What is Anarchy In High Heels?
A New Documentary that Shines Light on the Groundbreaking Feminist Comedy Troupe, Les Nickelettes
The documentary, Anarchy in High Heels, chronicles the zany story of Les Nickelettes, a trailblazing feminist satirical musical-comedy troupe that shocked and excited 1970s San Francisco. In an era defined by the earnestness of the second-wave feminist movement, Les Nickelettes turned the patriarchy inside out with their irreverent, uproarious humor—challenging taboos and redefining the boundaries of women’s comedy.
Emerging from the city’s vibrant counterculture, Les Nickelettes began as a group of drama graduates seeking creative liberation. Their journey took an unexpected turn at the O’Farrell Theater, where bawdy midnight skits before classic movies sparked the birth of a feminist theater company. What started as a playful experiment soon evolved into a brazen women’s lib troupe, writing, producing, and performing original musical comedies that captivated audiences throughout the 1970s and into the mid-1980s.
Described by The Bay Guardian as “nutty, messy, flashy, trashy and very funny,” Les Nickelettes unlocked a deeply hidden female humor, paving the way for today’s women comedians. Unlike most modern solo acts, Les Nickelettes embodied the rare spirit of a women’s comedy troupe, rivaling the likes of Monty Python and The Kids in the Hall. As author Ellin Stein notes, they “served notice that women could be outspoken, raunchy, and above all, funny”.
Anarchy in High Heels explores the neglected role of comedy in feminism and the power that emerges when women bond through shared humor. The film disrupts the narrative that feminism is humorless, illustrating instead its satirical and ironic edge—a message especially resonant for Millennial and Gen Z audiences.
Set against the backdrop of San Francisco’s counterculture revolution, Anarchy in High Heels is a vivid snapshot of a unique moment in Bay Area and American history, a celebration of liberation, empowerment, and the impact of women’s voices in comedy.
The documentary based on the book of the same name tells a story about female groundbreaking artists are often overlooked or forgotten. And the power of female friendship. Why be a star when you can be a constellation?
Anarchy in High Heels the documentary was completed on April, 2026. Anarchy in High Heels the book was published July 27, 2021.
Creative Team – Documentary
The creative team brings together founding members and longtime collaborators of Les Nickelettes, whose groundbreaking feminist theater work forms the heart of this documentary.
Debra Pollock — Executive Producer
Debra Pollock is an executive producer, LGBTQ advocate, and nonprofit leader, formerly CEO of the Center on Colfax (LGBTQ Colorado). A member of Actors’ Equity, she has performed internationally as a singer and actress. In the early 1980s, she was a company member of Les Nickelettes, appearing in Spaced Out: A Sci‑Fi Musical, The Didi Glitz Story, and Anarchy in High Heels, and later directing productions in San Francisco and New York City.
Betsy Newman — Producer / Director
Betsy Newman is a producer, director, and award‑winning documentary filmmaker whose work spans experimental theater, feminist media, and public broadcasting. A former member of Les Nickelettes and the company’s first female director, she later became a pioneer in early video art in New York City. Her documentaries for South Carolina ETV (PBS) have screened internationally and earned a Telly, a CINE Golden Eagle, a Southeast Emmy, multiple ADDYs, and the South Carolina Governor’s Award in the Humanities.
Denise Larson — Producer / Writer
Denise Larson is a writer, performer, and founding artistic director of Les Nickelettes, guiding the groundbreaking theater troupe for thirteen years. She is the author of Anarchy in High Heels, a memoir and 2022 IPPY Silver Award winner in Women’s Issues. A San Francisco State University theater graduate, Larson wrote, performed in, and directed multiple Nickelettes productions and is currently developing new work with the Cosmic Elders Theater Ensemble.
Valerie Hellmold — Producer
Valerie Hellmold is a producer and performer who joined Les Nickelettes in 1980 and became a core company member. A graduate of San Francisco State University with a BA in Theater Arts, she performed in Spaced Out: A Sci‑Fi Musical, The Didi Glitz Story, Anarchy in High Heels, and Oh Goddess!. As a longtime collaborator, she contributed to the collective creation, writing, and staging of the troupe’s work. She lives in Oakland, California.
Judith Rain — Producer
Judith Rain is a producer, performer, and choreographer who joined Les Nickelettes after being cast in the lead role of Spaced Out: A Sci‑Fi Musical. She went on to appear in The Didi Glitz Story and Anarchy in High Heels, and beginning with The Didi Glitz Story served as the troupe’s choreographer. Rain also participated in writing and producing the plays. She later worked for two decades with Actors Theater for Children, touring elementary schools throughout Northern California, and performed with the Raven Theater in Healdsburg.
Anarchy in High Heels 