Program offers new look at Anne Frank story

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GREENVILLE – Darke County Center for the Arts will present the multimedia presentation “Through The Eyes of a Friend” to local junior high students at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall in Greenville on Feb. 10 and 11. This Living Voices production, a part of DCCA’s Arts In Education series, tells the story of Anne Frank from the point of view of a fictional best friend, a composite character inspired by the testimonies of many individuals who actually knew Anne Frank.

This performance is free and open to the public.

“When we presented this moving production a few years back, educators requested its prompt return, “ said DCCA Artistic Director Keith Rawlins. “’Through the Eyes of a Friend’ provides unique and memorable insight into history that evokes a sense of actually being there, of seeing events surrounding the Holocaust unfold before your very eyes,” he said. Rawlins explained that the show features a live actor as well as archival film, creating a portrait of a moving personal journey that breathes new life into well-known historical events.

“Through The Eyes of a Friend” is the final presentation in DCCA’s 2015-16 Arts In Education series, which annually brings high quality artists to perform for students in each grade level of all local public schools. Prior offerings include Kim and Reggie Harris singing “Music of the Underground Railroad” for kindergartners through third graders, Mad River Theater Works presenting John Henry for students in grades 4 through 6, and a cappella quintet VoicePlay performing for high school students.

DCCA’s Arts In Education program is sponsored by Gordon Orthodontics, Target, DP&L Company Foundation, Greenville Federal, Maid-Rite Sandwich Shoppe, Edison State Community College, Darke Rural Electric Trust, Richard Baker, BASF, and Littman-Thomas Agency, the Mandy Green Fund of the Darke County Foundation, and the Helen Hawkey Music Project. Additionally, the Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans; the A.I.E. program is also funded by DCCA memberships and the local schools. DCCA also receives operating support from the Harry D. and Esther Stephens Memorial as well as funding from the Ketrow Foundation and Lydia E. Schaurer Memorial Trust Fund.

DCCA officials schedule Arts In Education programming in cooperation with the schools. For more information regarding exact times for performances of Through the Eyes of a Friend, contact DCCA at 937-547-0908 or [email protected].

Staff report

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