The Venice High cast of "The Diary of Anne Frank" will be attending the National Theater Arts Competition in New York City from Feb. 17 to Feb. 20. The competition allows high school music and theater students the opportunity to perform and see the sight of New York City.

The cast will spend three days in New York. There they will be competing with at least 17 schools in their division. "We will win because we're the best," said Ms. Traci Thrasher, Venice High drama teacher, who will also be attending the competition.

At $1,300 a person, financing the tip was not an easy task to accomplish. Ms. Thrasher and the cast raised money for the trip through fundraising and generous donations. In three weeks they raised more than half the money for the trip, but at the time of the interview they were still short $8,000.

Although concerned about the money, Ms. Thrasher was evidently excited about the upcoming trip. She was espescially delighted witht he thought of visiting Chinatown, visiting Rockefeller Center and attending a Broadway play among other events.