Marci Darling Johnson '01

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An award-winning documentary recently directed by Marci Darling Johnson '01, "The Nita & Zita Project," is now streaming on AppleTV.

The film tells the extraordinary story of Jewish sisters in the 1920s who rose to international burlesque stardom, then became recluses and transformed into the ultimate New Orleans eccentrics. Their journey, marked by both the dazzle of the spotlight and the shadows of solitude, is a testament to their unbreakable bond and their vibrant heritage. The film is designed to challenge Jewish stereotypes and gender norms, illuminating a slice of American culture rarely seen — the lives of burlesque dancers, acrobats, contortionists and the courageous performers who dare to dream under the spotlight.

Johnson's research on these sisters was published in the Journal of Southern Jewish History.