About this Event
Cause Celebre Productions, the Writers Guild of America East, and the New York Society for Ethical Culture are proud to present "The People Versus Lenny Bruce", based on the case of legendary lawyer Marty Garbus, written by Susan Charlotte and directed by Antony Marsellis. The stellar cast includes Jack Wetherall (title character in "The Elephant Man" in the original Broadway production) and Stephen Dexter ("The Shark Is Broken" on Broadway).
"The story of Lenny Bruce and his New York trial is more relevant now than ever. It is a heart-breaking story filled with humor. It is the story of Lenny Bruce and his lawyer, Marty Garbus who tried to save Bruce from the system and from himself!
The show is followed by a Q &A with Marty Garbus, Susan Herman (former President of the ACLU), Tom Fontana (President of the WGAE, creator of the hit television series "Oz") and Mike Osgood (former Deputy Chief of the NYPD/Special Victims Unit).
After the trial License Inspector Herbert Ruhe, the Prosecutor's witness, said the following to attorney Allen Schwartz:
“We aimed for Bruce. We picked him out of all the performers. ... I know he was not obscene... yet in a way I feel he had to be convicted."
These words were spoken in 1964 but they could have easily be said in 2025. Jimmy Kimmel, Rahm Emmanuel, and The New York Times all referenced Lenny Bruce when speaking of how the First Amendment was under attack. When Inspector Ruhe testified against Bruce he knew Bruce was innocent. He not only rationalized his lies, he bragged about them!
Please join us for this thought-provoking play and the discussion that will follow.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th Street, New York, United States
USD 25.00 to USD 45.00
