Cause Celebre Productions 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.

STARRING

• Johnny Anthony
• Timothy Doyle
• Dan Grimaldi
• Ian Lithgow
• Roberta Wallach
• Jack Wetherall

“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!

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 2026. 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.

>>> Purchase Tickets Here

About Playwright Susan Charlotte

Susan’s multi-faceted career started with Prism Blues. Based on her work as a prison counselor, the play earned her a place in Columbia’s MFA program and won the prestigious Joseph Kesselring Award. Her 60 full-length & one-act plays have been produced throughout the country. They include: The Shoemaker starring Danny Aiello, directed by Antony Marsellis; She’s Of A Certain Age; The Round Table (w/ Oscar & Tony winner Peter Stone), and When Truth Is Not Enough. Her play, Love Divided By, was produced by the Actors Studio and was made into a film with an original score by Philip Glass. The film reopened MoMA’s Titus II theatre. Her other films include: Something Like That, A Broken Sole, Come On (Hamptons Film Festival.) Her TV credits include; Did You Know My Husband? with Louise Lasser & Carole Shelley (PBS); The Comedy Zone with Patty Duke & Paul Reiser (CBS); Guiding Light and Loving (CBS).

Susan authored the acclaimed books Creativity and Creativity In Film and has written for NY Magazine and Playbill. She was also a professor at Columbia U., NYU, and City College. She is the founding artistic director of Food For Thought Productions and Cause Celebre.