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Veterans get in free Sunday for 'Anne Frank'

Jonas Cohen stars as Otto Frank and Danielle Carlacci is Anne in 'The Diary of Anne Frank,' which opens Thursday at Flat Rock Playhouse. [PHOTO BY SCOTT TREADWAY/Treadshots]

By Bill Moss, Published: September 8, 2016

Military veterans are invited to attend the Sunday night performance of The Diary of Anne Frank at the Flat Rock Playhouse for free thanks to presenting Producer Frank Blazey, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general.

Blazey teamed up with Community Partners Honor Flight and Four Seasons Compassion for Life to pay for the seats and promote the performance. To reserve two seats veterans may call the box office at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-737-8008. The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play opens tonight and plays through Sept. 25.

Written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, the inspiring production tells the familiar, yet incredible, story of eight Jews hiding for their lives from the pursuit of the Nazis. Freshly adapted by Wendy Kesselman from the original 1955 Broadway production, The Diary of Anne Frank includes newly discovered writings from Frank’s diary. Bringing a current sense of relevancy to the play, the audience will be left with thought provoking themes that have lasted through the decades.

The cast of The Diary of Anne Frank stars Danielle Carlacci as Anne, Jonas Cohen in the powerful role of Otto Frank, Raissa Dorff as Anne’s mother, Edith Frank and Sarah Stevens as Margot Frank.

Also appearing are Maria Buchanan as Miep Gies, the secretary of Otto, and Bill Munoz as Mr. Kraler, both of whom were responsible for hiding the family. Preston Dyar as Mr. Dussel, a Jewish dentist, John Dewey as Anne’s love interest Peter Van Daan and Barbara Bradshaw and Peter Thomasson as Mr. and Mrs Van Daan round out the cast. The Diary of Anne Frank is to be directed by Angie Flynn McIver.

The Diary of Anne Frank is presented by the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority joined by BMW of Asheville as Opening Night Sponsor. The Executive Producer of The Diary of Anne Frank is Brig. Gen. Frank Blazey (ret.) with Community Partners Honor Flight and Four Seasons Compassion for Life.

Tickets are $15-40 and can be purchased by calling the Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-737-8008 or visiting www.flatrockplayhouse.org.