Mrs. Van Daan and George Hearn as
Otto Frank.
Nederlander-Case hopes Anne
Frank's story will serve as a reminder
of the atrocities of World War II. In
conjunction with the play, the produc-
ers have implemented an educational
outreach program to enlighten school-
age children about the Holocaust.
They are also working closely with the
Anne Frank Center in New York City,
whose purpose is to educate the public
about the causes and dangers of dis-
crimination.
"We offer specially priced tickets
for students, a study guide, and," says
Nederlander-Case, "we have a Web
site — annfrankonbroadway.com ."
The haunting images of
Anne Frank have stayed
with Amy Nederlander-
Case since she first read the
The Diary at age 11 while
growing up in metro
Detroit, first in Huntington
Woods and then in
Franklin. She comes from
Detroit's prominent
Nederlander theater family,
and is the daughter of Fred

tion was important. She attended the
University of Michigan and majored
in economics and political science.
After college, she worked in invest-
ment banking in both New York and
Los Angeles, and wound up back in
New York, earning a master of busi-
ness administration degree at
Columbia University.
Shortly after graduate school, she
began a theater career behind the
scenes. She produced Nunsense in Los
Angeles and San Francisco; Family
Secrets, the longest-running one-per-
son show in Off-Broadway history;
and Full Gallop, a play about fashion
editor Diana Vreeland. Full Gallop will
begin a national tour in 1998.

Opposite page:
Natalie Portman:
A fresh perspective
on Anne Frank.

Left:
Co-producer Amy
Nederlander-Case
with her daugh-
ter, Olivia.

Rachel Miner (Margot Frank), George Hearn (Otto Frank) and Natalie Portman
(Anne Frank) star in a new Broadway production of "The Diary of Anne Frank."

and Betty Nederlander.
"It was wonderful growing up in a
family that had such access to the the-
ater," says Nederlander-Case, who was
confirmed at Temple Beth El, where
her parents are still members. "I have
memories of seeing all kinds of plays
and musicals in New York and
Detroit."
Although she always hoped to end
up working in the theater, Neder-
lander-Case felt a well-rounded educa-

But, now, Nederlander-Case, mar-
ried to Timothy Case and mother of
Tyler, 6, and Olivia, 3 1/2, is staying
focused on The Diary of Anne Frank.
"It's a very important story to be
told," she says. ❑

The Diary of Anne Frank is being
performed at the Music Box
Theatre, 239 W. 45th Street, in
New York City. For information,
call (800) 432-7250.

rama
won -,..k..,
Outer CriticK,Circle awards,-
‘ng with two Golden Globe
Awards and two Emmys, for her act-
ing, accomplishments.
"The seriousness of the
play, which is about the
greatest evil any- of has ever
known, is hard to
explore." Flowever, Lavin
says, the play helps to
ensure that generations
will remember the
Holocaust. And, she adds,
the cast, producers, direc-
tor and crew are able to

break the intensity
through humor,
"In the-p a
people can
vine <thro , u
is a usefl_
nique. NVe have l'a
lot together as a company,
which is a tremendous
help."
-. .
Although Lavin doesn't recall ;
reading The Dial)/ of nne Fr
a young girl, she still knew al l
the Dutch teen-ager who was Ii.i,
for two years in an attic, and is '
taro her story left its mark
"Coincidentally, when I wrote m
autobiography, it was in the form
letters to a fictitious character nam
Anna," says Lavin, who did read th
diary after she landed the part of
Mrs. Van Daan.
When Lavin' was offered the
sought-after role, she was busy work-
ing on several projects. One dear to
her is an educational outreach pro-
gram she founded in North
Carolina, where she has a home.

or an Wit in six
d herself in an Off-
mon ,
Broadway show called Oka.). A,
Gershwin Revival. From there, her
career skyrocketed. Her long list of
credits includes
roles on
Broadway in

The Sisters
Rosensweig,
Gypsy, Last of
the Red Hot
Lovers and Neil

ro

e

an

N4,

n'
vin hopes tcipqr,

'141y ofAnne
while she is doing
.SIng
"I
would
love
to
Frank.
Brazilian jazz songs," she says. "I
intend to study Portuguese this year
while I am doing the play," ❑

12/5
1997