by Wendy Kesselman, Francis Goddrich, and Albert Backett
As presented at the
On behalf of the Performing Arts Center and Calumet Players, welcome and thank you for supporting Pipestone’s community theater activities. Just a note...our group welcomes ALL PEOPLE interested in becoming involved more directly in the activities and production of our local theater - leave us your name and how to contact you via the Performing Arts Center - and we’ll get in touch with you. This play is such an important undertaking - a statement on man’s courage and dignity in the face of indescribable evil.
We thank the Pipestone County Ministerial Association for their community service of remembrance which has sharpened our awareness and concern that history not be repeated. And we are grateful to P-J schools for coordinating their study of the Holocaust to coincide with our presentation so that in the memory of Anne Frank, we might recommit ourselves to her dream for a better and more tolerant world. And finally, to the American Legion for choosing to commemorate and remember the 50th anniversary of WW2 with a salute to flag and country - our thanks.
Tonight is a celebration of community. For that is what theater is - a communal expression, a communion of our senses, our sensibilities. Through the past few weeks many individuals in and around Pipestone have given time, energy, talent and imagination in preparing “Diary” and all of the other activities surrounding it. Tonight they will continue to give in their performance for you and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
In the end, each of you watching tonight, play as great a part in this communion as the actors, technicians and out front people who have been involved in making this project come to life. After all, a play is not a play until it lives in the hearts and minds of the audience, the community.
The Calumet Players are to be applauded for their
efforts, but most of all for the vibrancy and vitality it brings to life in Pipestone,
Mn. May it have a long life.
1995 Marks the fiftieth anniversary not only of the end of World War II, but of Anne Frank’s death. Imprisoned in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp after her family was captured hiding in Amsterdam, Anne died just one month before liberation. Today, her diary lives on as a powerful symbol of the importance of human rights.
The Frank family had been in hiding for just over two years when the police raided their “Secret Annex” on August 4, 1944. The Franks and the other four residents of the annex were taken to the Westerbork transit camp, and then to Auschwitz. As Allied Forces neared Poland, however, the Nazis transferred as many inmates, including Anne and Margot Frank, to Bergen-Belsen, a concentration camp in Germany.
Anne and Margot suffered horribly at Bergen-Belsen. The conditions in the camp - unheated barracks during the winter, inadequate clothing, little food, and no medical attention - resulted in their early deaths. Anne, fifteen, and Margot, seventeen, were two of close to 18,000 inmates who died in Bergen-Belsen in March, 1945. At that time, the average population of the camp had reached about 44,000 people, and as the Allies moved closer and closer, more trainloads of prisoners were brought in nearly every day.
In late April 1945, the camp was liberated by the British army Liberators were horrified by what they saw. Approximately 40,000 inmates remained alive, many of them infected with typhus. Following liberation, 13,000 more prisoners died. After the war, the 27,000 remaining prisoners were repatriated. Unfortunately, after twelve years of Nazi reign, there was little to return to.
In June 1945, after being liberated from Auschwitz, Otto Frank returned to Amsterdam where he was reunited with Jan and Miep Gies, who had hidden the Franks in the “Secret Annex.” By that time Otto knew that his wife had died in Auschwitz, but she was unsure about the fate of his daughters. When he received word of their deaths Miep, who had kept Anne’s diary, gave it to Otto. Published and dramatized in 1955, the diary and play have been translated in 55 languages throughout the world where it serves as a continuing reminder of discrimination past and present...and a symbol of undaunted human spirit.
Cast
Mr. Van Daan . . . . Roger Richardson
Mrs. Van Daan . . . . JaNeil Peschon
Mr. Frank . . . . Bruce Kurtz
Miep . . . . Jane Garvey
Peter Van Daan . . . . Marty Wallin
Mrs. Frank . . . . Lilah Meier
Margot Frank . . . . Julie Jacobson
Anne Frank . . . . Katie Ness
Mr. Kraler . . . . Les Kallsen
Mr. Dussel . . . . David Trygstad
Director . . . . Bruce Kurtz
Assistant Directors . . . . Jon Schulze and Amy Lockhorn
Publicity . . . . Les Kallsen
Set Construction . . . . Doug Tillman, Julie Ellis-Breu, and Cast
Lights . . . . Galin Dalin/Norm Cleveringa
Sound . . . . Mylan Ray
Costumes . . . . Joane Kurtz
Props . . . . Cast
Makeup and Hair . . . . Gail Moody and Sandi Lanie
Set Design . . . . Bruce Kurtz
Scene 1 - Early Morning - July 1942
Scene 2 - Evening - 2 months later
Scene 3 - Night - Several months later
Scene 4 - First Night of Hanukkah - December 1942
Scene 1 - January 1, 1944
Scene 2 - Evening - After Supper
Scene 3 - Night - A few weeks later
Scene 4 - Afternoon - late 1944
Scene 5 - Afternoon - November 1945
Roger Richardson Sr. (Mr. Van Daan) works as a grain inspector in the Southwest MN area and lives in Pipestone. He fell in love with the theater in high school with leading roles in "Camelot" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." He is a charter member of the Calumet Players and helped kick off their first production last year of "See How They Run" as Rev. Humphrey. He also was seen in the Lake Benton production of "Promenade, All!" and Pipestone Arts Center's "Mornings at Seven." And of course, like all associated with this production he prays "Diary will serve as a reminder of the depths mankind has sunk in the past...and the indomitable human spirit."
Bruce Kurtz (Mr. Frank) had the "vision" for our current production. Although native of Luverne, he has resided in Pipestone for 12 years. His acting involvement started in the sixth grade when he wrote his first play. Bruce was a charter member of The Green Earth Players and worked as director, producer, actor, set builder, etc. or their first 10 years of productions. He performed at the Grand Opening of the Landmark Center in St. Paul and lists 50 different shows on this acting resume. Kurtz's love and respect for the theater and especially "Diary" has inspired us all!
Katie Ness (Anne) Katie is a 15 year old sophomore at Pipestone-Jasper High school. She is active in the choir, 4-H, and enjoys Civil War reenacting. Her first involvement in theater was producing a play in the 6th grade called "Magic in the Air". Her hobbies include piano, painting, horseback riding, raising domestic animals, and portraying characters of the Civil War era.
Marty Wallin (Peter) a Minneapolis area native, only recently came to Pipestone and is owner/manager of Subway, Sandwich Shop. His family includes daughters Cassandra and Vicki, sons Adam and Brady, and wife, Marie. He declares a longtime interest in acting and feels very fortunate to have the opportunity, along with the rest of the Calumet Players, to tell a story of a very emotional time in history...WW2 and the holocaust of the 1940's.
Jane Garvey (Miep) has just moved to the area from the Sioux City, IA. She is employed by Pipestone County Medical Center in the radiology department. She has always wanted to try theater and is grateful that the Calumet Players have given her this opportunity.
Julie Jacobson (Margot Frank) has lived in Pipestone all of her life. She is a 15 year old sophomore at Pipestone/Jasper High School, is active in choir and loves to study languages. She enjoys reading, writing poetry, and playing the flute and piano.
JaNeil Peschon (Mrs. Van Daan) in real life, is the owner of Gannon's Restaurant. Previously she has been involved in plays (Including Blithe Spirit) at the Lake Benton Opera House. Married to Dan, they have two boys Dustin and Brian. "I have really enjoyed being a part of this play because of what the story tells. We must not forget what these people went through. It is something I feel I have done just for myself and I want to encourage everyone to get involved in the Performing Arts Center."
Lilah Meier (Mrs. Frank) has a strong connection to this real life drama. Her mother, Aino Lavoie, was the same age as Anne Frank and experienced life in different concentration camps and being separated from her family during the war. She has just recently been reunited with them after 50 years. Lilah, her mother, and sisters were in Amsterdam and visited the Anne Frank house last year enroute to Estonia to meet their long lost family. Lilah can relate to the sufferings the Franks and 6 million others during WW2...with one big difference...her mother survived.
David Trygstad (Mr. Dussel) a native of Mitchell, SD, attended public school n Sioux Falls, SD and is a graduate of SDSU Brookings where he was active in theater. Dave is a practicing attorney and is active in community affairs. He and his family reside in Pipestone. He declares family and church as his main activities and lists music, art, literature, and history as special interests.
Les Kallsen (Mr. Kraler) Coordinating producer, Les, has a lifetime of association and involvement in community theater, on stage and off. He is acting chairman of the Calumet Players and has enjoyed the research and discovery of the network supporting Anne Frank’s world and it’s importance. He resides at Meadow Sweet Farm, Ihlen, with wife Lany...his unfailing “encyclopedia” and consulting authority on all matters theatric, musical, and literate.
Jonathan Schulze (assistant to the director) is a 16 year old Junior at Pipestone/Jasper High School. He has participated in the technical backing of numerous school plays as well as performing in two other school plays. He has been a part of the Al Opland tech crew for two years. He is also involved in the production of the high school yearbook and participated in the high school choir. He enjoys reading, and doing things with his friends. when asked what his future plans were, he replied, “Good Question.”
Amy Lockhorn (assistant to the director) is a sophomore at Pipestone/Jasper High School where she is a member of senior band and choir. He background in theater and interests include: costume manager-Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-1994, cast member Pinocchio-1994, cast member-Home for the Holidays-Al Opland singers-1994, costume manager-Trial of Goldilocks-1995, assistant director-Snow White-1995, technical crew member-The Tony Award Winners Best Musicals-Al Opland Singers-1995 and is a technical crew member for the upcoming Al Opland Singers Christmas.
On September 3, the day the Allies captured Brussels, These eight Jews were among the last shipment of a thousand Jews to leave Holland. The Prisoners were herded about a freight train, seventy-five people to a car for the three day journey to Germany.
The Calumet Players gratefully acknowledge the generous contribution of the following in making this event possible.
American Legion
Pipestone county Medical Center
Pipestone Performing Arts Center
Harold Totman & Ben Franklin’s for exhibit preparation, Monk’s Second Hand, Mylan Ray, Cliff Carmody & the entire school system, Becky Theilsen, Almer Kruse, Pipestone County Museum & Staff, Mark Fode, Pipestone county Star, KLOH Radio, K-101 Radio, Cindy & Ian Cunningham, And to John Vander Maten...for the inspiration for this show. Many Thanks!
To Norm Cleveringa for all the expertise that he has put into designing and programming the lighting cues for this chow. He has utilized our state of the art lighting to the fullest.
Last Updated: December 12, 2005