By Scott Iwasaki
Deseret Morning News

Singer/songwriter Cosy Sheridan has added a few things to her resume. She's now an actress, scriptwriter and producer, thanks to "The Pomegranate Seed," her one-woman, two-act show that is filled with narrative, theatrics and, of course, music. Cosy Sheridan "It actually started off as a project for a psychology degree I got in Vermont," said Sheridan, who lives in Moab. "I wanted to do more than just sing. I wanted to do a narrative about how women are perceived in the media and how they perceive themselves because of the images they see in the media."

Since its premiere in Boston in May, "The Pomegranate Seed" has been performed in Colorado and Moab. "The production is, overall, a modern retelling of the myth of Persephone. The first act examines the media giving pomegranate seeds to young girls in the form of fad diets, bathing suits and the like. The pomegranate seed in Greek mythology is the food of death.

"The second act is more literate in the retelling of Persephone. She meets a modern day Hades, who is, of all things, a biker."

Sheridan said the purpose of the production is to help women make something positive out of the pomegranate seed that's been given to them. "In this case, Persephone uses the seed for rebirth and focus. She comes to terms with herself, her self-image and who she is."

The challenge of producing a show like this wasn't writing the songs or the script, said Sheridan. "I worked with a director, Laurie Collins, who has worked on Broadway, and she helped me with stage presence. I was used to singing and performing, but not presenting myself in an acting sort of way.

"The other problems came with the sets and the props and getting them through the airport and getting them back again. Basically, the main problems were logistical."

After performing in Moab earlier this year, Sheridan wanted to bring the performance to Salt Lake City because February is designated as Eating Disorder Recognition month. She got in touch with the University of Utah's Women's Resource Center through some friends at KRCL radio. "I wanted to do this as a benefit show and for eating-disorder clinics, and when the Resource Center learned what I was doing, they thought it was a great idea."

"The Pomegranate Seed" is a personal story for Sheridan, who suffered from eating disorders when she was a teenager. "I do get nervous about telling too much about myself in my songs. But the older I get, the more I realize that my songs are more influenced by my thoughts on issues. I find, also, that the more explicit the song, the more universal the message.

"I mean, my life is different than an executive who lives in New York, but we have similarities. We both want to find happiness. We both want to find partners and we both are trying to make sense of life."

Sheridan said her reward for undertaking a new project was being able to see the audience reaction. "I talk with people after the performance and hear their experiences. Mothers whose daughters have eating disorders, or the mothers themselves who have problems with their self-image, are relieved that there is someone who understands."