urray as Anne and Dale Arends as her father, Otto.

Nearly 30 years have come and gone since Webster City Community Theatre first brought “The Diary of Anne Frank” to the local stage.

It was 1995 and the world was marking the 50th anniversary of V-E Day, then V-J Day. It was the year of the Oklahoma City bombing and the O.J. Simpson trial. Americans laughed along with a show that was still new called “Friends.”

There was hope on the horizon for Jews and Palestinians with the December 27, 1995, signing of the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The world still laughs with “Friends,” but hope seems a more distant thing for many,

Webster City Community Theatre veteran Anne Blankenship was in the director’s chair for that 1995 production, and she’s back again directing this incredible and tragic story that may be more timely than ever.

“We kind of decided to do it this year because of all of the anti-Semitism that we have been experiencing in this country,” Blankenship said. “With everything happening in the world, we thought this would be a really good time to remind people of the consequences of what division and hate can really bring about.”

When the Amsterdam annex where Anne Frank, her family, and a small group of friends was raided, and its residents moved to concentration camps in 1944, the pages of her diary fell to the floor in the chaos of the arrest. No one at the time knew that these seemingly forgotten words of a teenage girl would bring tears to eyes for decades to come, and stand as a living testament to the beauty of the human spirit.

But the pages of that diary were saved, first by Miep Gies, a friend who helped hide the small group for more than two years, and then by Anne’s father, Otto Frank — the only one of the annex group to survive the Holocaust.

Blankenship recalls reading “The Diary of Anne Frank” about the time of her middle school years. From the comfort of her family’s home in Madrid, the story she read of another time and place was nearly surreal.

“It was just hard to believe from my naive, middle school girl brain that this could actually happen,” Blankenship said. “And that’s partially speaking to the privilege I had, but it was hard to comprehend that some people had to hide away so that they could survive that onslaught.”

In this new production, the Frank family is portrayed by Karina Murray as Anne and Dale Arends as her father, Otto. Lindsay Henderson takes on the role of her mother, Edith Frank; and Caroline Ehn plays Margot, Anne’s older sister.

Joining the Frank family in the hidden space of the annex is the Van Daan family, played by Dr. Mark and Susan Andrew as Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan, with Max Anderson as their son, Peter Van Daan. Mr. Dussel, played by Brady Winter, rounds out the group of eight people hiding together in the secret annex.

This group was assisted on the outside by Miep Gies, played by Rachel Derrig, and Joe Gail as Mr. Kraler.

The truth of the story delivers the drama, but in Anne’s writings within her diary there is still room to find joy and even humor as these diverse people take refuge together amidst the horrors of World War II.

Anne finds young love with Peter, but struggles with her own mother. Mothers of teenage girls everywhere can likely relate. Mr. Dussel is a dentist by trade and a bit of a fussbudget at heart. Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan bicker a bit. He worries about food and she worries about her fur coat.

Blankenship has high praise for all of the cast as they bring the full scope of human emotion to the stage.

“Even though it’s a departure from some of the more light-hearted stuff that we do, it’s an important show, and I think it’s important for people to be aware that things like this are still happening in the world,” she said.

The cast has the unusual task of remaining on stage for the entire play. While typical shows have several set changes, just as the eight children and adults were confined to the small annex, so too this play takes place with just one set. Everything that happens, happens together.

Pains are being taken to respect the people who lived this story and to present it with a dignity that lets the story speak for itself.

“There will not be the same kind of format for this show as we’ve had for other shows,” Blankenship said. “Usually, before-hand the director comes out and talks about what shows are coming up in the season, and it’s a light-hearted thing. … We’re not going to do that, we’re going to dive right into the play. We don’t want to muddy up the show with that kind of light-heartedness.”

Likewise, there will be no curtain call for the cast. Not to give away the ending, but it is a riveting moment of a father lost in memories of what was and what he lost at the hands of the hate unleashed upon the world.

Audience members can take comfort in that there will be the usual intermission, during which the cast will remain on stage. For those who wish to greet the cast following the performance, they will be available in the basement of the Performing Arts Center.

Performances will be February 2, 3, 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. and February 4 and 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets will go on sale at the Webster City Community Theatre Performing Arts Center box office, 1001 Willson Avenue, Webster City, on Saturday, January 27. For ticket information or to reserve seats call WCCT at 515-832-4456.

Full information: Tickets go on sale for “The Diary of Anne Frank” Saturday, Jan.uary 27. They can be purchased at the Webster City Community Theatre Performing Arts Center, 1001 Willson Avenue, Webster City.

Call 515-832-4456.

Email wcctboxoffice@gmail.com.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for 18 and younger.

Shows are Friday and Saturday, February 2 and 3, 7 p.m.

Sunday, February 4, 2 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, February 9 and 10, 7 p.m.

Sunday, February 11, 2 p.m.