Actress plays Anne Frank, keeps a diary of her own
Charlotte Latin student shares her thoughts as she prepares for her role
JULIE YORK COPPENS
Theater Writer

On her 13th birthday -- June 12, 1942 -- a German-born Jewish girl living in Amsterdam received a gift that would make her immortal: a diary. Anne Frank's two-year chronicle of her own coming of age, set against the Nazi Holocaust, has been read by millions and dramatized in many forms.

The 1955 Broadway play, by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, was adapted for a 1997 revival by playwright Wendy Kesselman, drawing on newly discovered writings by Anne Frank as well as survivor accounts. Kesselman's version confronts, as the earlier script could not, the horrors of the time and the claustrophobic realities of the Franks' life in hiding.

Student actor Julia Grigg, a sophomore at Charlotte Latin School, stars in a production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" now at Theatre Charlotte. The Observer asked Grigg to keep a diary of her own, reflecting on the experience of portraying the famed memoirist. Here are excerpts.

Feb. 13

It was one of the scariest auditions I've ever been to. People were asked to leave as the audition went on; some were later cast, some weren't. Finally there were just two of us. Then just me. I got up, started reading the monologue, and, naturally, lost my place halfway through and had to stand there like an idiot until I found it again. When I finished reading, I stood on stage for about 30 seconds of uncomfortable silence, trying to figure out what I was supposed to do. Finally, Ron (Law, the production's director) asked me if I would like to play Anne. All in all, definitely worth the awkwardness.

Feb. 21

Today at rehearsal we watched a documentary about Anne Frank. There were interviews with her friends, and people who knew her before and after she was arrested. It talked a lot about the camps, which for some reason I hadn't really thought about much; I guess I was focusing more on the family being in hiding. The documentary also had the only known moving footage of Anne Frank. Such a cool thing to see.

Feb. 24

We had Hebrew lessons today, which was cool, but I was embarrassed the entire time because I felt like I was pronouncing everything wrong. Emily (Johnson, a junior at Myers Park High School, playing Anne's sister Margot) and I have to sing a song in Hebrew (a Hanukkah song called "Ma'oz Tzur") which makes me nervous. Luckily Emily is a good singer, so my lack of talent in that department will hopefully by masked by her.

Feb. 25

I had to dye my hair brown today. (Grigg is blond.) I was nervous, but I like the way it looks. I already told my friends that I was going to change it, but everyone else at school will probably think I'm trying to go emo. Whatever.

March 3

We rehearsed the arrest scene for the first time today. It was the closest I've ever been to bursting into tears on stage. It was a lot scarier than I thought it would be. I hope it stays that way. One of the strangest things about this show is that the scenes that are the most sad are not the ones in which the characters are upset. It's hard to see the family happy together, knowing how the story ends. And then to think that the same thing happened to millions of families. ON STAGE

The Diary of Anne Frank

Student actor Julia Grigg stars in a refreshed stage adaptation of the famed Holocaust memoir.

WHEN: 2:30 p.m. today and March 30; 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.

WHERE: Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Road. ADMISSION:

$10-$21.

DETAILS: 704-372-1000 or www.carolinatix.org for tickets; 704-334-9128 or www.theatrecharlotte.org for other information..