North Strabane girl stars in production of ‘Diary of Anne Frank”‘
Madeline Dalesio has been a performer pretty much since the get-go.
When she was still a baby, her older sister would urge her to make a happy face or a sad face, and Madeline would comply. Then, she sang in her church when she was a 1-year-old, and was in a musical by the time she was 6, appearing in “Arthur’s Halloween” at Little Lake Theatre in McMurray.
Now, at 13, Madeline, of North Strabane Township, is taking on perhaps her most challenging role yet, appearing as the title character in “The Diary of Anne Frank” for Pittsburgh’s Prime Stage Theatre. The production opens at the New Hazlett Theater on Pittsburgh’s North Side, and continues through May 13.
The well-loved story of a girl and her writings while hiding from the Nazis in the Netherlands between 1942 and 1944, Madeline did a good amount of research before embarking on the role, “so that really helped me,” she explained.
“I try to find something between me and the character,” she said. “I try to find their inner life. That’s most of what I do.”
According to Wayne Brinda, director of “The Diary of Anne Frank” and artistic director of Prime Stage Theatre, the company has a policy of casting actors in age-appropriate roles, and Madeline “showed real passion for wanting to do the role” in the audition process.
“She carries the show,” Brinda said. “She really does. Audiences will care about and connect with her.”
Laura Slovesko
Madeline, front, plays Anne Frank, and Gabrielle Kogut plays her sister, Margot Frank.
Madeline’s résumé also includes playing Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker” for Little Lake in 2014, appearances in four feature films, and a performance of the national anthem before a Wild Things game. This summer, she will appear in the Pittsburgh CLO’s production of “Brigadoon,” and, when fall rolls around, will return to Little Lake Theatre, where she will be in “The Secret Garden.”
The rehearsal schedule for “The Diary of Anne Frank” has been rigorous, taking up six days per week, with about four hours for each session. Since she is home-schooled, Madeline has been able to fit academics around the time she needs to spend preparing for the role and whipping the production into shape with Brinda and her fellow actors.
“I like to learn my lines very quickly,” she said, and get to the emotional truth of scenes.
As far as her favorite actors go, Madeline mentions Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” movies, and Jena Oberg, the current artistic director of Little Lake Theatre. Of the latter, Madeline said, “I was very fortunate that she has given me some acting lessons.”
Eventually, Madeline would like to appear in a production of the musical “Wicked,” but, as her career progresses, “I’ll always be looking for exciting roles,” she said.
Performances of “The Diary of Anne Frank” are scheduled for 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. For information go online to www.PrimeStage.com or call 412-267-4245.