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Frannie Sheridan  

Writer/Performer of a successful multi-character solo show based on my true family story. It may be called whatever title best resonates with the community - currently called 'Confessions of A Jewish Shiksa...Dancing On Hitler's Grave!' Has been called 'F

I was raised Catholic, by 2 Jewish parents who had escaped the European Holocaust by a whisker, only to be attacked and nearly murdered by North American antesemites in 1951. The assailants were fined the paltry sum of $15 for Assault. Convinced that another Holocaust was imminent, this time in North America, my father forced my proudly Jewish mother to convert to Catholicism, anglicize our family name, relocate and cut off ties with any relatives. The thing is, my parents looked and sounded about as Catholic as kreplach!

 - I discovered the truth of my heritage when I was nine through a slip-up at the dinner table. What followed were repeated daily admonitions to never, ever reveal that I was Jewish for it would surely get us killed.

In 1995 while I was touring as a Comic, a theatrical producer approached me to write a dramatic solo show. Although I was terrified, I was also psychicly crippled. Even though the risk was enormous, my internal voice screamed that revealing my truth was an essential part of my journey. I ran the concept by my father and well...the knish hit the fan! He actually threatened to sue me, as did a few of my six siblings...but something pushed me ahead. Afterwards, I received international press in The Jerusalem Report magazine which was read by extended family members who my father had cut off. My immediate family and my new found relatives had a public reunion documented as a radio documentary through CBC and NPR and which won THE GABRIEL AWARD. Legendary film director Arthur Hiller(LOVE STORY) heard that I'd written the first draft of a multi-cast feature film screenplay, asked to read it, and then attached himself to direct the picture. I have had the great good luck of working with Arthur on the screenplay for several years until he developed macular degeneration. Mr. Hiller is no longer able to direct but remains Creative Consultant to the project, which I have further revised. It is just being shopped.

  • The public telling of my story has resonated multiculturally. Last year, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, President Barack Obama invited Elie Wiesel and other survivors to The Holocaust Museum in Washington to light a memorial candle. On that stage with him was an old rabbi from New York. That rabbi was my uncle, Rabbi Gerd Weiner. 70 years after Hitler's attempts to rid the world of all Jews, Blacks, Gays and all other non-Arians, a Black president of the greatest superpower of the world and an old Jewish Rabbi shared the stage to honor the 10's of millions of all nations who didn't survive. And those who did!!!

 

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