Children’s Theater of Madison: Jewish teen Ava Greenberg portrays the resilience of Anne Frank

Above: Ava Greenberg in CTM’s 2019 production of "Matilda The Musical"

Certain books have the power to leave an impression on us, so much that we can no longer look at the world in the same way. For many, “Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl” is one of those stories. Anne’s powerful personal account gives us a relatable, real human, historical context for the Holocaust.

This spring, Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM) will bring Anne’s story to Overture’s Playhouse stage in a new adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank” by Wendy Kesselman, running May 4-19.

The role of Anne will be played by Ava Greenberg, a sophomore at Middleton High School. While it’s not uncommon for such roles to be played by adult actors, director Roseann Sheridan felt it was important to cast a teen actor.

“I really wanted it to be through the heart and lived experience of a teenager,” says Sheridan, who has bonded with the Greenberg family through their years of involvement in CTM.

“I have long been a great admirer of Ava’s spirit and talent and ability to do so many different things. When she auditioned, she clearly had all the qualities I wanted for this role,” says Sheridan.

“Playing Anne Frank is the role of a lifetime, says Greenberg. “As a Jewish teenager, I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to honor the memory of Anne, her family and friends, and all of those killed in the Holocaust. Anne is a bright, brilliant, spirited girl who had to undergo the most unimaginable circumstances yet always found the good in the world and looked at life as a beacon of hope. Because of her immense talent, vivid imagination and positive outlook on life, her diary will always be remembered as a message of resilience and faith even in the darkest of times.”

CTM’s goal is to respect, honor and uplift the Jewish experience through this production.

“Too often there is maybe one person, or just a few, for whom the cultural identity is lived experience,” says Sheridan.

Greenberg, who has grown up Jewish both culturally and religiously, is able to relate to the role of Anne in many ways.

“Anne Frank was always special to me,” says Greenberg. “I read her diary for the first time when I was 12 years old, and I loved her spunkiness, outspoken nature and hope for the future. I even started writing in my own diary after joining this show. Now that I am 16, I bring a deeper understanding of Anne, especially since I have grown up in a Jewish household and can relate to many of her emotions as a young, Jewish girl growing up.”

Greenberg’s family has visceral historical ties to the story, having lost numerous extended family members in the Holocaust.

“It’s important to remind myself that when I do come across challenging moments in this process, that I am not just portraying the life of one girl, but rather conveying an important history that must be remembered and shared with others to honor the millions of lives lost and to prevent such atrocities from happening again,” says Greenberg.

Since 1965, CTM has produced high caliber performances and educational programs geared toward a variety of age groups. While programming staples such as “A Christmas Carol” are cross-generational, others are mindfully produced for preschool, elementary or young adult audiences.

“Anne Frank” falls into this latter category. The original play, two full hours in length, was more adult-centric, written with an older audience in mind. Consultation with other  Theater for Young Audiences (TYA) companies led Sheridan to Kesselman’s adaptation, an 80-minute production.

“(The story) is driven by Anne,” says Sheridan. “It retained all the experience of the characters but is condensed, without patronizing or simplifying it too much.”

Content that is equally challenging and important presents a deep opportunity for learning. CTM’s well-curated enrichment guides provide historical background about each production, addressing the primary themes of the show and points for discussion.

“I have always been a big proponent of young adult programming,” says Sheridan, who since early in her career has leaned in on productions such as “Lord of the Flies” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” “Bring it on, young people can handle it.”

CTM seeks to help young actors grow on an individual level as well.

“I have learned how to step outside of my comfort zone, take risks, embrace my creativity and express myself fully on and off stage,” says Greenberg. “With Anne Frank specifically, I am so appreciative to Roseann for pushing me to do my best work and inspiring me to keep learning, exploring and digging deeper.”

Greenberg’s two siblings are involved with CTM as well, and their mother, Michelle, appreciates the variety of life skills they have gained through its programs.

“Being a “CTM kid” means they are using their imagination, being collaborative, being a team player, learning how to problem solve and learning how to be in tune with their emotions. CTM has been such a gift to our family, and we can’t thank the marvelous directors, staff and teachers enough with what they have given to this community and to our family.”

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