MY SON THE WAITER: A JEWISH TRAGEDY to Play 7 Stages Theatre

By: Mar. 23, 2017
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Brad Zimmerman will star in the Atlanta debut of his highly praised autobiographical comedy, My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedyat 7 Stages Theatre in Little Five Points May 18 - June 18, 2017. My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy is the story of Zimmerman's struggle to fulfill his dream and 'make it' as a comedic actor in New York. One part standup, one part theatrical and all parts uproarious, the production has garnered rave reviews, including sold out runs at the Northshore Theatre in Skokie, Ill.; George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, N.J.; Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pa.; Regent Theater in Boston, Mass.; Thousand Oaks PAC in Thousand Oaks, Calif. and San Diego Rep in San Diego, Calif.

My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy will play at 7 Stages Theatre May 18 - June 18. The performance schedule is as follows: Thursday 2 p.m.; 7 p.m., Friday 8 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m.; 8 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m..

Tickets start at $45 and are available by visiting mysonthewaiter.com or by calling 855-HIT-SHOW (855.448.7469). Group orders of 12 or more may be placed by calling (888) 264.1788.

Every mother dreams that her children will grow up to be happy, healthy and successful. Every Jewish mother secretly - and often not so secretly - adds specifics to her wish: a doctor, lawyer, dentist or these days, a Silicon Valley tycoon would make her very happy. Brad Zimmerman's mother has finally adapted to her 'actor-waiter' son's career choice and financial situation. "If all goes well, I think Brad is going to buy a bookcase," she boasts to her friends.

Brad Zimmerman has paid his dues. He spent 29 years "temporarily" waiting tables in New York, all the while chasing a career in acting and comedy. He tells of his pursuit-along with stories about his childhood, family and misbegotten love life, with warmth, wit, self-deprecating humor and wicked charm-and combines his years of training as an actor with his innate comedic talent.

Of course, Zimmerman also examines the trials and tribulations of waiting on tables, particularly for someone not exactly invested in the career and with little tolerance for persnickety diners. "I don't want 60 questions, get to the point," he admitted to telling restaurant patrons during a recent interview with The New York Times. He joked that if diners prefaced their orders by saying they were in a hurry, he would say, "So go!"

He did enjoy some of the bantering he initiated with diners and often tried out material on them, however, there were also 'the bossy customers who would snap their fingers to get his attention... and the health-food obsessives who elaborately customized their orders and button-holed him over ingredients.' As he says in My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy, he was convinced his epitaph would read, "I'll be right with you."

His perseverance and hard work eventually paid off, and Zimmerman went on to act - holding a small part in "The Sopranos" as Johnny Sack's lawyer - and to become the opening act for a number of well-known entertainers, including George Carlin, Brad Garrett, Dennis Miller, Julio Iglesias and Joan Rivers. Rivers praised, "I've had three great opening acts in my lifetime: Billy Crystal, Garry Shandling and Brad Zimmerman."

Zimmerman worked on the script for My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy for nine years and performed it in small venues all over the country, including a stint at Stage Door Theatre in Florida, where it came to the attention of producers Dana Matthow and Philip Roy (WaistWatchers The Musical, Respect: A Musical Journey of Women, My Mother's Italian My Father's Jewish & I'm In Therapy!, Old Jews Telling Jokes and Cooking With The Calamari Sisters). Since then, My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy has spent two years at Off-Broadway's Stage 72 at the Triad Theatre in New York and has toured the USA from coast to coast, including a very successful run at The Palm Beaches Theatre, Mizner Park Cultural Center and PGA Arts Center in Florida.



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