- January 28, 2026
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Director Karen J. Rugerio encouraged students in the audience to question what they were going to do with their voices, how they were going to make a difference.
Emmett Till, played by Connor Chaumley, admired his father’s ring his mother, Mamie Till, played by Tabitha Matthews, gave him. The ring later was used as the only way to identify Emmett Till’s body after he was lynched.
Anne Frank, played by Julia Mary Kaufman, sought comfort in the arms of her father, Otto Frank, who was played by Paul Thompson.
Anne Frank, played by Julia Mary Kaufman, dreamed of becoming a writer. Her diary went on to tell her family’s story as they hid from Nazi soldiers before being found and taken to concentration camps.
Anne Frank, played by Julia Mary Kaufman, laughed as Emmett Till, played by Conner Chaumsley, showed her photos of his supposed girlfriends, bringing a moment of comedic relief to a dramatic play.
Emmett Till, played by Connor Chaumley, and Anne Frank, played by Julia Mary Kaufman, shared a moment of laughter as they talked about Jewish and black athletes who competed in the Olympics.
Mamie Till, played by Tabitha Matthews, held back tears as she mourned the death of her son, Emmett Till. Mamie Till explained why she kept her son’s coffin open at his funeral. “I wanted the whole world to see what they had done…,” she said.
Connor Chaumley, who played Emmett Till, quivered in fear as Marvin Applegate, who played J. W. Milam, threatened Till. “I’m going to make an example of you,” Applegate said to Chaumley.
Julia Mary Kaufman as Anne Frank emotionally explained her final moments before she died as her Frank’s father, Otto Frank, played by Paul Thompson, grieved.
Paul Thompson as Otto Frank yelled to the heavens, asking God questions.
Conner Chaumley as Emmett Till took a moment of peace as he lit a candle.
The cast of “Anne & Emmett” took a final bow.
Sniffles could be heard throughout the Pargh Event Center at the Rosen JCC as Tabitha Matthews held back tears as she shared how her character, Mamie Till, was going to honor her son, Emmett Till, and share his story.
Every crack in her voice and the bellowing cry Matthews made for the grief of Emmett Till captivated the audience Monday, Jan. 26, during a performance of "Anne & Emmett."
The Bridge Theatre presented the drama in front of dozens of students, sharing the heartwrenching stories of Anne Frank and Emmett Till.
Julia Mary Kaufman as Anne Frank, Conner Chaumley as Emmett Till, Paul Thompson as Otto Frank, Marvin Applegate as J.W. Milam and Matthews as Mamie Till each commanded the stage in their own ways, bringing history to life on stage.
At the end of the performance, Director Karen J. Rugerio addressed the students.
"The beauty of this show ... is there is a call to action," she said. "What are you going to do with your voice? What difference are you going to make?"