Louisville native Sandra Mae Frank to perform National Anthem at Super Bowl. What to know
Louisville native Sandra Mae Frank will perform the National Anthem in American Sign Language during Super Bowl LVI on Sunday.
Frank, who lost her hearing at age 3, will perform on behalf of the National Association of the Deaf alongside country artist Mickey Guyton and with R&B singer Jhene Aiko during "America the Beautiful," ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl, when the Los Angeles Rams will face the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The game will air at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 13 on NBC and Telemundo, and stream live on Peacock.
Growing up in Louisville, Frank attended the Louisville Deaf Oral School, now known as Heuser Hearing Institute and Learning Academy and duPont Manual High School.
While a student at Manual, Frank caught the acting bug performing in the Youth Performing Arts School production of "Crimes of the Heart." She went on to Washington-based Gallaudet University, where she studied Theatre Arts for the deaf.
In 2015, Frank made her Broadway debut as Wendla Bergmann in the revival of “Spring Awakening,” produced by the Los Angeles-based company Deaf West Theatre.
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Frank has also acted in film and television. She plays Dr. Wilder on NBC's "New Amsterdam" and Abigal in "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist." On the big screen, the Louisville native has appeared in several films including "Soul to Keep" and "Seasons of Love."
She says her hearing loss is not a burden. In fact, she considers it a blessing.
“It’s what makes me different, and it's why I am here,” Frank previously told the Courier Journal.
Over the course of her career, Frank has won numerous awards and been involved in the World Deaf Cinema Festival, Fringe Festival, and even as a special guest on the popular children's television show "The Wiggles."
Frank won't be the only deaf performer featured during the Super Bowl. For the first time in its history, the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show will star American Sign Language, deaf artists, Warren "Wawa" Snipe and Sean Forbes who will sign the halftime show, which features performances by Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige.
Reach Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com or Twitter @kirbylouisville.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville deaf actress Sandra Mae Frank performs at Super Bowl LVI
