South Albany High School will present its winter play, "The Diary of Anne Frank," at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the South Albany theater.

The Pulitzer prize-winning play depicts the Frank and VanDaan families as they hid from the Nazis during World War II in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It is based on excerpts from the diary kept by Anne Frank during their time in hiding.

The school's original winter production was going to be a musical, but it fell through, said Beth Bentley, the plays director.

"The students suggested this (play)," Bentley said. "Usually, I decide the year before, but they suggested this and I said, 'OK.' It was particularly requested by a senior girl who wanted to do the play before she left. It was just one she wanted to be apart of and one she just feels very strongly about."

Although the students felt strongly about the play and performing it, the content was still depressing at times.

"We read quite a bit from Anne's diary and shared that information with the cast. This is different from most of the plays we do because we are playing real people."

To compensate, the cast used a lot of humor during rehearsals, talked about what really happened during the holocaust and events since then, Bentley said.

This is the third time Bentley has directed this piece.

Tickets are $3 for students and $4 for adults and are available at the door.

The cast includes sophomore Krystal Bowen as Anne Frank; junior Mike Wilbur as Mr. Frank; freshman Emily Warner as Mrs. Frank; senior Brittney Kruger as Margot Frank; senior Bryan Pippin as Mr. VanDaan; junior Kylee Tiessen as Mrs. VanDaan; freshmen Anthony McMahon and Junior Joe Sloan as Peter VanDaan; sophomore Alex Bengel as Jan Dussel; sophomore Mark Wiebe as Mr. Kraler; and Junior Danielle Ellis as Miep.

The crew includes: senior Derek Yeager, sophomore Caryn Rhodes, sophomore Micah Henneke, junior Alan Liese and junior Samantha Morrison.

ABOUT THE PLAY

WHAT: "The Diary of Anne Frank," the Pulitzer prize-winning play.

WHERE: South Albany High School Theater, 3705 Columbus St. S.E., Albany.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday, March 10, 11 and 13; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 12.

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $3 for students and $4 for adults.