Back Alley brings ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ to the stage

Mia Finsler plays Anne Frank, who begins documenting her life while her family hides to avoid Nazi death camps. / Back Alley Productions contributed photo Mia Finsler plays Anne Frank, who begins documenting her life while her family hides to avoid Nazi death camps. / Back Alley Productions contributed photo

By Susan Pierce, compiler November 12, 2019 3 min read

Back Alley Productions explores faith and family during a dark period in history when the North Georgia theatrical group opens “The Diary of Anne Frank” on Friday, Nov. 15, for six performances.

Set in the 1940s, “The Diary of Anne Frank” details the firsthand experiences of a young Jewish girl while she and her family hide during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. As they live out their days in a secret room in an attempt to escape arrest from the Nazis, Anne writes about hope and family and the importance of faith.

“Anne was one of the most important and powerful figures of the 20th century,” says director Madison Smith. “She represents so many things to many people; but at her heart, she is a girl of optimism and perseverance. By bringing her story to life onstage, we hope to help keep her memory alive. There’s such a powerful and warm ethos in her writing. She faces more persecution at a young age than most of us ever will in our entire lives. Most of us would despair, but she responds with grace, even when her family and friends are hiding for their lives.”

There’s a certain level of humility in bringing a historical drama to life, Smith says.

If you go

* What: “Diary of Anne Frank”* Where: Mars Theatre, 117 N. Chattanooga Ave., LaFayette, Georgia* When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 15-24* Admission: $15 and $13* For more information: http://www.bapshows.com/index.html