Orange County, Fla. – The Bridge Theater Company, which offers free performances of “The Diary of Anne Frank” to middle‑ and high‑school students, announced that four local schools have been forced to cancel their trips because charter buses are unavailable.
Transportation shortfall leaves students without access
Artistic Director Karen Rugerio said the cancellations came just days before the theater’s second week of shows. “We were just overwhelmed at how fast it happened and how last‑minute it happened to hit us,” Rugerio told WESH 2.
President Jennifer Jacobson added, “In the last 24 hours, we had four schools tell us they’re not able to bring their students because they cannot provide the transportation necessary to get there.” The schools cited bus cutbacks in the county as the reason for the shortfall.
Impact on Holocaust education
Rugerio emphasized the importance of the production beyond entertainment. “We’ve got to get these kids here to the theater so that the teachers can go back and they can extend the conversation. They can move to Holocaust education and the bigger picture of why we need to be addressing these problems,” she said.
Each performance is followed by a question‑and‑answer session, allowing students to discuss the play’s themes with the cast and crew. “Being able to interact afterward really further opens that door and connects them to the material, and then they buy in,” Jacobson explained.
Student perspective
Sasha Bloom, an OCPS student who plays Anne Frank, said the story remains relevant. “It teaches empathy and how hatred can really get out of control. We can’t let history repeat itself, which is very important,” she said.
Call for community support
The Bridge Theater Company is now seeking donations to cover the cost of charter buses so the affected students can still attend. Those interested in contributing can donate through the theater’s online portal.
Local residents are encouraged to help ensure that the educational experience reaches all students, preserving the vital lessons of tolerance and remembrance that the play offers.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
