Brash, Brilliant, Irreverent – Slam Frank

Dec 12, 2025 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Two Sues on the Aisle, Susie Rosenbluth and Sue Weston

Slam Frank, a musical comedic satire, playing at the Asylum Theater through December 28, reimagines Anne Frank as a Latina named Anita, who writes her diary in Spanish. The show maintains a Jewish angle while its writing cuts to the core, exposing the soft underbelly of society in the 1940s and today. Co-creators Andrew Fox, who wrote the score, and Joel Sinensky, who wrote the book, are both Jewish. Slam Frank provides an intersection of art, absurdity, and identity. It challenges society to do better, even suggesting that feminine leadership would produce better outcomes.

Inspired by a real 2022 Twitter thread asking, “Did Anne Frank ever acknowledge her white privilege?” No, Anne Frank didn’t have white privilege. She was forced into hiding because she was Jewish, and died in a concentration camp. Slam Frank changes the narrative, showing the other groups persecuted by the Nazis, all non-Aryans, while questioning stereotypical roles and societal expectations.

Finding Acceptance

The characters are intentionally multi-cultural, neurodiverse, and genre-defying. They, like most people, do not fit into traditional boxes. This underscores the importance of being accepted for who you are, fighting expectations. “‘Sometimes,’ Anne says, ‘when you can’t easily explain your identity, it actually means it’s even better than all the others.’”

Slam Frank takes cultural diversity one step further, making Edith Frank black (Austen Horne), Anne (Olivia Bernábe) an ambitious LatinX teenager, Margot Frank (Anya van Hoogstraten) an observant Jew, and Otto Frank (Rocky Paterra) neurodivergent, covering a wide range of minorities. Mr. Van Daan (Andrew Fox) is a stereotypical white male, self-centered, macho, opinionated, and just takes up too much space.

All except Mr. Van Daan find safety in exposing their true selves.

The Plot

Slam Frank throws everything you know about Anne Frank out the window. It begins with a connection to the original story: the Frank family (parents Otto and Edith, Anne, and sister Margot) hide in a Secret Annex in Amsterdam. One week later, they were joined by the Van Daan family (Mr. Van Daan, his wife, and their son Peter). The group coexists until they are reported and arrested.

But then it diverges, becoming a show within a show. Anne, who identifies as Anita Franco, claims to have been raised in the barrio, speaks Spanish, and is visited by the ghost of her abuelo, who reminds her not to forget where she comes from.

The play has unexpected twists and turns, from the moment that the Director begins the performance by reading a land acknowledgment, we are currently residing and performing upon the sacred ancestral grounds of the… tribe whose name he can’t recall. “Well, whoever they are, they were here first, and we are here now, and shame on us. Okay? Good?”

It is a masterful script, filled with laughs, soft punches, some insider jokes, and surprises.

The Cast

These talented young actors gave a high-energy performance. Olivia Bernábe was a fireball, owning the stage as the protagonist (Anita / Anne). Andrew Fox, the co-author, was amazing playing several roles, including narrator, news correspondent, and Mr. Van Daan.  Alex Lewis was captivating as Peter, and Anya van Hoogstraten (Margot and abuela) showcased her amazing voice. Austen Horne (Edith) is a force of nature, Rocky Paterra (Otto) was charming, and his mannerisms were perfect. Jaz Zepatos (Mrs. Van Daan) brought a comic presence and great voice, and Kris Bramson, as the Assistant Stage Manager (replacing Walker Stovall for this performance).

They clicked, dancing, singing, telling a provocative story, in a way that filled the theater with laughter (the person seated behind us was laughing non-stop).

Prepare to be engaged, as Director Sam LaFrage takes full advantage of the intimate setting.

Making A Statement

Using the Holocaust as a backdrop offers a perspective, showing humanity at its absolute worst. On-screen projections of pictures of the war are comingled with other images, making us wary of the influence of media on “woke culture” social injustices, commercialism, and our government. Instead of trivializing the Holocaust, it suggests that the poor behavior of stereotypical white males created this situation and offers an unprecedented solution.

Not for Everyone

Be warned, this show pushes the boundaries of cultural norms. It is inspired by South Park and is not for the easily offended or literal thinkers. We even found parts hard to stomach.

Some statements intentionally make a mockery of misconceptions spread by social media and the news. Using slam poetry, Hip-Hop style pokes fun at Hamilton while creating an emotional connection with powerful delivery, rhythm, and expression. Leveraging laughter and comedy, Slam Frank ridicules contemporary society and confronts bigotry.

 Slam Frank is exactly what satire is meant to be, intentionally challenging sensibilities. It is probably the most divisive and hilarious show currently playing in New York.

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Slam Frank will be at: ​ Asylum NYC, 123 East 24th Street, NYC, through December 28

Running Time: 110 minutes (without intermission)