Today we’d like to introduce you to Sasha Friedman.
Hi Sasha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1970. My parents wanted to escape the rising antisemitism against Jews at that time and give me a chance at a better life. I remember feeling very isolated and lonely, being the only kid in class who did not speak English. I remember being made fun of and a very difficult time making friends. It was not until I was 12 when I finally found my place of belonging when I appeared in my 7th-grade production of “Oliver.” I remember the exact moment on stage when I knew that I wanted to be an actress. There was a fire that ignited inside me that gave me so much peace and comfort from all the isolated feelings since I came to America.
My life dramatically changed as I found my purpose in the theatre. I went on to do many productions in high school and eventually got a degree in Theatre from the University of Georgia. I felt at home with my theatre family, where I made lifelong friends and performed in many amazing productions like “Anthony and Cleopatra” and “Lion In Winter.” As I approached graduation, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do as a career. I desperately wanted to be a professional actress but I was afraid of not being able to support myself financially. I looked back at my time as a summer camp counselor and realized that I also loved working with kids. I got a job at a preschool as I went back to school at Mercer University for a teaching certificate. I made a plan to teach by day and do theatre at night. My teaching career became a new passion and I felt lucky to be blessed with two things I loved to do. I saw myself using my acting abilities in the class to get the kids engaged and I just knew that I made the right decision.
I loved making a difference in these kids’ lives who were from low socio-economic families with little support from home. They were so appreciative of everything. It was amazing. I worked at Beaver Ridge Elementary school in Norcross where I was one of eight teachers in Atlanta who received “The Walmart Teacher of the Year Award.” It was a great time in my life. I got married and had a son and everything seemed perfect until life happened. Sasha married an Israeli man who desperately wanted to move to Israel. I always had that romantic notion that you go anywhere for love, and it just did not work out. I was so torn between leaving my family, friends, teaching, and theatre but made the difficult decision to move for her husband’s wishes. This was a period in her life was a very dark and difficult one. The stress caused her to have a breakdown and lead to a diagnosis of depression, which almost destroyed her. I was in a foreign country, without family, foreign language and my marriage was falling apart. I wanted so badly to move back but was terrified of not being able to get her son out of Israel.
Finally, after five years, I finally convinced my husband to move back, which actually caused our divorce soon after we got back to the States. I was so happy to be back at home but was now faced with a new challenge of being a single mom trying to meet ends meet. My ex moved back to Israel after our divorce and I was so grateful for It t the help of my parents, who were nearby. Once again, I was faced with a dark moment in my life, The stress of being a single mom and giving up acting just caused me into another depressive episode, which cause me to quit work, I truly don’t remember this time very well but I remember the hopelessness I felt of never having a normal life again where are I can participate in my callings, theatre and teaching which I was not doing at all. I could not believe I was so low. I accepted that I had a mental illness and just decided to fight. I had a son to take care of and his dad wasn’t around so I had no other options. It took me eight years to finally find a doctor who helped me with medication. My life took a drastic turn as I started to feel like myself again. I got a job as a kindergarten teacher at a small private school. I began to flourish as I worked with the little kids. I loved their sweet innocence and I think it helped to heal me in many ways. I truly believe this job saved me from a very low place.
As my son entered high school and became more independent, I started exploring acting again. I was so nervous at auditions because it’s been so long since I was on stage. I was petrified, but I pushed through. I just had to get that part back in n my life. I realized I was a true artist and artists have to do their art or they will get low. I became an ensemble member of Sketchworks Comedy, where I loved making people laugh, knowing how laughter can help people feel better. I realized that my actions had a higher purpose, not just to be a star but to heal people. Even if I can take someone out of their world for 10 minutes then it’s worth it for me. Hearing the audience laugh from the stage is the most amazing feeling in the world. I also became in involved with Iron Shadow films which made several indie films which I was a part of. I developed a new love for film acting and currently training at the Evolv Acting Studio. My son started college this year and I decided to go after my dreams of becoming a professional film actress. I was fortunate to find an agent and I’m so excited to see where this goes, Oh, and I’m getting married in May!
Last year, I decided to start a business called “Stars On Stage Kids.” It’s an afterschool drama program that caters to kids ages 4-7. As I researched, I found that there were a lot of programs for older kids but not for the little kiddos. My partner, Kirsten Krehbiel and I implemented the program with great success last year. Unfortunately, with the pandemic, we were not able to go into schools. Instead, we did classes in people’s homes and it worked out great and gave kids an artistic outlet during this very difficult time. We plan on providing more programs as things improve, including summer camps. I cannot believe how far I have come from all those difficult times. I’m so grateful to my family for carrying me through and believing that I would get back on my feet again. I want to share my story because I want people who are dealing with mental illness to not lose hope. This is not forever. This is temporary.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Stars On Stage Kids- owner/ co-founder
Learning Link Tutoring- owner founder
Kindergarten teacher- IPS school
Sketchworks Comedy- ensemble/educator
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Find something that brings you joy and satisfaction and do that. If you’re passionate about your dream, it will just flow. Write down a plan and find people who share the same passion to work with you. It’s ok to do other work until you make it work. As long as you are in the process of working towards your goal, that’s all that matters. It takes TIME.
Contact Info:
- Email: sasha@starsonstagekids.com
- Website: www.starsonstagekids.com
- Facebook: Stars On Stage Kids
