w w w . s h o s h a n n a h – s t e r n. c o m

To my wonderful, amazing supporters—

This new chapter in my life has entered upon a wave of happiness and appreciation. I have been able to fulfill things that I’ve only dreamed about ever since I was a little girl, daydreaming in my little house in Fremont. Sometimes, when I get caught up in the little things in my present-day life, such as paying the bills, getting into a fender bender, or eating a little too much sushi and feeling temporarily bloated, I tell myself to stop and step outside of the present moment, and look at where I am now. That never fails to help me appreciate the beauty of life.

Finally getting to achieve my dream of acting professionally has made me grow where it really counts. I feel like I am a stronger person now within my heart and my spirit. Acting is a tough profession. It comes and goes, as many of you may already know. However, what makes me stay positive and persevere is you all, the people who have written to me or told me in person how much they believe in me and support me. I now believe that what I am doing is bigger than myself. With everything that I do, I’m trying to add a new dimension to how people out there see the deaf community, not just as deaf people, but individuals with minds and personalities of their own.

I come from the deaf community, and that has shaped me and allowed me to do everything I have done. I’m forever grateful for that and for the support that the community has shown me. I hope to continue to make you all proud in my forthcoming years!

All my love and gratitude,

Shoshannah

Shoshannah with Ashley Chance Fox at Celebration of Sign in Nashville, TN in 2007.

Shoshannah here with a big fan, Jasun Hicks.

More fans: Regina Daniels, Leslie Hanaumi & Charles Jones

** Got a picture of yourself with Shoshannah to share? Send ‘em to shoshannah.fans@gmail.com!

PHOTO CREDIT Michael Lamont

Reviewed by Dany Margolies

Very little makes cranky critics happier than suddenly, mid-play, remembering we are watching acting and not the real thing. It happened midway through this production of Mark Medoff’s 1980 play about the struggles of the deaf in a hearing world—and ultimately about all of our struggles to hear and be heard. The play’s two leads, Shoshannah Stern and Matthew Jaeger, are stellar. More »

http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-la-theatre/children-of-a-lesser-god-1004014080.story

In 1979 at the Mark Taper Forum, Artistic Director Gordon Davidson experimented with a new concept in theatre that combined American Sign Language with spoken English.  He worked closely and tirelessly with playwright Mark Medoff through many ideas and drafts until his historically groundbreaking play Children of a Lesser God took shape.

read more here >>>

Shoshannah Stern will star in Film Harvest’s Hamill, based on the life of deaf championship wrestler and current UFC fighter Matt Hamill.

http://www.screendaily.com/news/russell-harvard-shoshannah-stern-join-wrestler-biopic-hamill/5005086.article

Here are the pictures from Marlee Matlin’s twitter! Marlee’s captions read:

“A couple of generations of Children of A Lesser God. Me, with @Shoshannah7 and Matthew Jaeger from the current production and John Rubinstein who won a Tony for the original Broadway production!”

“Me and the cast of Deaf West Theater’s Children of A Lesser God. Go see it if you’re in LA.”

Marlee Matlin also tweeted, “Shoshannah was fantastic in Children of A Lesser God. Her performance brought tears to my eyes.”

http://twitter.com/MarleeMatlin

I wanted to share with you my newest project.  I’m playing Sarah in Children of a Lesser God at Deaf West Theater in North Hollywood.  It’s the 30th year anniversary from when it was last shown there.  It went on to Broadway to introduce the world to a deaf character like they’d never seen before.  Phyllis Frelich, who originated the role of Sarah, went on to win a Tony.  Then the film version was made a few years later, with Marlee Matlin as Sarah, who then went on to win an Academy Award.

So, I’m truly honored that they asked me to be the next actor to officially play the role of Sarah.  I hope I do the character justice!  Previews start September 6-11, and it opens on September 12.  The run begins from there to October 11, but we will have a possible extension of one week since I have to go to New York to shoot something that last week.   Murphy’s law.  But if you want to come then, or if you’ve already bought your tickets, the shows will be postponed so you won’t be seeing a show without me.

Deaf West Theater is based in North Hollywood, and it has a very helpful website (complete with a picture of me attempting to look as 1979 as possible AND randomly wearing Carol Barbee’s shirt from when she did Picnic at CTG!) at www.deafwest.org.

I hope to see you there!

-Shoshannah