"I lost my little brother on 9/11. He was my biggest fan. I couldn't go back to the stage after that. There was something inside of me that felt unfulfilled. I felt like my brother died and then I gave up acting. It's like I felt like I had to do it."
"It was definitely an emotional journey. A lot of doubt. I hadn't been on stage in 25 years. And then it just went really well. It got better after each performance."
Michael Quinn, a Coney Island native and former actor, has created a 70-minute solo theatrical production titled "Feltman: World's First Hot Dog" that premiered at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival to critical acclaim. The play runs at 36th Street Theatre from March 18 through June 14 and tells the story of Charles Feltman, a German immigrant who established Coney Island's original famous food business before Nathan's Famous became dominant. Quinn stepped away from his acting career in the 1990s after losing his younger brother in the September 11 attacks, subsequently working as a high school English teacher and leading Coney Island tours. At age 50, Quinn returned to performing at Edinburgh Fringe, living in a dorm while refining the show throughout the month-long festival. His return to the stage represents a deeply personal journey addressing unfulfilled aspirations and honoring his brother's memory.
#coney-island-history #theater-and-performance #immigration-and-entrepreneurship #personal-resilience #brooklyn-cultural-heritage
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