Student-led Exhibit Spotlights “Anne Frank”

On the Oaks Christian School stage, a story that has echoed across generations is about to be told once more. But this time, the experience begins even before the curtain rises.

In partnership with Anne Frank LA, Oaks Christian School will host a docent-led exhibition dedicated to Anne Frank’s life and legacy. The exhibit accompanies the school’s encore production of “The Diary of Anne Frank,” running March 12 through 15. The play holds a special place in the school’s history as it was the first production performed in the newly built Bedrosian Pavilion in 2007.

Nearly two decades later, students and faculty are once more blending theatre, history, and personal reflection to bring Frank’s story to life.

The exhibition itself is designed as an intimate experience, allowing visitors to move through it in roughly 20 minutes. Through the generosity of the Burg Family, the display provides historical context for the events surrounding Frank’s life during World War II and the persecution of Jewish families during the Holocaust. What makes the exhibit especially meaningful, however, is who guides the experience.

Nearly 30 Oaks Christian history students will serve as docents, leading guests through the exhibition. Before opening, the students spent two days training with Anne Frank LA, learning not only the historical details but also how to ask thoughtful questions that encourage visitors to reflect more deeply on the past.

For junior Luciano “Luchi” DiPaolo, volunteering as a docent was an opportunity he did not want to miss.

Having already completed his service hours, DiPaolo wanted to deepen his understanding of the time. Like many students, he initially thought he already knew the history, but the training revealed just how much more there was to learn.

“It was very new to me,” he explained. “I thought I knew a lot of what happened during that time.” Now, he is looking forward to sharing that knowledge with others.

“I hope students understand that Anne Frank was their age when she went through everything that she did,” he said. “I want them to understand that these were ordinary people who went through the Holocaust.”

The docent training itself was interactive, thoughtful, and at times surprisingly fun, helping students connect to the material in a more personal way.

The project is especially meaningful for theatre director Rosalind “Ros” Allen-Enciso, who helped bring the exhibition to campus, and worked closely with the history department.

“The story is so important,” she said. While generations of students have come through the school, she stressed how important it is to continue sharing Frank’s story. “There’s no more important time than now.”

“What’s wonderful is that the Anne Frank LA foundation has a traveling exhibition,” she explained.

For junior Reese Henrich, becoming a docent felt like a natural fit. She has long been fascinated by history, particularly the events of World War II.

“I’ve always been very interested in World War II history,” she said. “This was a chance to learn more about such an important figure.”

She also did not expect the training to be as engaging as it was.

“I wasn’t expecting to have as much fun as I did. We had some really interesting activities.”

Having been part of the school’s Lion’s Voice program since sixth grade, she feels comfortable guiding visitors through the exhibit. Still, she knows the experience will be emotional.

“With the weight of the information, it’s impossible not to feel something,” she said.

For Henrich, pairing the exhibition with the theatrical production deepens the impact.

“I’m really grateful that we get the opportunity to do this alongside the play,” she said. “It’s an amazing tool to further educate people about the sad but incredibly relevant story of this young girl. I hope we can give people a fuller picture of Anne Frank’s story.”

Junior India Sanor felt an especially personal connection to the project.

“I am Jewish, so it was really important for me to learn Anne Frank’s story more closely.”

During the training, she found the environment collaborative and supportive as students explored both the historical facts and the emotional weight behind them.

One part of the story struck her deeply.

“The atrocity and chaos that was happening in Anne’s life,” she said. “The emotional weight of it.”

For Allen-Enciso, that realization is at the heart of why the story continues to matter.

“When we think of The Diary of Anne Frank, we often think first of history, fear, loss, injustice,” she said. “But at its heart, this story is also a testament to hope amid unimaginable circumstances.”

As audiences move from the exhibit into the theater, they carry that perspective with them.

“As you watch,” Allen-Enciso said, “we invite you to reflect not only on the past, but on the present. How do we choose empathy and hope in our own lives? How do we care for one another in moments that challenge us?”

Tickets and timed entry for play and exhibition: https://oakschristian.ludus.com

Showtimes (ticketed)
March 12, 13, 14 at 6:30 p.m.
March 15 at 2:00 p.m.

Exhibition Times (complimentary, but timed entry)
March 12, 13, 14: 5:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m.
March 15: 1:00 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m.