An actress from the age of 5, a member of Chicago’s famed Second City Children’s Theater at age 13, Roberta Sloan earned a BS in Drama Education from Northwestern University and both an MA and PhD in Acting & Directing from the University of Michigan, as well as certification in Fitzmaurice vocal training. Relocating to Philadelphia, Ms. Sloan is a first-generation American, excited to live in the heart of where the United States began. She currently heads the Theater Education concentration at Temple University, as well as chairing Temple’s Commission on the Arts. A Philadelphia Old City resident since 2007, Ms. Sloan was fascinated to discover the Franklin Courtyard and Post Office, but dismayed that little was known about Deborah Franklin. Determined to uncover information about this undervalued Founding Mother, Dr. Sloan avidly researched the fascinating Deborah Read Franklin and co-wrote a play with Dennis Moritz, additional dramaturgy by David O’Connor, performed at Temple University’s Randall Theater and Paley Library, as well as Ursinus College.  Roberta Sloan’s Deborah Franklin received high marks for accurately bringing to life the feisty, well-respected wife, mother and Philadelphia treasure.

Characters portrayed by Roberta Sloan:
Deborah Franklin