Longtime Stratford Festival actor Stephen Russell has joined the company of The Diary of Anne Frank in the 2000 Stratford season, taking over the role of Otto Frank due to the illness of George A. Sperdakos, who played the role May 4 to early June. Sperdakos is in the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, fighting an undisclosed form of cancer. "We were honored to have George with us this season for his Stratford debut," said artistic director Richard Monette. "We extend our thoughts and prayers to George and his family and wish him the best in his fight against this illness."
This is Russell's 19th year with the festival in southern Ontario.
-- By Kenneth Jones