THE BEN HECHT SHOW Opens Tonight at Zephyr Theatre

The West Coast Premiere of renowned Chicago playwright, James Sherman's comedy THE BEN HECHT SHOW opens tonight, July 24th at the Zephyr Theatre (7456 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90046.) The play runs Friday and Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, July 24th through Sunday, August 16th. Tickets are $25 and are available at plays411/benhecht or by calling (323) 960-7861.

In this solo performance, James Sherman portrays Ben Hecht, one of America's greatest writers who achieved fame as a playwright, novelist and screenwriter. James Sherman depicts Ben Hecht's brilliant wit and humor by expressing Hecht's passion for his work and how he used his talents to engage with world events.

Ben Hecht won the first Oscar for Best Original Story for his script for Underworld in 1929. Among his many other classic screenplays are Scarface, Nothing Sacred, and Wuthering Heights. Hecht was also a highly paid script doctor who contributed to many classic films like Gone With the Wind, Stagecoach, Foreign Correspondent and the screen version of his classic Broadway play The Front Page. During the Second World War, Hecht became a devoted activist against the atrocities in Europe and spent the rest of his life using his voice against the forces of anti-Semitism. Hecht's story reflects boldly on the questions faced by American Jewry to this day.