News from
Centenary College of Louisiana

The Diary of Anne Frank Opens April 24

For Immediate Release (4/97)
Contact: Centenary News Service, 318-869-5120 or Robert Buseick, Chair and Professor of Theater and Speech
318-869-5075

SHREVEPORT, LA--Director Robert Buseick, Marjorie Lyons Playhouse, has assembled an outstanding cast of current students and alumni to appear in the forthcoming production of The Diary of Anne Frank which opens on April 24 for a seven-performance run through May 4.

Senior theatre major Maggie Scoville, from Chattanooga, Tenn. has been cast in the title role of Anne Frank. Maggie has appeared at Centenary in productions of Oliver, The Devils, subUrbia, and Talk Radio. Anne's sister, Margot, is being created by Emily Vise. Emily is a junior theatre major from Shreveport and has been seen at Marjorie Lyons Playhouse in The House of Bernarda Alba and Assassins; at SLT in A. . . My Name is Alice; and at PAC as Leisl in The Sound of Music.

Playing the roles of Anne's parents are Centenary alums returning to MLP after several years absence form the stage. Mr. Frank is being created by Jim Montgomery, who was last seen at MLP in The Devils. He has received 12 nominations for Times Drama Awards as Best Actor and has won several, including his work in The Heiress, Peter Pan, and A Little Night Music. Playing Mrs. Frank is Jodie Glorioso, who won a Times Drama Award for her performance at MLP in Desire Under The Elms. Jodie is an MFA acting graduate of SMU and is returning to the stage after many years in retirement.

Two other college theatre Alums will be creating the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan. They are Robert Darrow and Anne Gremillion. Mr. Darrow was last seen at SLT in Ebenezer and in On Golden Pond. He has appeared recently at MLP in productions of Assassins, Evita, On The Twentieth Century, Bent, and Big River, and has several Times Drama Award nominations to his credit. Anne Gremillion is returning to the stage after a ten-year period of being off the stage, where she has devoted her time to the creation and establishment of her business, Gremillion and Pou Advertising, Inc. Anne has won Times Drama Awards for her work in Vivat, Vivat Regina!, All The Way Home, Private Lives, The Heiress, and Sweet Bird of Youth. The role of Mrs. Van Daan earned an academy award for Shelly Winters in the movie verstion of The Diary of Anne Frank.

Randy Fair, a drama teacher at South Highlands Academic and Performing Arts Magnet School, is also returning to the stage after many years in retirement and is making his MLP debut as Mr. Dussel, the dentist. Randy appeared in many productions at Gas Light Players, including The Life and Death of Sneaky Fitch, Dracula, and Arsenic and Old Lace.

The role of Peter Van Daan is created by Tommy Welch, a sophomore art major at Centenary College who has been seen in MLP productions of The Devils, Big River, Sweet Charity, and as Pony in subUrbia.

Rounding out the cast of ten are Steve Baker and Miranda Shackelford. They play the two people in the play who help to hide the jewish fugitives from the Germans. Steve plays Mr. Kraler and Miranda plays Miep. Steve is a junior theatre major at Centenary and has appeared at MLP in productions of A Period of Adjustment, Assassins, Red Scare On Sunset, Bent, The Devils, Oliver, and Sweet Charity. He recently played the actor in SLT's production of The Woman in Black. Miranda is a sophomore theatre major at Centenary and has played at MLP in productions of Little Women, The House of Bernarda Alba, subUrbia, and Red Scare on Sunset.

Set and lighting design are by Don Hooper; costume design by Patric McWilliams; Logan Sledge is Assistant Director/Stage Manager; and Ryan Williams is in charge of properties.

The box office for The Diary of Anne Frank will open on Monday, April 14 and will be open daily from 12 noon until 4 p.m. Reservations may be made during those hours by calling 318-869-5242.

Tickets for The Diary of Anne Frank are priced at $12 for adults; $10 for senior citizens; $7.50 for students; and $5 for children 12 years of age and under.

A special Preview Performance will be held on Wednesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. with tickets priced at $5 each.

The performance dates and times for The Diary of Anne Frank are 8 p.m. on April 24, 25, 26, May 1, 2, and 3 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 4.

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