Joan Ross Sorkin

1992 Great Comebacks^® Program Award Recipient

“You don’t have to give up the good things in life – being a mom, traveling, having a successful career – because of ostomy surgery” said Joan.

From the age of 16, Joan Ross Sorkin refused to let her ulcerative colitis control her life. She married, graduated law school, started a successful litigation career and became a mom. In the early 80’s, the flare-ups became more persistent, and she left the practice of law to take care of her health. Ostomy surgery a few years later, however, gave Joan back her life and the strength to continue her career in the theater, which began unexpectedly soon after leaving her law firm.

Joan always loved the theater and began writing plays (with her son!) for the neighborhood kids and then her son’s elementary school class. In 1985 she founded KIDS ON STAGE, an after-school performance workshop, and for 13 years encouraged young thespians as its playwright, director and producer. Joan also began writing for the adult stage, and after ileostomy surgery in 1989, she set her sights on Broadway.

Though Joan is still waiting for her Broadway break, she has had success writing musicals, plays and opera. Her work has been presented Off Broadway, Off-Off Broadway and regionally. Most recently, last December, a reading of Joan’s new musical, “In The Theater,” was presented at The York Theatre in New York City and starred Tony-Award winning actress, Judy Kaye.

“When selected as the 1992 Great Comebacks^® recipient, I wanted to show that anything is possible,” said Joan. “You don’t have to give up the good things in life – being a mom, traveling, having a successful career – because of ostomy surgery.”

Joan, 62, lives in Scarsdale, NY, with her husband of 37 years, Laurence, and has two adult children, Andrew and Suzanne. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, playing tennis, swimming, and of course, attending the theater.