Anne Frank's Story Takes a Bold, Controversial Twist

In New York City, a musical called Slam Frank is stirring up a lot of talk. It's about Anne Frank, the young girl who became famous for her diary during the Holocaust. But this version is different. It shows Anne as a pansexual Latina with a non-binary lover. The musical is a mix of hip hop, spoken word, and a lot of diversity. It's at an off-Broadway venue called Asylum NYC and will run until mid-November. The idea behind Slam Frank started as a joke. It was meant to show how too much focus on being "woke" can change stories in strange ways. But now, it's a full production. It's about a theater group trying to "decolonize" Anne Frank's story. As the show goes on, characters find new identities and swap their yellow stars for rainbow pronoun pins. Not everyone is happy with this musical. A petition wants it canceled. It says the show disrespects Jewish history and turns a serious story into something shocking. The petition argues that art should be responsible, especially when talking about big tragedies. It urges people to sign and share it to keep the dignity of Jewish history. The creator of Slam Frank, Andrew Fox, is a Jewish composer. He says the actresses who usually play Anne Frank are all white. He wants to make the story more diverse and relevant for future generations. But the petition says the musical distorts Anne Frank's true story and makes light of a profound tragedy. Fox has reacted to the backlash. He says the criticism has hurt his mental health and affected ticket sales. He even joked that the negative coverage has made it harder to turn away fans. Despite the controversy, Slam Frank has sold out most of its shows.