The theater department’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank begins Thursday, Oct. 10 and ends Sunday, Oct. 13. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and will have a matinee at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday in the Fain Fine Arts Theatre.

The production is being directed by guest director Paul Jefferson from Rider High School, husband of interim-dean Laura Jefferson. Jefferson said he chose this play for its script. Written in 2000 by Wendy Kesselmen, this adaptation is full of newly-discovered writings which make it much different from the original story audiences are used to.

“This script is 80 percent different than the original play, and fabulously well done,” Jefferson said. “The script makes Anne a regular teenager, and that’s what I love about it.”

Jefferson said he thinks young people will identify with this production because Anne Frank wrote about things they can understand. The play deals with genocide, discrimination and imprisonment, but is still an empowering story.

“This is a lesson of triumph and the spirit of people who are in the worst of situations,” he said, “and the way this child viewed her two years of imprisonment as a sense of adventure, I find that amazing. I am always amazed by the resilience of teenagers.”

Elizabeth Lewandowski, theater professor, interim chair and costume designer, said they are constantly reminded that they are telling a story of real people and real events. The cast and crew has watched many documentaries about the Frank family to really learn who these people were, she said.

“I hope that this will be a reminder that we, as human beings, are capable of both wonderful and terrible thoughts and actions,” Lewandowski said. “We hope that some of our love for these people will be shared with the audience as an awareness about the heights and depths of human emotions and actions.”

While Jefferson said they have done a lot of work to make sure the Nazi and war presence will be depicted, the play will not be a depressing two hours.

“Visually, there are really spectacular things that will occur during the production,” she said. “There is a lot of fun in this play too, Anne brings a lot of vitality and life. I think that we are doing a great job of capturing that optimism and hope.”

General admission is $8.  Admission for pre-college students, military and senior citizens is $7. Student, faculty and staff admission is free. For more information or for season ticket or group ticket information, call the box office at 940-397-4393.