A Jew Grows in Brooklyn: The Curious Reflections of a First-Generation American

In this print adaptation of his successful one-man show, featured on Broadway, playwright and performer Ehrenreich tells his story of growing up in Brooklyn as the first-born son of Holocaust survivors in the years following WWII. Desperate to acquire the ""all American"" identity he feels denied as part of a foreign, Jewish family of war survivors, Ehrenreich plied his love of rock music into an adolescent romance with the drums; during his teens and twenties, Ehrenreich became involved in a number of musical projects, performing for vacationers in the Catskills and playing clubs around the country, eventually finding himself among famous musicians like Richie Havens and glam-rock band KISS. Along the way, the married-with-children Ehrenreich divulges entertaining details of his wilder years, including a string of romantic conquests and a struggle with drug abuse. Ehrenreich also devotes a chapter to each member of his family, recounting fond memories as well as tragic details of the early-onset Alzheimers that claimed his mother and two sisters. His style and timing perfected over years of performance, Ehrenreich proves inspirational and entertaining throughout, showing readers how he weathered troubled times to discover an unconditional love for life. B&W photos.