“Slam Frank” Smashes Theatrical Expectations

Easy Jack Portman ‘29

Photos by Jasper Lewis featuring Olivia Bernábe and Alex Lewis as Anita Franco and Peter Van Daan

Early in 2025, one man went increasingly viral across social media for his controversial and yet enticing content. Andrew Fox gained attention as he began posting his concepts and demo tracks for an original musical entitled “Slam Frank”. Fox was inspired by an argument on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, in 2022, where users debated the idea on whether or not Holocaust victim and famed diarist Anne Frank had white privilege. This conversation alone divided many across the internet, with some claiming she did and others finding it offensive to even consider such a thought. Fox bottled all this internet turmoil and compressed it into a singular idea: a hip-hop musical in the style of the modern classic Hamilton, created by Lin-Manuel Miranda. 

From its introduction to the public, comment sections were filled with people speculating on whether or not this idea was a genius level of so-called “rage-baiting,” or if it was a genuine and misguided endeavor. Fox publicly touted himself as ultra-progressive, focusing his narrative on a fictional version of Anne Frank he names Anita Franco, who is a young Latina woman persecuted by the Nazis and trying to make it big as a writer. Similarly, he rewrote the real figure in Frank’s narrative, Peter Van Daan, as a non-binary person focused on figuring out their gender identity in the midst of the second World War. This style of satire confused some as to whether it was mocking the forward thinking perspectives it claims to represent, or was in fact a mean-spirited tearing apart of said attitude. 

As the musical gained in popularity, Fox managed to gather a large group of supporters and producers who launched a few successful concerts and readings of his show, despite many audiences still confused at the intent of the musical. Eventually, it rose high enough to have an Off-Broadway run at the Asylum theater, where their description helps clarify the perspective of the show as it reaches a wider audience of people. The official “Slam Frank” website says, “our musical satire imagines what happens when a progressive community theater company decides, you know what, maybe now is not the time for us to center these privileged, straight, white European Jews (who spent three years in an attic, hiding from Nazis). And so, in an effort to make our world a better place, this heroic fictional theater troupe transforms Anne Frank’s true story into an intersectional, multiethnic, genderqueer, decolonized, anti-capitalist, hyper-empowering Afro-Latin hip-hop musical. And you, the audience, have the privilege of witnessing it.” 

With a newfound understanding of the show, many of the younger viewers connected with the deeply satirical and biting tone, while still appreciating how it mocks this mindset without ever disregarding or disrespecting the positives of a progressive perspective. However, some still found the overall concept to be deeply offensive as it changes the legacy of a real life tragedy. Luckily, the star of the show, Olivia Bernábe (they/them), who plays Anita Franco, SLC ‘19 came to speak to the theater department’s Think Tank, a monthly meeting for the department. The Phoenix managed to snag an exclusive interview with them to glean their thoughts on the show itself. 

“I completely understand where the negative comments and feelings are coming from because, yes, it's a controversial show, it's very polarizing but, I do think a lot of people who have negative views on the show; at least people who have not seen the show and have these negative views, I think a decent majority of them, if they were to come see this show, might feel differently about it in the end. I think it's actually quite different from what people believe it to be,” Bernábe said in response to much of the controversy online. They then continued on to explain, “Look, It's all very political, right? And I can understand the polarizing views on it. But, again, I do feel like if you just come see the show and see what it is it might change your mind. Or, if it doesn't, that's also totally okay! This is not a show for everyone! Everyone is gonna take away a different message from the show. And that's kind of the point of what we're doing, y’know? Like, how do we create something that can create dialogue.” 

Similarly, they explained their own involvement with the show and how they felt similarly in the start as many viewers do currently, while still encouraging everyone cautious to give the show a chance. “[I found out about it] months ago, [from] my roommate, who is also a Sarah Lawrence alum. She saw this video on TikTok, one of Andrew Fox’s viral videos and was like this is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen. It's like the most bananas commitment to the bit ever. Watch this video, so I watched it, did not know if this was real or not, like oh this has got to be satire but I didn't think it was like actually a real thing,” Bernábe said, explaining their first exposure. They then elaborated by saying, “then, weeks go by, I’m on Actors Access [a casting site for working actors] and I see a listing for “Slam Frank” and I am like, no fucking way. I submitted just because like, what are the odds, y’know, that I would actually be cast in this? And that was for the June concert at the time. And, I got a callback, I got cast.” They went on to encourage people’s discomfort with the project, saying, “I literally was just a normal person. I'm a normal person who saw it online and then submitted it for shits and giggles, and now here I am!” 

When asked their hopes for the show moving forward, Bernábe said, “I hope that it really just continues to be received well and I hope it continues to be as hysterical and hilarious as it is and as fun as it is. I hope that people really do see the heart in it and see what we are trying to accomplish… I think it would be super cool if we could do a long-term off-Broadway run.” 

“Slam Frank” can be followed on any social media and seen at the Asylum theater until Dec. 28 with Olivia Bernábe in the lead role and co-stars Alex Lewis as Peter Van Daan and writer Andrew Fox as Mr. Van Daan. No matter the opinions on it, anyone can see “Slam Frank” is a current project like no other. Divisive, yet popular. Offensive, yet empathetic. Satirical, yet genuine.