Slam Frank Starts Kickstarter to Support Original Cast Recording of 2025’s Controversial Musical
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In the competitive landscape of New York City theater, not every production finds success. Slam Frank, an off-Broadway musical that premiered at Asylum NYC last fall, has proven to be exceptionally polarizing. Inspired by a 2022 tweet that questioned whether Holocaust victim Anne Frank, who died in 1945 at age 15, acknowledged “her white privilege,” Slam Frank has emerged as one of the most controversial productions on or off Broadway in 2025.
“We have people going, ‘This is left-wing propaganda,’ and we have people going, ‘This is right-wing propaganda,’” said creator and composer Andrew Fox in an interview with Billboard. “I have had people accuse me of making anti-Zionist propaganda. Others have said it’s Zionist propaganda. Other comments I’ve gotten: ‘He’s fascist,’ ‘He’s on the dirtbag left,’ ‘He’s a disillusioned progressive.’” Fox summarized the reactions succinctly: people either condemn Slam Frank or embrace it.
Though Slam Frank concluded its run at Asylum NYC with a sold-out performance on December 28, its journey is not over. On February 3, the team will launch a Kickstarter campaign aimed at funding the musical’s Original Cast Recording. In conjunction with this launch, the team will share an exclusive song titled “Rewrite My Diary,” featuring original cast member Olivia Bernábe, who plays Anita (Anne).
“Theatrical Cast Recordings are to this moment what Oil Paintings were to the Italian Renaissance,” Fox remarked. “With authoritarianism eroding democracies worldwide, the best thing you can do is resist by donating to our Kickstarter.” Supporters of the campaign will gain access to behind-the-scenes content, unreleased tracks, and limited-edition rewards.
The cast album will be produced by Fox alongside Mikhail Pivovarov, with additional production by Ricky Sour. It will showcase performances by the original cast members Bernábe, John Anker Bow, Alex Lewis, Anya van Hoogstraten, Austen Horne, Rocky Paterra, Jaz Zepatos, and Kris Bramson. The production was directed by Sam LaFrage, with Fox writing the music and lyrics and Joel Sinensky crafting the book.
Looking ahead, Fox has indicated that Slam Frank will return in 2026. “Barring some horrible catastrophe, we will be in a theater or theaters in 2026,” he told Billboard. As the campaign approaches, anticipation builds within the community, marking an ongoing chapter for this contentious musical.
