By Linda López McAlister

In the summer of 1956, I saw my first Broadway play, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” by Francis Goodrich and Albert Hackett. It was a life-changing experience, not least because I was on my way home from having spent the summer as an exchange student in Germany. It forced me to ponder how a country that had been so welcoming to me could have, just a few years before, committed the atrocities of the Holocaust.

This month is the 65th anniversary of Anne Frank’s death from typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, which was liberated just weeks later.
The New Mexico Human Rights Project has brought the exhibition “Anne Frank: A History for Today” to the Coronado Mall through March 31.

In conjunction with the anniversary and exhibit, ABQStages is bringing “The Diary of Anne Frank” to Albuquerque. This is not exactly the same play that I saw in 1956, which was based on the first published version of Frank’s diary. Her father had edited a great deal from that version but later agreed to publish the full text. From that Wendy Kesselman created a new adaptation of the play that opened on Broadway in 1997.

According to Hal Simon, the director of this production, it is more historically accurate and more realistic; it deals honestly with Frank’s sexual awakening as well as with the fates of the people in the play.

“ABQStages is happy to be presenting Anne Frank,” he said, “because their mission is to produce multi-generational, multi-ethnic works of literary merit.” The play’s message of tolerance combines with a celebration of Frank’s unique spirit, which has inspired so many people, he said.

Ari Echt-Wilson, a 9th grade student at La Cueva High School, said she is honored to play the title role.

“The Diary of Anne Frank” will run from March 5 through March 21 at The Filling Station, 1024 4th St. SW, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2. Ticket prices are $16 general admission, children $10. The opening night performance is a benefit for The New Mexico Human Rights Project, so all seats are $20.

Some other shows of note playing in Albuquerque in March include Landmark Musicals’ “The Fantasticks” at N4th; Euripides’ “Medea” followed by “Bless Me, Ultima” at The Vortex;

“Hillary: A Modern Greek Tragedy with A (Somewhat) Happy Ending” and “Dark Play or Stories for Boys,” and “Dark Comedy or Sketches for Little Boys” at the Aux Dog Theatre;

“Plaza Suite” at Albuquerque Little Theatre; “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” and “The Great Negocio” at UNM; “Prelude to a Kiss” and “The Lion in the Winter” at the Adobe Theatre;

“Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr.” at The Box;

“Partition” and “Elizabeth Blackwell-Courage to Be First” at the Explora Theatre;

“Waste Her” at the Tricklock Space;

“El Pintor: Perfiles de Mujer” at the National Hispanic Cultural Center;

“Cabaret” at Popejoy Hall;

“The Headlight Zones” from Ka-Hootz! at the N4th Theatre; and

Musical Theatre Southwest’s “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at the African American Performing Arts Center.

Visit the Albuquerque Theatre Guild’s web site, abqTheatre.org, for more information about live stage performances.