8:00pm with Houston area Holocaust survivor Chaja Verveer, originally from Holland.

"We are excited to partner again with Holocaust Museum Houston. Anne's message of hope and optimism in the face of such evil is an important topic and relevant today when too often the question is asked, 'What can one person do?'" said Managing Director Ric Hodgin.

A. D. Players last partnered with the museum in 2012 for the play, The Beams Are Creaking by Douglas Anderson, the story of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer's stand against the Nazis.

The cast of The Diary of Anne Frank includes A. D. Players' resident actors Ric Hodgin as Mr. Frank, Craig Griffin as Mr. VanDaan, Christy Watkins as Mrs. VanDaan, Braden Hunt as Peter VanDann, Stephen Hurst as Mr. Dussel, Sarah Cooksey as Miep, and A. D. Players' intern Kurt Bilanoski as Kraler. Guest Artists include Jennifer Gilbert as Anne Frank, Jennifer Dean as Mrs. Frank, and Melissa Milano as Margot Frank.

The Diary of Anne Frank design team includes Robin Gillock (scenic design), Andrew Vance (lighting design), Donna Southern Schmidt (costume design), Trisha Wise (properties design), and Mark Lewis (sound design).

The Diary of Anne Frank is directed by Tawny Stephens. Hannah Smith is the Stage Manager.

Tickets to The Diary of Anne Frank may be purchased online at www.adplayers.org, at A. D. Players' Box Office, 2710 W. Alabama, or by calling 713-526-2721. Ticket prices range from $15 for Previews to $22 - $43 for single tickets. Group, student, and senior discounts are available.

SHOWTIMES The Diary of Anne Frank runs January 29 through March 9, 2014. Performances are select Wednesdays (1/29, 2/5, 2/12) and Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Sunday matinees at 2:30pm with one Saturday matinee at 2:30p on February 22. PREVIEW PERFORMANCE

Preview performances are Wednesday, January 29 and Thursday, January 30. Preview tickets are $15.TALK BACKS

Each Thursday (except Preview) following the performance, the audience is invited to stay and visit with the cast and creative team about the play.

CAPTIONED AND AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE
Sunday, February 23 at 2:30pm SPECIAL EVENTS ANNE Frank Tours Holocaust Museum Houston: Saturdays, February 1, 8, 15, and 22 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Registration for the tours is available at www.hmh.org or by calling 713-942-8000.

RECEPTION WITH CHAJA VERVEER Holocaust Museum Houston: Tuesday, February 4 from 6:30p.m. to 8:00p.m. Holocaust survivor Chaja Verveer will tell her story of being hidden with a Dutch family as a young child and her subsequent discovery by the Nazis. She was sent as a three year old to Westerbork, Bergen-Belsen and finally to Theresienstadt where she was liberated in May of 1945. Founded in 1967 by Jeannette Clift George, A. D. Players pioneered a unique style of theater committed to producing plays and programs that uphold human value, offer creativity, and promote literacy and education. The company is one of Houston's largest resident theater companies, impacting more than nine million people. Annually, the company produces five Mainstage shows and four Children's Theater shows, fields a National Touring Unit, and maintains a year-round Theater Arts Academy. A. D. Players is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. We share our mission with volunteers, community associates, and those who make our work possible through their support. For additional information, visit www.adplayers.org or call 713-526-2721. A. D. Players - making a dramatic difference.