The Diary of Anne Frank: A Play

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1955

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Summary

Background

Act Summaries & Analyses

Act I

Act II

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

Read both the original version of the play that premiered in 1955 and the revised version, adapted by Wendy Kesselman, which opened in 1997. What are some of the major ways that Kesselman changed the text? Choose at least three revisions and explain how they change the way the narrative functions for an audience.

Imagine you are working on a new revival of the play. How would you create relevance for an audience? What connections would you draw to contemporary issues? Why? Cite relevant evidence from the text to support your choice.

How would you prepare an audience today to see The Diary of Anne Frank? What do you think they need to know to understand the play? How might you teach audiences in a way that is both creative and respectful?