BLOOMSBURG — Wendy Kesselman’s adaptation of the original dramatization of “The Diary of Anne Frank” grippingly opens Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble’s historic 40th season of professional theater.

The harrowing tale has 7:30 p.m. performances, tonight, Friday and Saturday, and on Sept. 28-30, and Oct. 5-7, with 3 p.m. matinees on Sunday, and Oct. 1 and 8 at the Alvina Krause Theater, 226 Center St.

Playwright Kesselman’s version of the popular drama garnered Tony Award nominations, including a nod as 1998’s “Best Revival of a Play.”

The storyline is very familiar as the book, “The Diary of a Young Girl,” is often required reading for students. In 1942, Otto Frank hides his wife and two daughters, and allows four others to hide with them in an Amsterdam attic annex for almost two years to avoid Nazi detection during World War II.

That their ultimate fate is so well known seemingly might hinder a production from effectively depicting their plight. But clearly this is not so in BTE’s stirring production.

BTE’s “The Diary of Anne Frank” excels on different levels.

• Directing — Daniel Roth exhibits several fine touches from the director’s chair. A couple of his decisions, including not having a curtail call adds to the compelling atmosphere, as Otto Frank returns to the annex and recovers Anne’s diary.

Another decision, which may have raised a few eyebrows, is having the cast remain on stage and continue to “act out” when Act I ends. Although the audience is either discussing the play, or heading to the concession stand, or checking their cellphones, the eight characters mime their actions in the cramped attic for 15 minutes, effectively showing the passage of time.

Roth also fleshes out vivid characterizations from most of the cast, in what easily might have been simply one dimensional portrayals.

• Casting — I had a few qualms when the releases and bios confirmed that the actresses playing both Anne and her sister Margot were college graduates. Although BTE was fortunate in having an diminutive actress in her 20s credibly pass as a nine year old in this Spring’s “The Nether,” I wondered if believability might not be strained with this show’s casting. But the ages of both visiting actresses is not a factor, because of their youthful looks and very credible portrayals as 13-year-old and 16-year-old sisters.

• Acting — Solid acting by the professional ensemble members and the visiting artists is always evident. In the pivotal role, Sophie Schulman excellently portrays Anne as the optimistic and always bubbly — and at times almost bratty — teenager.

Although Margot (played by Morgan McKenzie) is overshadowed by her younger sister, her scenes with Anne show a quiet warmth.

BTE’s Elizabeth Dowd and James Goode play Anne’s parents, with Dowd finely expressing frustration that her headstrong daughter often prefers to confide in her father. Dowd and Goode are excellent, with Goode as Otto Frank directly addressing the audience in a gripping final scene.

Although trivialities are magnified and tempers flare, there are bits of humor in the tension filled household, usually emitting from Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan, with Andrew Hubatsek and Laurie McCants playing the bickering but affectionate couple.

Visiting actor Ryan Hagan is solid portraying their son Peter, who hesitantly explores his budding romance with Anne.

Eric Wunsch plays the fussy dentist Dussel, with Amy Rene Byrne and Richard Cannady as contacts with the outside world. Community actors play the Nazis, unexpectedly entering the hiding place and dragging everyone off to the concentration camps.

• Technical — There are deservedly top marks for the technical team and designers. The set designer’s hanging rafters aid in connoting the claustrophobic attic space.

There is “moody” lighting and effective sound design, with appropriate period costuming by Elizabeth Wislar (who will direct a Lycoming College production in November).

Recent headlines regarding hate crimes, bigotry and Neo-Nazis groups prove that the entries from Anne’s diary are painfully relevant today.

And her quote that ” … I keep my ideals, and in spite of everything, I still think that people are really good at heart.” keeps this young Jewish girl an incandescent light on today’s world stage.

With a running time of two hours and 15 minutes, with one intermission, BTE’s “The Diary of Anne Frank” is powerful, often poignant — and “must see” intense entertainment.

For more information, call the box office at 570-784-8181 or email boxof fice@bte.org.