Brad Zimmerman's MY SON THE WAITER - A JEWISH TRAGEDY Begins Today at TOPAC

Philip Roger Roy & Dana Matthow (the producers behind last year's smash-hit production of My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm in Therapy) present the smash-hit comedy, MY SON THE WAITER, A JEWISH TRAGEDY, written and performed by Brad Zimmerman. MY SON THE WAITER - A JEWISH TRAGEDY will preview today, August 27 at 2:30pm & 7:30pm and will open on Thursday, August 28 at 7:30pm, and continue through Sunday, September 21st, at the Scherr Forum Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Brad Zimmerman waited tables for 29 years while chasing a career in acting and comedy, so waiting until his mid-50s to perform on stage seems so logical. If you've ever longed for something; if you ever desired it with all your heart; if you were willing to wait tables for 29 years to pursue your dream, My Son the Waiter will give meaning to your life! This hybrid play weaves a bittersweet tale of one man's lengthy - and we do mean lengthy - struggle in New York. His send-ups on his family, career, childhood and misbegotten lovelife are as warm and poignant as they are hysterical. "What makes audiences connect with this story is that it's true," the 58-year-old Zimmerman said. "I really had to struggle as awaiter until I was in my mid-50s. My life began to change when I wrote a play about my life staring in 2005." For Zimmerman, it's been worth the wait as the show is being seen by audiences nationwide. His career now includes opening for the late George Carlin and being Joan Rivers' opening act going on eight years.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

BRAD ZIMMERMAN (Playwright/Performer) Brad Zimmerman is a very unique and original voice in the world of comedy. Watch a few minutes of his comedy and you will know you have never seen anything like Brad. He works all over the country, doing theatres, comedy clubs, casino's, country clubs, comedy festivals, JCC's. I mean, you name it, he's done it. He has worked with many well known comedians and entertainers such as Brad Garrett, Dennis Miller, Susie Essman, Julio Iglesias, and has been Joan Rivers' opening act of choice for over seven years. In fact Joan has said, "I've had three great opening acts in my lifetime: Billy Crystal, Garry Shandling, and Brad Zimmerman."

In the year 2006, Brad had the great honor of opening for George Carlin, and that relationship lasted until George passed away in 2008. The first time Brad opened for George, at the Paramount Theatre, just outside Chicago, right after finishing his act, George approached Brad backstage, and said, as only George could have said, "f**kin great!" Brad combines years of acting training and standup, which is evident in Brad's true pride and joy; his one man show. It is called, "MYSON THE WAITER, A JEWISH TRAGEDY," and he has been working on it since 2005. In this part standup/part theatrical piece Brad tells a story of one man's lengthy, and we do mean lengthy struggle to make it as an actor in New York. His send-ups on his childhood, his family, his misbegotten love life, and his career are as warm and poignant as they are hysterical. He has done the show all over the country, and a tour is currently in preparation. In addition to this show, Brad has done work in both television and film, most notably playing Johnny Sack's lawyer in one of the best television shows of all time, "The Sopranos."

PHILIP ROGER ROY (Producer) has produced more than 45 shows since 1972 including the successful 2010-13 national tour of RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women. Recent productions include My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm in Therapy! (with Bud Martin & Dana Matthow, 2010-2013) in Baltimore, Phoenix, Toronto, Philadelphia, Florida, San Diego, Boston & Wilmington. He produced A Jew Grows in Brooklyn in NYC at The Lamb's Theater in the heart of Broadway! He was Associate Producer & General Manager in Philadelphia of Menopause The Musical, which played 3.5 years to more than 212,000 (mostly) menopausal women. His production of Let My People Come (LMPC) played over 2300 performances in Philadelphia from 1977 to 1987, & he produced LMPC in 20 cities in the USA & Canada, including 8 years in Toronto. His other productions include: Family Secrets, Grandma Sylvia's Funeral (co-produced in Phila. with Dana),Greater Tuna (Walnut St. Theatre & the Delaware Theatre Company), The World of Lenny Bruce, Confessions of an IrishRebel, Judy! The New Judy Garland Musical, El Grande de Coca Cola, Pretzels (by Jane Curtin), Sholom Aleichem, Cloud 9, Groucho: A 1-Man Show With 2-Women, Bullshot Crummond &The Fantasticks (in which he also performed). As owner/founder of Philadelphia's legendary Grendel's Lair Cabaret Theater (for 15 years), Mr. Roy produced hundreds of concerts including The Police, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, & Charles Mingus. He co-produced The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? and Say Goodnight Gracie (2009) both in Philly.

DANA MATTHOW (Producer) is a Long Island native New Yorker whose theatrical career spans more than 35 years of producing, general management, theatre management, advertising and promotions. His latest credits include productions all over the US and Canada: Steve Solomon's trilogy of shows, My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm in Therapy!; Respect, A Musical Journey of Women and A Jew Grows In Brooklyn. Dana's Off- Broadway credits include, Todd Robin's Carnival Knowledge, a behind the scenes look at the astounding and disappearing world of the American sideshow; Magic Hands Freddy starring Michael Rispoli and Ralph Macchio; Underneath the Lintel; Maybe Baby It's You; Grandma Sylva's Funeral (a/k/a the longest running funeral in history); Hysterical Blindness starring Leslie Jordon and Sea Marks by Adventures in Paradise star Gardner McKay. He also produced the feature film "Silent Prey" and owned and operated the Soho Playhouse in New York City. He is the founder and was the original Publisher of City Guide Magazine, New York City's #1 Weekly Visitor and Entertainment Magazine.

MY SON THE WAITER - A JEWISH TRAGEDY will preview on Wednesday, August 27 at 2:30pm & 7:30pm, and will open on Thursday, August 28 at 7:30pm and continue through Sunday, September 21st, at the Scherr Forum Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Performances are Wednesdays at 2:30pm and 7:30pm; Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2:30pm & 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:30pm. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Box Office located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks or through any Ticketmaster location or by phone (800) 745-3000. For groups of 12 or more, call Marla in Group Sales at 1-888-264-1788. Ticket prices range from $45-$55. For ticket and theatre information, call (805) 449-ARTS (2787).

Need more Thousand Oaks Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...