My Pal Bette!!!!!

So you HAVE TO COME to this wonderful Off- Broadway Play called My Pal Bette.

The cast is Amazing!!! Rehearsals are going very well and everyone is doing a great job.


The Play was written by John Ryan and stars Tammy Kopko as Bette Davis, the razor-mouthed, high-ball drinking, chain-smoking screen siren. Tommy is an obsessive-compulsive nerd with an unhealthy attachment to his kvelling, Yente-from-hell mother until God and his army of well-chiseled angels grants him a “guardian diva” – Miss Davis in all her glory.


The cast includes playwright John Ryan as Tommy, Tammy Kopko as Bette Davis, Michael Ell as 9 year old Tommy, Reece Scelfo as Angel/God, Sivan Hadari as Carol Klein/Cher, James Brent Isaacs as God/Devils, PJ Brennan as Thomas Klein, Sr./Derek, and Cindy Pearlman as Susie/Ms. Darwin. Kenny Howard will direct.


Dates and Times for the performances:

6/18 - 8pm
6/19 -8pm
6/20 - 2pm and 8pm
6/21- 3pm
6/22-8pm
6/23- 8pm
6/24-8pm
6/25-8pm
6/26-8pm
6/27 2pm and 8pm
6/28 7:30pm

Tickets: $20.00
Venue: The Producer’s Club
358 W 44th St
New York, NY 10036
Info and tickets: www.mypalbette.com



So here's my audition story:

I saw the ad in Backstage in the April 23rd audition; "Seeking Carol Klien/Cher- 20ish to 30ish stereotypical Jewish mother. A mess with mood swings, loud over- bearing and insecurities. Must also be able to impersonate Pop singer Cher." Sounds like me I thought jokingly...

Seemed fun and interesting so I submitted and they called me in for an audition. I quickly polished up my comedic monologue, my Jewish mother and my Cher, grabbed my headshot and resume and was out the door.

When I came in for my audition at the Producers Club, I met Kenny Howard and Tammy Kopko from B Productions.
I performed my monologue and they had me sing some Cher. I sang "It's in his Kiss" or what they used to call " The shoop-shoop Song". They asked me to come in for a call back.

Kenny handed me the sides and as I read the description on my way to the 42nd street dinner, I noticed the description of Carol Klien; "Big hair, make-up, custom made jewelry, loud".

I looked nothing like Carol Klien. I looked like a young sweet girl in a sun dress. And so, I went into the dinner and after eating my scrambled egg sandwich, I went into the bathroom, put my hair up in a bun and created a big hair "water- fountain" if you will. I had my make-up case with me and proceeded to apply layers and layers of purple eye shadow as well as bright green colors, loads of blush and very poorly, applied cheap red lipstick. I put a huge feathery hairpiece in my "water fountain" and put on some big tacky earrings I had in my purse and off I went.

It was the first really hot day in NYC in a while and everyone was sweaty and aggravated. I came in for my callback and the moment I came in I said- in character- "It's so hot outside! I'm shvitzing like a potato knish on a hot- plate!"
It just came out of me (being an Israeli Jew- all our mothers are the same: obsessive and paranoid- AND LOUD!!!)

They laughed. I mean I did look hideous! And sweaty. But sure enough they called me up that night and told me I got the part! I was so happy and excited. This is a part I was born to do- a Loud annoying Jewish mother and I get to go FULL OUT CHER!!!
I drew my inspiration from characters like The Nanny (Fran Drescher) and her mother on the show and George Costanza's mother on Seinfeld and my own mother of- course... who amazingly is now visiting with me from Israel so I get to do all the research HAND ON!!! (You figure it out...)



So that's it. We are now in rehearsals and things are moving by pretty nicely. The cast is just solid. A lot of talented people are involved.

COME SEE THE SHOW!!!!

My Pal Bette
The Producers Club
June 18th - June 28th

It'll be fun!


See U There!

Sivan in the City