Rachel’s solo show celebrates Jewish identity, girlhood, community mourning, life, and begs the question of whether or not one Jewish comedian can and should make Anne Frank’s death about herself
Shiva For Anne Frank
Audience
LemonMeter
Reviews: 5
Reviews
Bold and brave, this is a fresh look at an iconic girl that we only think we know and the woman who has put herself out on a limb to bring us that story. Rachel explores more than a few taboo topics by throwing herself with abandon into comedy, but also owning the weight of atrocities that have both been passed down through generations and also ones that represent history repeating itself.
Bold and brave, this is a fresh look at an iconic girl that we only think we know and the woman who has put herself out on a limb to bring us that story. Rachel explores more than a few taboo topics by throwing herself with abandon into comedy, but also owning the weight of atrocities that have both been passed down through generations and also ones that represent history repeating itself.
Like many of you, I read The Diary of Anne Frank in school, and never knew there was so much more to the story. Comedian Rachel McKay Steele delivers a moving and emotional tribute to the legacy of Anne Frank, and teaches us Goy a thing or two about the Jewish faith. This show will make you laugh (a lot), but it will also break your heart, and (hopefully) leave you with a desire to do a better job at being less judgmental. She also taught us the importance of noshing. Come early and enjoy the treats.
If you are a human being in LA, you NEED to see this show! Especially if you are a woman, a Jew, queer, or a person who hates fascism and bigotry. If you are someone who hasn’t read Anne’s diary since middle school or are a WWII history buff, everyone will get something out of this show. It is extremely funny, heartfelt, and relatable. I learned more about Anne than I ever knew before and got to rediscover what an intelligent young woman she was. This show is politically poignant in a society that is oversaturated with news of mass shootings and systemic racism. Rachel wrote this show from the heart, and her performance leaves the audience both laughing and in tears. (It was laugh out loud funny.) Go see this show, you will regret it if you don’t!
Great show! It’s hard to pull off a funny, poignant and politically relevant one woman show and that’s exactly what Rachel Steele. Bravo to her! I highly recommend Shiva For Anne Frank. I liked how Rachel blended comedy and tragedy. It felt cathartic and real. I like how she infuses stories from Anne’s life, stories from her own life growing up in the South, and current political examples — she combined the 3 very well. Powerful performance.
“Shiva for Anna Frank” is a piece both long-overdue and distressingly relevant. It’s is insightful, passionate, funny, and educational. Rachel Steele’s take on such a monumental event as the holocaust and portraying such an important person as Anne Frank is no easy endeavor.
It’s undeniable that it would take more than a bit of ‘hutzpah’ to attempt such a feat; I believe Rachel proves to have not only attempted but successfully created a piece that both showcases her passion, the extensive research, and her years as a stand up comedian in NYC and brings a new light to Anne Frank’s life and impact on the world. The idea of portraying Anne Frank in a comedy show may make some feel a bit uncomfortable, but Rachel proves engaging, reverent, authentic, and no surprise funny!! She reminds us of how Anne was so much more than a young girl writing in a diary, she was real, perceptive, witty, imaginative, funny, and compelling writer. Full stop. Rachel shares her frustration of trying to find a single review that did not belittle her; “Shiva for Anne Frank” undoubtedly proves she was so much more than simply a young Jewish teen girl with a diary.
She explained how she was initially inspired by fellow female comedian, Iliza Shlesinger, who questioned the apparent lack of WWII jokes from female comedians. Not only did Rachel already have a whole slew of jokes about Hitler, but she went on to produce show that featured all female comedians telling exclusively WWII jokes. This led to the later creation of her current piece, "Shiva for Anne Frank."
This show has pushed me to explore and delve deeper within my own queer journey. if I even have a right to claim relevance in these discussions, community, and experience.
On a more personal note, My great aunt passed away two days after seeing Rachel's preview performance. I've dealt with a lot of loss in my life (as so many of us have, especially as of late); but reflecting on Rachel's presentation of how the grief process is experienced in Judaism had helped me to find strength and comfort; I'm letting go of the idea that I somehow have to find the words to communicate this loss, this ending of an era. That it's ok words, thoughts, feelings, or even the world and life itself doesn't make sense right now. That, at least for a few days it's not about putting things back together, or moving on, but taking time to sit with and acknowledge the impact, the unspeakable, the inability to explain or put words to this seemingly impossible time.
As she reminds out, this show is unfortunately relevant for so many reasons. Whether it’s political, social, sexual, historical, controversial, or personal “Shiva” doesn't shy away from the tough stuff. Anne Frank wrote about hope, desire, courage, sex, queerness, toxic masculinity, finding strength, frustrations, family, and a future we know would never come to be.
Rachel presents Anne and her diary as a tool or a lens for us to look deeper and see the consequences of not remembering. Of not learning from our mistakes. We cannot run the risk of repeating history; “Shiva for Anne Frank” calls us to do better, to take a hard look at our world and use the wisdom and experience of a teenage girl who hid in an attic for over 750 days.
Like many of you, I read The Diary of Anne Frank in school, and never knew there was so much more to the story. Comedian Rachel McKay Steele delivers a moving and emotional tribute to the legacy of Anne Frank, and teaches us Goy a thing or two about the Jewish faith. This show will make you laugh (a lot), but it will also break your heart, and (hopefully) leave you with a desire to do a better job at being less judgmental. She also taught us the importance of noshing. Come early and enjoy the treats.
Bold and brave, this is a fresh look at an iconic girl that we only think we know and the woman who has put herself out on a limb to bring us that story. Rachel explores more than a few taboo topics by throwing herself with abandon into comedy, but also owning the weight of atrocities that have both been passed down through generations and also ones that represent history repeating itself.
Bold and brave, this is a fresh look at an iconic girl that we only think we know and the woman who has put herself out on a limb to bring us that story. Rachel explores more than a few taboo topics by throwing herself with abandon into comedy, but also owning the weight of atrocities that have both been passed down through generations and also ones that represent history repeating itself.
If you are a human being in LA, you NEED to see this show! Especially if you are a woman, a Jew, queer, or a person who hates fascism and bigotry. If you are someone who hasn’t read Anne’s diary since middle school or are a WWII history buff, everyone will get something out of this show. It is extremely funny, heartfelt, and relatable. I learned more about Anne than I ever knew before and got to rediscover what an intelligent young woman she was. This show is politically poignant in a society that is oversaturated with news of mass shootings and systemic racism. Rachel wrote this show from the heart, and her performance leaves the audience both laughing and in tears. (It was laugh out loud funny.) Go see this show, you will regret it if you don’t!
Great show! It’s hard to pull off a funny, poignant and politically relevant one woman show and that’s exactly what Rachel Steele. Bravo to her! I highly recommend Shiva For Anne Frank. I liked how Rachel blended comedy and tragedy. It felt cathartic and real. I like how she infuses stories from Anne’s life, stories from her own life growing up in the South, and current political examples — she combined the 3 very well. Powerful performance.
“Shiva for Anna Frank” is a piece both long-overdue and distressingly relevant. It’s is insightful, passionate, funny, and educational. Rachel Steele’s take on such a monumental event as the holocaust and portraying such an important person as Anne Frank is no easy endeavor.
It’s undeniable that it would take more than a bit of ‘hutzpah’ to attempt such a feat; I believe Rachel proves to have not only attempted but successfully created a piece that both showcases her passion, the extensive research, and her years as a stand up comedian in NYC and brings a new light to Anne Frank’s life and impact on the world. The idea of portraying Anne Frank in a comedy show may make some feel a bit uncomfortable, but Rachel proves engaging, reverent, authentic, and no surprise funny!! She reminds us of how Anne was so much more than a young girl writing in a diary, she was real, perceptive, witty, imaginative, funny, and compelling writer. Full stop. Rachel shares her frustration of trying to find a single review that did not belittle her; “Shiva for Anne Frank” undoubtedly proves she was so much more than simply a young Jewish teen girl with a diary.
She explained how she was initially inspired by fellow female comedian, Iliza Shlesinger, who questioned the apparent lack of WWII jokes from female comedians. Not only did Rachel already have a whole slew of jokes about Hitler, but she went on to produce show that featured all female comedians telling exclusively WWII jokes. This led to the later creation of her current piece, "Shiva for Anne Frank."
This show has pushed me to explore and delve deeper within my own queer journey. if I even have a right to claim relevance in these discussions, community, and experience.
On a more personal note, My great aunt passed away two days after seeing Rachel's preview performance. I've dealt with a lot of loss in my life (as so many of us have, especially as of late); but reflecting on Rachel's presentation of how the grief process is experienced in Judaism had helped me to find strength and comfort; I'm letting go of the idea that I somehow have to find the words to communicate this loss, this ending of an era. That it's ok words, thoughts, feelings, or even the world and life itself doesn't make sense right now. That, at least for a few days it's not about putting things back together, or moving on, but taking time to sit with and acknowledge the impact, the unspeakable, the inability to explain or put words to this seemingly impossible time.
As she reminds out, this show is unfortunately relevant for so many reasons. Whether it’s political, social, sexual, historical, controversial, or personal “Shiva” doesn't shy away from the tough stuff. Anne Frank wrote about hope, desire, courage, sex, queerness, toxic masculinity, finding strength, frustrations, family, and a future we know would never come to be.
Rachel presents Anne and her diary as a tool or a lens for us to look deeper and see the consequences of not remembering. Of not learning from our mistakes. We cannot run the risk of repeating history; “Shiva for Anne Frank” calls us to do better, to take a hard look at our world and use the wisdom and experience of a teenage girl who hid in an attic for over 750 days.