The Diary of Anne Frank

Meet the Cast 2026

Director

Karen J. Rugerio

A dynamic and creative theatre educator continuing a career of over forty years in theatre
education, Karen has a passion for developing students’ confidence and performance skills with a focus on diversity and inclusivity. Uniquely experienced in creating curricula that enables students to reach their individual potential, she demonstrate a talent for collaboration that
empowers both the organization and the individual. Through the Bridge Theatre she hopes to foster mutual respect among young people.

She is committed to focus on aspects of societal problems that impact students, inspiring positive attitudes
and providing alternative actions that can help diffuse tensions in the present social climate.


Otto Frank

Paul Thompson

Paul returned to his love of acting and performing after a successful career as an educator.  His most recent theater performance was playing the character Joe Boyd in “DAMN Yankees” last summer at The Regional Theater of the Palouse and prior to that  J.D. in the musical “Escape To Margaretville” at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre.  Paul has performed with the MNM Theatre Company and was part of the South Florida Premier of “Meet Me At The Oak” at the M Ensemble in Liberty City. Two of his favorite roles was playing Billy Flynn in “Chicago” and The King of Siam in “The King and I” directed by the late esteemed theatre director Bob Bogdanoff. 

Paul can be seen acting in several award winning independent films portraying many various characters these day and recently wrapped working on a horror film that is in post production.


Edith Frank

Hannah Weil

Hannah Weil is delighted to return to The Bridge Theatre’s production for the third year as Edith Frank. She recently was seen as Marjorie in Marjorie Prime with The Little Theatre NSB , as well as appearing as Margaret in Walter Cronkite is Dead and Leona in Exit Laughing .

She has previously performed in regional theatre as well as performances at the National Theatre and the Folger Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C.. She has a Doctorate in Education from UCF and has taught in OCPS Schools previously for over 20 years.

You may find her scouring the beaches as an Official Turtle Tracker or elbows deep in clay at Janes Art Center. She is so grateful for her supportive family.


Anne Frank

Sasha Bloom

Sasha Bloom is a freshman in the Dr Phillips High School theater magnet program. She is honored to have the opportunity to play Anne Frank, a role that allows her to honor her own Jewish heritage and emphasize the vital importance of Holocaust remembrance. Favorite roles have included Crutchie in Newsies, Jr. at Orlando Family Stage, Wednesday in The Addams Family and Jane Seymour in Six! Teen Edition at Howard Middle School, and Snow White in Once Upon a One More Time at Resurrection Players.

She would like to thank Sarah-Lee Dobbs, Lauren Langa, Hannah Peavey, Tim Hanes, Tatiana Bello, Abby Noble, and all her teachers for their coaching and mentorship. Love to Mom, Dad, and Jonah.


Margot Frank

Mackenzie Adamek

Mackenzie is honored to be playing Margot Frank in this beautiful show. Some recent credits include Sound of music (Louisa, Liesl U/S), Annie (July), and Carousel (Margaret Snow) You can also see her as Jenny in VHS summer camp on Amazon prime. She trains with the incredible Sarah Lee-Dobbs twice a month. Mackenzie would like to thank her Acting coach, friends, and family for all of their continued love and support.

Enjoy the show! Follow her acting journey @mackenzie_adamek 


Mr. Van Daan

Chuck Roberson

Chuck Roberson is very excited to work under and learn from Karen Rugerio, and to also be a part of this great cast.

Chuck recently returned to Orlando full-time after spending the last couple years splitting his time between New York City and Orlando. 

While living in New York City, Chuck was fortunate enough to attend the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. 

Chuck has been a named extra in multiple episodes of “New York Homicide”, in addition to securing an on screen extra role in the Hit Showtime Series, “Billions’. 

Chuck played Dennis Shepard in The Laramie Project, 10 years later, Ray in Direct Deposit, Christopher in Technical Support, and Bobby Lee in Bobby Lee Blood. Chuck wants to continue to pursue his love for acting on stage and on film.


Mrs. Van Daan

Jacoline Frank

Jacoline Frank is a bilingual South African, and has been performing since the age of 3. Plays, Choir, Ballet, Piano, and choreographing her own shows. She did Community Theatre all through High School and got her tertiary education in Acting, earning her National Diploma in Drama from Technikon Pretoria. She was a professional actor in South Africa for 10 years where she did Educational-, Puppet-, Children’s- and Corporate Theatre. She did a national tour with ‘Grease The Musical’, commercials, voice work and ‘Liewe Heksie’ at Joburg Promusica. She also appeared in popular daytime soap, Binnelanders, and sang in a band. She moved to the Cayman Islands in 2011, where she did a lot of commercials, theatre and films. She moved to the United States (Orlando, FL) in 2016, and appeared in multiple Series, Infomercials, Commercials, Plays, Feature Films and Short Films.


She also directed and produced a short film, where she played all 4 parts, and it was an Official Award Winner of the Spring 2019 Season at the Southern Shorts Festival and won Awards of Merit for Acting, Producing, Directing, Sound Design and Visual FX. She loves performing with the Central Florida Community Arts Choir and Symphony Orchestra, and is very honored to reprise her role as Mrs. Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank for the third time!


Peter Van Daan

Mason Malone

Bio coming soon!


Alfred Dussel

Marvin Applegate

Marvin Applegate is excited to return to The Bridge Theatre for his third production of The Diary of Anne Frank. Following his portrayal of the antagonist J.W. Milam in the recent production of Anne & Emmett, his return as Alfred Dussel marks his fourth collaboration with Bridge Theatre.

Most recently, Marvin joined the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse as a Stage Manager for its upcoming season, the same theatre where he portrayed Jonathan Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace.


In film, Marvin has appeared in several independent short and feature films and was recently honored with the Best Lead Actor award by the Organization of Independent Filmmakers Orlando for his performance in a short film competition

Screenshot

He also regularly collaborates with Full Sail University, appearing in several short films, participating in a Coca-Cola Refreshing Films project, and serving as a recurring actor for directing workshops. With several film projects currently in production, Marvin is excited for what lies ahead.

Outside of acting, Marvin holds a Master of Science in Animal Biology and is passionate about animals, specializing in dog training and animal welfare.”


Miep Geis

Franny Titus

Franny Titus is a Cuban American bi-lingual actress born and raised in the southeast. She studied at the New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts, and with renowned acting coaches Natalia Leigh, Rus Blackwell, Tony Greco, Lori Wyman, Judy Bouley, and Tracy Kilpatrick. Some of her theatre credits include the off-Broadway show The Love Letter You’ve Been Meaning to Write ​New York and Steel Magnolias at the Osceola Arts. Titus just wrapped a sketch comedy called ‘Napoleon on the Beach’ ​and ‘Super Fast Cars’ written by Jeffrey Rembert.

Next for Titus is the role of ‘Savannah,’ the woman who runs the local saloon, in the upcoming film Florida Wild, starring Lee Majors and Mira Sorvino.


Mr. Kraler

Vince Santo

Retired drama/ musical theater teacher after 35 years, in both Orange and Lake County. Directed for several community theaters in Central Florida. Performed in many shows at the old Civic Theater of Central Florida as well as Bay Street Players .Directing is my first love in theater. Served on the grant board of United Arts of Central Florida for several years. Traveled and performed overseas MANY years ago for the USO shows. Married to Kelly for 35 years , and we have two sons and twin granddaughters 6 years old.