My life’s work has been to turn my story into a one-person show, a novel, and a multi-cast feature film screenplay, and to help others in the writing of their stories.

My parents had narrowly escaped the Nazis during WW2 and wed in Canada, where they lived as Orthodox Jews and my father established his first medical practice. But a brutal beating that he experienced in his office in small town Morse, Saskatchewan in 1951, given by a jealous anti-Semitic doctor and his wife, awakened his post-traumatic stress. The assailants were fined a paltry fifteen dollars, for “assault.” Terrified that another holocaust was imminent, my father forced us to convert to Catholicism, anglicize our family name from Sigal to Sheridan, relocate, and cut off ties with all our relatives. He repeatedly warned us to never, ever, tell anyone the truth of our heritage, for he guaranteed, it would cause us certain harm, if not death.

In 1995, I was entombed in writing and performing Stand-up Comedy. All I cared about was being funny. But an opportunity to write a dramatic play about my life, entirely altered my direction.

When I first wrote my play, ‘The Waltonsteins’, some family members, terrified that I was going to cause them harm, threatened me with legal action. But the power of truth-telling created massive healing. International press from The Jerusalem Report magazine, reunited the relatives who my father had previously cut-off. They had been searching for us for over forty-five years. NPR broadcast an award-winning, international, Radio Documentary based on my work. One of my sisters, married to an anti-Semite, saw my play and since divorced him. The feather in my cap is that my eighty-six year old father, who was living in his native Vienna as a Catholic, sent me a letter, thanking me for giving him the courage to return to his roots. My father, Dr. Bernie Sigal was buried in The Jewish Cemetery in Vienna, as a Jew.

This is just a small snippet of my powerful rich and darkly humorous story.

I have toured internationally with my play The Waltonsteins.

“…I couldn’t take my eyes off Sheridan, her riveting precision, her utter honesty...” NPR Radio.

“…a witty, charming, intelligent theatrical accomplishment”... The Vancouver Sun

“…an excellent vehicle for Sheridan to portray her outstanding comedic and dramatic skills…anyone who has been battered by prejudice or abuse, Jewish and non-Jewish alike – will see bits and pieces of their own lives on stage. And they will only benefit from its wisdom.” The Ottawa Citizen

“Sheridan entrances in demanding role…”silence” said Sheridan “equals spiritual death.” The Jewish Bulletin

“Frannie Sheridan is a gifted artist with an important and unusual story to tell.” Dr. William L. Shulman. President, Association of Holocaust Organizations

The Waltonsteins was published in 1996 by IRT/Blizzard Press, Winnipeg.I have since revised The Waltonsteins and turned it into a character driven show. I will be touring the completed, 60 minute, one-person show now called ‘Dancing On Hitler’s Grave’ beginning in 2009. I will be available for bookings in a variety of venues from small intimate settings, to technically advanced theatres with houses of up to 800 or so.

Excerpts of The Waltonsteins have been internationally broadcast on TV and radio(CBC/NPR/UK Radio) and internationally published in The Jerusalem Report Magazine, The Ottawa Citizen, The Toronto Courier, the Kansas City Star, Around Wellington Magazine, The Indianapolis Star, Tikkun.

For many years, Arthur Hiller (Love Story) has mentored the development of a multicast feature film screenplay version of my play. Mr Hiller had also been attached to direct the picture until his recent retirement. He is Creative Consultant to the project and may be contacted for information on the project, or as my reference.

My novel, ‘The Not-Sees…an unauthorized autobiography’, is in late development.

Additionally, I am accredited for contributing writing to produced film scripts, television series and radio documentaries. Some of those projects include Applaud And Die (Comedy Network), Our Father (NPR Radio), Drive Alive (Calgary TV) In The Company Of Women (CBC), Can-Am Women Of Comedy(CBS/Comedy Network).

Some of the principal and recurring roles I’ve held in TV episodes/Film include Flow Interrupt (Indie), The Unprofessionals (The Comedy Network), The X-Files(FOX), Wigged Out (Indie), The Commish (CBS), Can-Am Women Of Comedy.

I am very grateful that my universal story about the importance of pride-in-identity has resonated with people from so many different cultures, and also served as a focal point in inspiring discussion between disenfranchised communities. The passionate outpouring from people who have been moved, entertained and healed by my story, is the impetus which fuels my passion to continue telling it. Additionally, my success jazzes me to inspire confidence in others to tell their stories, and to assist writers with discovering the jewels in their work.