The Diary of Determination
By Jill Duff-Hoppes
Photos Courtesy of Rebuilt Minds
Emma Jacobson, Jennifer’s daughter, portrayed Anne in a photo and video shoot to promote the upcoming production of The Diary of Anne Frank.
Jennifer Jacobson and Karen Rugerio want to build bridges of acceptance, respect, and inclusion in our community – especially between young people. That’s why the two women joined forces to co-found The Bridge Theatre Company, which will make its debut this fall with a stage production of The Diary of Anne Frank. The play, which tells the true story of the world’s most famous diarist, will be presented to school groups and the public at Dr. Phillips High School in November.
Karen, who retired in 2014 as the school’s theater director, says Anne Frank is a show that is as relevant today as ever. Anne was a German-born Jewish girl who wrote a diary documenting the two years her family spent in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II.
“I’ve had the desire to do this show forever,” says Karen, who owns ACT III Acting Studio and counts Jennifer’s three daughters among her former students. “It’s a critical moment in time to bring this to our children.”
Jennifer, whose mother is Jewish, doesn’t want any child to be exposed to the hatred she experienced as a youngster, herself.
“What has always haunted me is that I grew up with horrible antisemitism in the town (Leesburg, Virginia) where I lived,” says Jennifer, who now resides in Ocoee. “It was abundantly clear that my mom was not allowed in one of the clothing stores and not allowed in one of the restaurants in town. We had eggs thrown on our house.”
But for Jennifer, the slurs she endured from a bullying classmate on a daily basis were the worst part.
Jennifer and Karen hope to open the minds and hearts of today’s youth with shows such as Anne Frank. Supporting them in their endeavor are the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida, Orange County Public Schools, and The Rosen JCC.
The Diary of Anne Frank will be staged at the Karen J. Rugerio Theatre at Dr. Phillips High School on November 3-8. The new Bridge Theatre Company will present the one-act school version adapted by Wendy Kesselman from the acclaimed play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.
Public performances will be at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 3, and 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 4. Ticket prices range from $18 to $100. Free matinee performances for school groups will run November 4-8 and will be followed by talkbacks. The show is appropriate for middle- and high-school students, with eighth graders being the target audience.
For tickets or to learn more, visit TheBridgeTheatre.org.
“This isn’t just about doing a play,” says Karen. “This is about moving in a direction that we can create community impact and make a difference.”
Life imitates art
Each year, The Bridge Theatre plans to present theatrical performances and educational workshops to middle- and high-school students. Shows will address societal issues such as antisemitism, bullying, prejudice, and racism. Interestingly, the company’s all-volunteer board of directors includes a name that’s familiar to fans of improv comedy: TV star Wayne Brady, who was a student of Karen’s at Dr. Phillips High School. Wayne even created a testimonial video for the theater company, which can be seen on its website.
In The Bridge Theatre’s inaugural production, the leading role of Anne will be portrayed by Deanna Cohen, a home-schooled eighth grader who lives in Davenport.
“I really like the story of Anne Frank, and I’ve been reading about it since I was pretty young,” says Deanna, 13. “It’s a very important show to do. I think it’s very cool that schools are coming to see it.”
“This isn’t just about doing a play. This is about moving in a direction that we can
create community impact and make a difference.”
The production is especially timely because it will be presented right before Florida’s Holocaust Education Week, which is the second week of November.
“Building bridges to our audience through content like Anne Frank is everything right now. And what better way than using the arts to build that bridge,” says Karen.
Jennifer couldn’t agree more, adding, “Kindness and inclusion matter.”
Karen Rugerio, Deanna Cohen, and Jennifer Jacobson. Deanna will portray Anne Frank in a production presented by The Bridge Theatre Company, cofounded by Karen and Jennifer.
This story was originally published in print in Fall 2024.