Celebrating Jewish Identity, girlhood, and community mourning. Trying to meet the moment but showing up fashionably late (with snacks) instead.
Shiva for Anne Frank begs the question of whether or not one Jewish comedian can and should relate herself to Anne Frank. Although Anne Frank is one of the most famous and recognizable young women in the world, her legacy is often infantilized or simplified so she can remain a saintly beacon from one of humanity’s darkest chapters.
As we again find ourselves in a dark chapter, Rachel invites you to laugh, cry, celebrate, and mourn as filtered through getting a nose job, rehashing her Bat Mitzvah, and sharing her story about dating a German. (She’s with a nice Jewish boy now.) To keep the show socially conscious and aware, Rachel is consistently updating the piece.
This campaign is raising funds to bring Shiva for Anne Frank, a solo show written and performed by Rachel McKay Steele, to the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest performing arts festival in the world!
Artist Statement
When I started working on this show I knew I wanted the world know a little more about this young woman we thought we already knew. I wanted to write a show about how reading her as an adult gave me an entirely new perspective on being raised Jewish and on my own girlhood. I soon learned over half of Gen-Z doesn’t know how many Jews perished in the Holocaust or even what Auschwitz is.
Raising awareness about antisemitism and the Holocaust is now more important than ever. But this is a show that strives for empathy over any sort of dogmatic approach. I believe celebrating Jewish joy is one of the most powerful ways we can fight antisemitism. And truly, this is a joyful show. Because as Jews, we know that simchat and mourning go hand in hand.
Since October 7th, I have felt grief as a Jew in a way I never had before. I have never needed Jewish community as much as I do now. I’ve never been so moved by how many of my non-Jewish friends have supported me. And I’ve also felt so much Jewish joy and Jewish pride in our beliefs, traditions, and resilience.
It is a challenging time to do a solo show centering Jewish narrative, Jewish pain, and Jewish joy. Yet that makes it an even more important to do so.
Have you done the show before?
Yes! An earlier version of this show ran at the 2019 Hollywood Fringe Festival where it won a Producer’s Encore Award. I workshopped the piece extensively in the winter of 2024, re-writing over half the show and learning to tap dance. Yes, tap dance!
How was the show received?
Here are a selection of reviews from both Jews and non-Jews.
“A masterclass in tight rope walking. This piece soars, her ability to land a punch line and then make you cry is astoundingly impressive.” – Award-winning showrunner
“Fleabag self-deprecation humor mixed with Hannah Gadsby’s socially conscious lens. Forces us to question our roots, our humanity, our identity, and what the hell we can do to make our world better.” –Award winning Documentary and Podcast Producer
“This show is a gem. Not only did it have me laughing; it had me moved and considering my place and what I can do for those facing persecution today. Rachel shares so much of herself and so much of what we never learned about Anne Frank.” –Award- winning theater director.
“Rachel McKay Steele is a wonderful performer – charming, likable, funny, endearing, raw and real. The way she brings reality to the legend of Anne Frank is spectacular. I walked away (my makeup virtually non-existent after all my crying) with a renewed sense of hope about the human spirit, and a deeper appreciation for the way we martyr people instead of examining their true selves.” – Fellow Fringe performer
Why crowdfunding?
Fringe festivals are expensive endeavors. My venue requires a $5,000 guarantee payment to secure the space. In addition to accommodations in Scotland and travel expenses, a successful Fringe run requires a marketing campaign, from engaging PR for securing press reviews to printing flyers and posters. I also need to hire tech for the show, source props in Scotland (I already have a lead on black and white cookies), rent rehearsal space in Los Angeles in June and July and hire a director for rehearsals.
Raising $15,000 increases the chance of breaking even at the festival. I’m going to Fringe because I love this show, I love Anne, and I believe in the power of making art and sharing stories with each other.
I am not in a place to donate, can I still help?
Yes! You can share this campaign with your friends, family, network, and/or social media community.
A little more about Edinburgh Fringe.
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is a haven for performing artists, from big names to up and comers, as well as for fans of the performing arts. The Fringe helped launch the careers of many famous comedians, including the writer and star of Just For Us, Jewish storyteller, Alex Eldeman.
It’s also where Phoebe Waller-Bridge debuted Fleabag, Hannah Gadsby launched Nanette, and Richard Gadd premiered Baby Reindeer.
Edinburgh Fringe is not the end goal for Shiva for Anne Frank. This is the beginning.
For more about the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, click here.
