Eunice Player’s Theatre’s “Diary of Anne Frank” ... A Family Affair

“Families have great strength when they come together for a common cause.”
Audience members see this idea put into practice as they watch “The Diary of Anne Frank” on stage at Eunice Players’ Theatre. What they may not realize before reading the program, that is is how many family members have come together to put on this show.
From the cast members on stage, to the lighting booth, to the back stage, five families have multiple family members working on the show.
“The Diary of Anne Frank” ends its run this weekend, with shows today, Friday, and Saturday, at 7 p.m. nightly. Tickets are $10 and available by calling 546-0163, or 457-2156.
All five members of the Kittles family have a hand in putting the show together. Shiloh, 13, portrays the title character, while her father, John, plays her father on stage.
Mother Melody handles costumes, while Noah, Shiloh’s 18-year-old brother, runs the lighting board, and 9-year-old sister Rowan is the curtain puller and all-around helper.
The Kittles family got involved with theatre in 2010 as a home schooling project, and they have worked together as a family unit on several shows in Eunice and Crowley since then.
The Faulkners are another family who frequently work together on shows.
Brett Faulkner is a carpenter, and jokingly refers to his “crew” as the Acme Set Building Company. For the past 10 years, Brett has built more sets than anyone can count – and won Irving Awards for several of them – sometimes building the set for every show of the same season.
His son Jeremy got involved several years ago, and now Jeremy’s children, Nicholas, 10, and William, 4, have gotten involved, too. The little ones can carry small pieces of lumber, hold things in place, and more importantly, see how their work adds to the finished project. Two of Brett’s grandchildren participated in this summer’s children’s workshop/play; his wife, Christy, and daughter, Mary, have taken roles in shows over the past 20 years.
Seven-year-old Adria Guillory is following in her mother’s footsteps when it comes to set decorating.
The daughter of Jerica and Kurt Guillory, Adria helped out with the painting of the secret annex where the Frank and van Dann families live.
Jerica has brought Adria to the theatre in the past but this is the first time she got her hands on a paint brush. Jerica has won Irving Awards for her set decorating efforts.
The Burleigh family can often be found backstage, with mother Diana, serving as Stage Manager for at least one show a season, and often two.
Her daughter, Kristi, a college student, plays Miep Gies in the current production, has been in several musicals, and is often a stage assistant - and for every show, she greets the audience at intermission with refreshments and a welcoming smile. Her brother, John has been a frequent member of summer musical casts.
The Miller family is new to Eunice Players’ Theatre. When 14-year-old Bailey got the role of Margot Frank, her mother, Kelly, offered to help where ever needed. She has a knack for organizing and was soon put on costume detail.
Director Jody L. Powell comes from a “theatre family” and is pleased to have these family members on her team.
She notes, “The theatre provides a family atmosphere, with opportunities for learning and bonding. Something special happens when people come together with an artistic goal, and then see that goal realized – and it can be even greater when it happens in a family.”
Life’s lessons, like teamwork, responsibility, collaboration, sportsmanship, decision-making, and problem-solving, are learned in a theatre. It’s an added benefit when families work together – and learn together.

(Submitted by Jody Powell, Director)