The Laugh Track at International City Theatre (Beverly O'Neill Theater, Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center)

The Laugh Track is a new comedy by Wendy MacLeod about the business of being funny, set behind the scenes of the classic sitcom I Love Lucy. Inspired by the real-life experiences of Madelyn Pugh, one of Hollywood's first female television writers, the play follows Pugh (Alli Brown) and her writing partner Bob Carroll Jr. (Josh Odsess-Rubin) as they reminisce about their years working with Lucille Ball (Jennifer Sorensen), Desi Arnaz (Bill Mendieta) and studio executives (Hunter Bodine). Alyssa Corella plays a restaurant waitress with ambitions of making it in Hollywood. Directed by Brian Shnipper, the play explores the challenges faced by women in a male-dominated entertainment industry.