My Son The Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy & Still Not Famous

Zimmerman’s hilarious and poignant story is still universal in its message: If you embark upon the journey to follow your dream, demonstrate the grit and passion required to ‘make it’ as an artist, the rewards that come from never giving up are very much worth the ‘blood, sweat and tears.’

“I have been working on this show for about 6 years,” Zimmerman explains. “It is not a hybrid as the first piece was - which means half standup/half theater. This is more of a play. As the first one does, it chronicles my journey - starting when I was very young - and takes the audience right up to the present. But it is done in more of a play format. There is lots of humor but also poignancy.

“The reason I started to work on this is that even while performing the first show it gave me a creative outlet – and without that, I wouldn’t have known what to do with myself,” he continues. “In this second piece I don’t glaze over things... I dive into them more deeply than in the first piece, which I think makes for a more universal and relatable performance. And even if the audience is familiar with my story in general, they will find this play to be nothing like the first one. Of course,” he concludes, “There are stories about my childhood and my education and my introduction to theater and comedy and my social life ...and naturally... my mother!”

Brad Zimmerman moved to New York and 'temporarily' worked as a waiter for 29 years while pursuing his career as an actor. Eventually he got a role on the Sopranos and worked as a comedian, opening for Joan Rivers for eight years, as well as for Brad Garrett and George Carlin in 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, "MY SON 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 performed the show Off Broadway in New York City for 15 months and played throughout the United States for over ten years to great reviews.

"Delicious! Distinctly Original & Powerfully Poignant. Great Comedy!" - New York Times

"You'll Laugh Your Tuchas Off!" - Huffington Post

"I've had three great opening acts in my lifetime: Billy Crystal, Garry Shandling and Brad Zimmerman." - Joan Rivers

"AN ABSOLUTE MUST-SEE! You'll laugh and you'll walk out of the theater with a lesson: If you can find something that you truly love, it gives your life meaning." - Palm Beach Arts

Brad is now back on tour throughout the country.

My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy & Still Not Famous will run March 22nd and 23rd at the Boca Black Box Center for the Arts. Tickets are on sale now and are available online at: https://mysonthewaiter.com/ Or by phone at: (561) 483-9036. Tickets range from $46.50 - $61.50.