BY KAREN BOSSICK

Company of Fools will produce free staged readings of the “The Diary of Anne Frank” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, at The Liberty Theatre in Hailey.

The play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett has been newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman Reservations are recommended and available at www.sunvalleycenter.org or by calling 208-726-9491.

Both readings will include a post-show conversation with Jeannette Ringold, who was separated from her family and hidden by the resistance as a child in Holland during World War II.

Ringold has made the Holocaust real for hundreds of California schoolchildren by sharing her experience. And she will do the same for Wood River Valley middle and high school students today and Friday when the Fools present student matinees of the play reading.

Director Claudia McCain said she’s adding sound, images and lights to add to the power of the script.

“It’s been so powerful for me to read about the Holocaust and what happened to the people. It’s such a significant story,” she added.

The readings are being presented as part of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts’ BIG IDEA project, “This Land is Whose Land?” which kicks off with a reception at The Center in Ketchum at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26.

The staged reading is directed by Fools Company Artist Claudia McCain.

It will feature student actor Anabelle Lewis as Anne and Company of Fools season apprentice Chris Henderson as teenage friend Peter. It also will feature local actors David Janeski, Chloe Khosrowshahi, Christine Leslie, Ward Loving, Rich Rush, Joel Vilinsky, Aly Wepplo and Patsy Wygle.

It is produced in partnership with the Wood River Jewish Community and St. Thomas Episcopal Church with support from Carol Nie.

“This is a human story, a story that needs to be told,” said the Rev. Ken Brannon, of St. Thomas Episcopal Church.