The Diary of Anne Frank Cast: Biographies - Cast Photos

Renana Fox (Margot Frank) is a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Theatre Arts. Originally from Chicago, she has interned at the Northlight Theatre in Chicago. Renana is thrilled to be making her Prime Stage debut and looks forward to future performances in the Pittsburgh area.

Ronald Fernandez (Mr. Dussel) hails from California where he has been active in theatre since 1976. Some of his credits include A Man for All Season, Cabaret, 1766, Dial M for Murder, The Music Man, The Bad Seed, A Shot in the Dark, Rumors, California Suite and as Jake in Jakes Women. Since moving to Pittsburgh ten years ago, Ron has been active with several theatre groups including South Park Theatre, The Theatre Factory, Apple Hill Playhouse, Open Stage, and The Upstairs Theatre. Some local credits include On Golden Pond, See How They Run, It Runs in the Family, Murder at the Howard Johnsons, Breaking Legs and The Dinner Party.

Thomas Kurt Fuchel, Sr. (Mr. van Daan) recently performed in The Crucible and To Kill a Mockingbird for Prime Stage Theatre. This past year he was also in Picnic at South Park Theatre and was Henry VIII in Henry and Mom at Open Stage Theatre. In June, he will return to Prime Stage in Jack and Rochelle and is scheduled for Noel Coward's Hay Fever at South Park Theater in late July. His favorite work in Pittsburgh, New York and elsewhere include: Man of La Mancha, Fiddler on the Roof and Tartuffe. He studied theater and music at Cincinnati University - College Conservatory of Music and at Heidelberg College and studied acting under Ira Rosenberg in New York City. Mr. Fuchel is also a practicing criminal trial lawyer.

Olivia Meyers (Anne Frank) is an 8th grade student at Community Day School. Olivia has studied dance for several years as well as being actively involved in gymnastics, soccer, ice skating, horseback riding and softball. She makes her debut with Prime Stage in The Diary of Anne Frank.

Patricia Cena Samreny (Mrs. van Daan) Her varied acting past includes the off-Broadway production of Homeseekers, the soap operas The Guiding Light and As the World Turns as well as films and TV commercials. In Pittsburgh, she has performed at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, University of Pittsburgh, Open Stage Theatre and Little Lake Theater. She holds a BFA from Point Park University where she studied theater and has studied acting under Warren Robertson and Michael Laibson in New York City. Her favorite roles include Bella in Lost in Yonkers and Rachel in Jonathan. When not acting, Patricia is a local freelance personal trainer, Pilates, and yoga instructor.

Jaime Slavinsky (Miep Gies) is pleased to return to Prime Stage having appeared as Mrs. Joe in last season's Great Expectations. Jaime has worked with such Pittsburgh companies as City Theatre, Playhouse REP Company, Bricolage, Open Stage, The Theatre Factory, Future Tenant, Cup-A-Jo Productions, Dogs in the Night, Pittsburgh Playwrights, Pittsburgh New Works Festival and Thank You, Felix Productions, among many others. Her favorite credits include I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, Recent Tragic Events, Don Juan Returns from the War, Camino Real and The Other Side of the River for PBS. She will be performing in The Love Talker for Thank You, Felix this summer. Jaime holds a BA in Acting from Point Park University and has trained at the Atlantic Theatre Co. Acting School in NYC.

Jay Smith (Mr. Kraler) is new to Prime Stage but has appeared in almost 50 plays with various theatre companies including Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Starlight Productions, Open Stage Theatre, and Pioneer Playhouse in Kentucky. Most recently, he played Jake in Jake's Women and as well as Tom in The Golden Age. He has appeared in productions of: Somewhere In Between, The Marriage of Bette & Boo, Getting Away With Murder, Impossible Marriage, A Few Good Men, Caine Mutiny Court Martial, Rumors, The Nerd, and To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday. Some of his favorite credits include: Come Blow Your Horn, ART, Fools, A Lion in Winter, As You Like It, A Man For All Seasons, Find Me a Voice, Blithe Spirit, The Rainmaker, and Grapes of Wrath. Jay frequently appears in films and television commercials. He graduated from Asbury College and studied acting with members of the Moscow Art Theatre at the Russian/American Performing Arts Center in Cambridge, Mass.

Alan Solter (Otto Frank) has appeared in numerous shows at the Red Barn Theater in Allison Park, Stage 62, and Assumption Theatre Guild. His favorite roles include Hercules Poirot in Black Coffee, Einstein in Arsenic and Old Lace, Uncle Louie in Lost in Yonkers, Jason in Romantic Comedy, Paravacini in The Mousetrap, Bob in And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little and Martin in Thieves. Musical credits include Fagin in Oliver, Captain Spalding/Groucho Marx in Animal Crackers and a Gangster in Kiss Me Kate. Alan produces and performs as Mark Twain in a one man show locally and nationally, including at Twain's home in Hartford, Ct.

Charlie Wein (Peter van Daan) is a junior at The Oakland School. Charlie has studied acting at the Pittsburgh Public Theater over two summers and is an active member of Prime Stage's Teen Advisory Board. Some of his favorite roles include Charles in Anne of Green Gables, Citizen of Whoville/Whoville Academy cadet in Seussical, Storyteller #1 in Once on this Island, and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. Charlie has been with the Prime Stage Technical Theatre Mentor Program as Sound Operator for three productions. He has also run sound and lights at Stage Right Theater in Fox Chapel for four years.

Deborah H. Wein (Edith Frank) returns to Prime Stage this season as the Actor in Residence. Her prior appearances with Prime Stage include Irena in I Never Saw Another Butterfly/The Terezin Promise, Chief Elder in last season's production of The Giver, Ann Putnam in The Crucible, and Miss Maudie Atkinson in To Kill a Mockingbird. Deb studied acting at Syracuse University and with noted west coast acting coachDiane Hostetler. Stage credits include Zelda Fitzgerald in The Crack-Up, Linda in Move Over, Mrs. Markham, Toni in Cactus Flower, and Aunt Abby in Arsenic and Old Lace. Deb recently directed The Odd Couple at Stage Right of Fox Chapel. Recent film credits include Accounting for Everything by Blitzfilme. Deb will be appearing this summer in the Red Barn production of A.J. Gurney's The Perfect Party.

The Diary of Anne Frank Cast: Biographies - Cast Photos