Anne Frank Center USA has added a third play to their already robust list of programming. This play is called “Plenty of Courage” and it debuted at Stockton University in New Jersey on May 28, 2025. “Plenty of Courage” is an exciting new addition and, unlike the established plays “Conversations with Anne” and “Letters from Anne & Martin”, which are geared toward younger audiences, “Plenty of Courage” was crafted for students in grades 9 – 12.
Program Manager Alexandra Gellner and actress Olivia Konteatis incorporated another side of Anne that audiences may be unfamiliar with. Gellner explains, “I’m always touched to hear how many remember her quote “I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.” However, I’m a little bothered at how often individuals (mostly adults) misremember this quote as being part of her last entry and it is not. Her diary (and life) ended on a more complicated note and I want us to remember and grapple with that.”
Showing this other side of Anne involved incorporating lesser-known entries from Anne’s diary. Gellner and Konteatis experimented with a few versions of the script Gellner wrote and collaborated on staging the play. Konteatis explains, “I was also the actress who worked on all the passages and renditions of the script on its feet so we could find what was best in real time. This is work I love to do!”
Music also plays a role in “Plenty of Courage”. Gellner explains, “Along the way we experimented with chamber music from the time period written by Jewish composers and some of those pieces are featured in the soundscape.” During the performance you will also hear the vocal talents of actors Lee Tyler, Andrew Tejada, and Gellner.
Irvin Moreno-Rodriguez, director of the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton University, was in the audience for the play’s debut. “It is a journey that challenges us to look beyond the surface, asking us to grapple with the very real complexities of humanity, hiding, and dehumanization. This fresh perspective makes it a deeply moving experience, prompting us all to think critically about her life, legacy, and writings she unwillingly left behind.”
For information on how to book one of our performances visit Performances – Anne Frank Center USA
