Writer
When I’m not enjoying my favorite role being a Bubbe, or walking on the beach, I’m an ardent theater-going skeptic thoughtfully observing and considering the show unfold in a darkened theater. Love the collective electric energy of the audience and what it adds and how it influences each presentation. II is my firm belief that exceptional writing is the essential foundation of any great production. A well constructed script with keen character development will excite me whether its spoken, sung or otherwise expressed. I know exactly what it takes to make that live magic happen, having spent 45 years as a television technical director at CBS) – a wonderful career choice driven entirely by the fact that network TV actually pays the bills. I deeply respect the hustle of the writers and actors who pour their hearts into making the magic happen every performance.
Stephen Schnetzer, Dan Grimaldi, Johnny Anthony, Ian Lithgow (Photo: Russ Rowland) The People Versus Lenny Bruce By Lydia Sue Keidel on May 25, 2026 The People Versus Lenny Bruce, now playing at Theatre Row, should’ve been called Martin Garbus Reflects on the Lenny Bruce trial and Other Stuff. Even though Lenny Bruce’s name was in…
Here’s an idea. Let’s take Beaches, an iconic, cult classic movie, replace the award-winning soundtrack, and put it on stage, without its famous stars! After all, it’s a slam dunk, adapting a Broadway show from a film. Oh, that’s right, it’s NOT. Examples? Despite stars Mary Tyler Moore and Richard Chamberlain, Breakfast at Tiffany’s was…
Sean Hayes (Photo: Emilio Madrid) The Unknown By Lydia Sue Keidel on February 27, 2026 The Unknown, now in performances at Studio Seaview, is an 80-minute monologue, a one-act psychological thriller written with Sean Hayes in mind. The plot is loosely based on an experience of playwright David Cale thirty years ago. It follows Elliot,…
Jean Smart (Photo: Marc J. Franklin and Emilio Madrid) Call Me Izzy By Lydia Sue Keidel on June 30, 2025 Call Me Izzy is about Izzy, a woman from rural Louisiana imprisoned in an abusive marriage. Only a couple weeks out of high school, she married Ferd who was 5 years her senior; her uncaring…
Joy Woods, Ryan Vasquez (Photo: Julieta Cervantes) The Notebook By Lydia Keidel Bring your tissues! The Notebook, Nicolas Sparks’ breakout romantic novel, which later became a blockbuster film, is now retold as a Broadway musical. This optimistic tearjerker is true to the book except it uses three pairs of actors portraying the same couple at…