When Monica DePaul, artistic director for Cavod Theatre, considered producing "The Diary of Anne Frank," she wondered if the actors might struggle with the material. "I thought ... it would be hard for the actors to embrace the reality of the situation," she said. Then DePaul sat in on auditions. Impressed with the quality of the actors' abilities, she had no doubts about their ability to portray the gravity of the show.

"The Diary of Anne Frank," directed by Alicia Burton, will be presented at the Cavod Theatre, 641 W. Main St., New Holland, at 7 p.m. on Fridays, April 9 and 16; at 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturdays, April 10 and 17; and at 4 p.m. on Sundays, April 11 and 18.

Anne Frank, who will be played by Audrey Pavlica, was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and moved with her family to the Netherlands when the Nazis gained control of Germany. By May 1940, the Franks were trapped in Amsterdam due to the German occupation. They went into hiding in July 1942, in the building where Anne's father, Otto Frank, played by Caleb Zimmerman, worked. From then until the family's arrest by the Gestapo in August 1944, Anne kept a diary she had received as a birthday present.

Following their arrest, the Franks were taken to concentration camps. In the fall of 1944, Anne and her sister, Margot, played by Jada Correll, were moved from Auschwitz to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where they died a few months later.

Otto, the only survivor of the family, returned to Amsterdam after the war to find that Anne's diary had been saved by one of the family's helpers, Miep Gies, played by Hannah Rau. Otto's efforts led to the diary's publication in 1947.

Another focus is the constancy of life in spite of difficult circumstances. "There's the coming-of-age relationship between Anne and Peter van Pels, played by Mike Myers," noted DePaul. "You still have to grow up ... whether you're in comfort and splendor or in an attic in hiding. There can be fun, beauty, and excitement in blossoming no matter where you are."

DePaul hopes that Anne's outlook shines through the sadness of the subject matter. "There was a lot of joy in the nearly two years they spent in hiding," DePaul said. "(Anne is) growing up. (The Franks are) being a family together, and there are conflicts, and they work through those conflicts, but they still have joy. I think that's an important message."

While DePaul hopes audiences are struck by the gravity and depth of the play, she would like them to also see the hope as well. "Struggles are real, and we should come to them face-to-face," she said. "(But in the end), do we believe in humanity, and if not, what are the consequences?"

Tickets may be purchased in advance at http://www.cavod.org or by calling 717-354-3355 on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.