Les Nickelettes Doc ‘Anarchy in High Heels’ at LA Femme

Betsy Newman’s documentary celebrates the irreverent women who challenged convention and turned laughter into an act of rebellion.

A Counterculture Feminist Theater Troupe 

Before women’s empowerment became a familiar rallying cry, San Francisco’s Les Nickelettes were putting it into practice with outrageous musical comedy, biting satire, and a refusal to behave. Their story comes to the 22nd Annual LA Femme International Film Festival in director Betsy Newman’s documentary Anarchy in High Heels: The Story of Les Nickelettes, screening Sunday, October 25, at 10:00 a.m. at Regal Cinemas in the Sherman Oaks Galleria.

Through archival performances and firsthand recollections, the film revisits a fearless women’s theater troupe that emerged from San Francisco’s counterculture in the 1970s and performed through the mid-1980s. Writing, producing, and performing their own musical comedies, Les Nickelettes challenged gender stereotypes, broke taboos, and claimed the freedom to be outspoken, bawdy, and unapologetically funny.

Late-Night Skits to Stage Rebellion

What began as late-night skits at the O’Farrell Theater grew into a pioneering feminist theater company whose members found creative freedom through collaboration. Their work challenged assumptions about how women should look, act, and express themselves, bringing an anarchic spirit to the stage and a sharp comic edge to the women’s movement.

Based on founding artistic director Denise Larson’s memoir Anarchy in High Heels, the documentary explores an often-overlooked chapter of feminist and theatrical history. At its heart is a story of friendship and solidarity: women creating opportunities for one another, finding strength in shared humor, and building something together that none could have created alone.

Behind the Documentary

Newman brings an insider’s perspective to the film as a former member of Les Nickelettes and the company’s first female director. The creative team also features Larson as producer and writer, executive producer Debra Pollock, and producers Valerie Hellmold and Judith Rain. Following three sold-out screenings at its premiere during the 2026 San Francisco DocFest, the LA Femme screening continues a festival run that brings the troupe’s rebellious humor and creative legacy to new audiences.

Celebrating Women in Cinema

Now in its 22nd year, the LA Femme International Film Festival celebrates, supports, and advances the work of women producers, writers, and directors from around the world. The festival has helped advance the careers of more than 3,000 artists through screenings, educational seminars, and networking opportunities, running October 22–25 in Los Angeles. For festival information and tickets, visit lafemme.org, and for more about the documentary, visit anarchyinhighheels.com.