It’s a season of firsts for the Sumner High School drama crew.
Last week, students performed “The Diary of Anne Frank” for the first time in the school’s history. The story is based on excerpts from the actual diary of a 13-year-old Jewish girl whose family hides in a tiny attic to protect themselves from the Nazis.
The production was the first in which students had full control of the technical side of things, including lighting, sound and stage sets, said drama teacher Rachel Street. She appointed a student as stage manager for the first time as well.
“It’s so much more student-driven,” she said.
Before this season, a class usually made the sets and a teacher acted as the stage manager. That teacher retired last year, though, and the class was canceled, leaving options open for student-run plays.
It’s a good way for students to learn about the professional field without depending on teachers too much, Street said.
The drama instructor asked junior Dani Van Slyke to be stage manager, to which she agreed. Van Slyke is normally on stage, but figured the new opportunity was worth a try.
“I absolutely love it,” she said. “I thought it would be a really good experience. It’s a big change for me.”
Though she’s having fun, she plans to return to the stage for her next production.
For the students who did grace the stage last week, Street wanted to have them perform something meaningful that related to the Holocaust, she said. Since no one on the cast was Jewish, learning their parts meant reading up on the history of Nazi Germany.
“I wanted to bring more culture into Sumner High School,” Street said.
And the play seems to resonate with at least a few of the student actors, who commented on how much their characters grew throughout the play.
“It’s really challenging but it’s a lot of fun,” said freshman Melissa Mitchell, one of the two students who alternated the role of Anne Frank.
Another challenge for some was the close quarters and few breaks from the stage.
Because the entire play takes place in an attic, characters only disappear from the stage when they enter a room labeled as the bathroom, which actually leads backstage, said Cody Guyant, a senior who played the dentist, Mr. Drussel. Costumes must be layered or placed strategically for costume changes.
It’s a good learning experience, though, Guyant said. It’s also the first time he’s had so many lines in a role.
“It’s different but I enjoy it,” he said.
Double casting the role of Anne Frank and three other characters is another first for Sumner High School, Street said. She worried it might make the atmosphere more competitive, but she’s glad it hasn’t. Instead, the students who shared roles have helped each other, and in some cases, they became good friends.
Having someone to work with on the same role has been helpful, said senior Briana Thompson, who shared the role of Mrs. Van Daan. The two helped each other with hair, makeup and props. As a result, they’ve become pretty close friends, she said.
“Everything’s so new this year,” Thompson said.
The Diary of Anne Frank was performed Jan. 17, 18 and 19 and is now over. Sumner High School’s next play will be “Peter Pan.”
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK CAST LIST
-Anne Frank: Melissa Mitchell and Kelley May*
-Mrs. Frank: Delaney Knottnerus
-Mr. Frank: Josh Davidson
-Margot: Kassandra Ognoske and Courtney Collins*
-Mrs. Van Daan: Dani Barnett and Briana Thompson*
-Miep: Kelsey Johnson and Katheryn Bracken*
-Ms. Kraler: Evann Hannon
-Peter Van Daan: Michael Lubking
-Mr. Van Daan: Andrew Bartro
-Mr. Drussel: Cody Guyant
* Actors alternate performances.
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