Native New Yorker Vanessa Hidary, AKA The Hebrew Mamita, grew up on Manhattan’s culturally diverse Upper West Side, graduating from LaGuardia High School of the Arts and Hunter College. Her experiences as a Sephardic Jew with close friends from different ethnic and religious backgrounds inspired her to write “Culture Bandit,” the nationally toured solo show that chronicles Vanessa’s coming of age during the golden age of Hip-Hop and her dedication to fostering understanding and friendship between all people. “Culture Bandit” was originally produced by LAByrinth Theatre Company. It has since played as part of festivals around the United States, including The Roar Theatre Festival at Nuyorican Poets Café, Makor Arts Center, and the Comedy Central Stage in Los Angeles.
She has aired three times on “Russell Simmon’s Presents Def Poetry Jam” on HBO, and is featured in the short film, “The Tribe,” which was selected for the Sundance Film Festival. She has conducted poetry and racism workshops with Bnai’ Brith Youth organization and is the director/developer of “MONOLOGUES” – an evening of solo performances by 15 young adults exploring their Jewish identity, inspired by a 10-day trip through Israel, produced by Birthright Israel NEXT.
Vanessa received an M.F.A. in acting from Trinity Rep theatre Conservatory. She lives in Manhattan, where she is working on her first collection of poems and stories titled “The Last Kaiser Roll in the Bodega”.