`The Diary of e SUZANNE CHESSLER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS Diary of Anne Frank, an old play, takes a new twist in the upcoming J ewish Ensemble Theatre's (JET) Jewish. production running Nov. 15-Dec.17 at the Maple-Drake Jewish Com- munity Center: Neither its star nor director is Jewish. Julie Van Dusen, in the title role, and director Patricia An- suini bring new perspectives to the dra- ma derived from the diary of Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl hidden from the Nazis in Amsterdam, then found and sent to Bergen-Belsen where she died, at 15, shortly before the end of the war. 'When I was first cast, I started think- ing what I was like at 13, 14 and 15," said Van Dusen, 22, a senior at Oakland Uni- versity. "I've kept a diary since I was in fifth grade, and I went back and read through those years. In comparing Anne's On the 50th anniversary of its publication, The Diary of Anne Frank is still a top-selling book and well-loved play. diary to mine, I saw how much she grew in that time, saying things that I'm just realizing now. "Because she was so spirited, intelli- gent and witty, I think the play will be . a hUge _ learning experience and a positive one, too." A• a.. a a a ,a 60 • is •■• JO a. +Eh 4M ■ r While this is Van Dusen's first role with JET and the first time she has portrayed a real person, the actress has worked ex- tensively in local theater, appearing in Star Wrek: The Ghan Saga at the Gem Theatre, A Bright Room Called Day at 1515 Broadway and Hair at the Strand Theatre. "When I was studying the diary, I wished I could have read it when I was 14 because Anne Frank was such a positive role model," Van Dusen said. "I think that I definitely gained insight into her expe- rience. "While I knew the Holocaust was hor- rible, I don't think I really felt it until I started preparing for this part. We were sitting around the table talking about the play when that happened. It wasn't one particular sentence; it was the accumu- lation of all the perspectives. "It was like picking at something that's