Sarah Silverman & Seth Rudetsky are Coming to SF to Make You Laugh & Sing

Sarah Silverman and Seth Rudetsky

On Sunday May 19 Emmy winning stand-up comic Sarah Silverman will appear with actor, writer and Sirius XM radio host Seth Rudetsky on stage at the Herbst Theater for an evening of comedy, conversation and music. Proceeds from the show will benefit San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, Project Open Hand and Sandy Hook Promise.

Silverman has proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with her comedy specials A Speck Of Dust and Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles. Her concert film Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic, played to great acclaim. More recently Silverman has branched out into the movies, playing a supporting role in the film Battle of the Sexes, a drama about the early life of lesbian tennis champ Billie Jean King. Silverman also does voice work, lending her vocal talents to the smash animated film Wreck It Ralph and its sequel Ralph Breaks The Internet, as well as the animated TV series Bob’s Burgers. She has made guest appearances on numerous TV series such as The Good Wife and Seinfeld. She is a former writer and performer on Saturday Night Live.

Rudetsky spoke to BAS about how his show with Silverman came to be.

“Ever since I started doing theater, nothing is more fun than going out to a diner after the show and telling hilarious theater stories,” he said. “And whenever I’m with performers and there happens to be a piano, I’d often run to it and make them sing their big song. So this show is a combination of those two things: stars telling really fun show biz stories, and then me running to the piano and making them sing some fantastic song.”

Though she’s best known for comedy, Silverman tells BAS that she does have a background in musical theater.

“I grew up doing and loving musical comedy,” she said. “I am a good singer for a comedian. But you’ll best enjoy the show if you come with your expectations low.”

Silverman remembers doing a lot of musical theater in high school, appearing as Charity in Sweet Charity, as the Artful Dodger in Oliver (appearing in male drag) and as Rose in Bye Bye Birdie. Her love of theater is what drew her to Rudetsky.

“I was always a fan of his Sirius XM show and when I appeared on it we bonded instantly,” she said. “Seth is somebody you meet and immediately feel like you know. Or maybe that’s just me. We grew up around the same time and love the same Broadway shows from our childhoods. I saw his one man show and it’s funny and heartbreaking. Doing this show is a kick for me. Seth guides me and picks the songs and we have a blast.”

Rudetsky met Silverman through his friend, the actor Jack Plotnick. He was delighted to find out that she was a fan of his from the radio.

“We hung out a few times and I always found her so interesting,” Rudetsky said. “She came on my radio show and we did an impromptu Broadway medley–I couldn’t believe how many songs she knew and what a good voice she had. Then I found out that she played Annie as a kid and my admiration turned to jealousy!”

When they take to the stage at the Herbst, Silverman and Rudetsky will talk about her childhood, her TV shows and her stand-up specials.

“We’ll temper it with some hilarious celebrity run-ins and horrific auditions,” he said. “And I’ll be heading to the piano for some songs from Little Shoppe Of Horrors, Les Miz, her song from Ralph Breaks The Internet, and, of course, a medley from Annie.”

Rudetsky added that he promises the audience an intimate evening, comparing the show to sitting in his living room.

“I want people to see these stars as they really are, without scripted patter,” he said. “And to hear all the highs and lows of being a performer. I want people to walk away and say ‘I never knew so-and-so was so funny’ and also walk away thinking ‘OMG, I totally love that song she sang! I have to download it ASAP!'”

Rudetsky, who is openly gay, spoke about the importance of being an out performer in the current political climate. He said that he’s gotten a number of emails from people who appreciate him talking about his husband and his kid.

“It gives them the courage to not feel the shame they’re getting from they’re family and religious institutions,” he said. “It makes other people with prejudices think before they make assumptions.”

Rudetsky noted that he and Harvey Milk were from the same town on Long Island.

“The great Harvey Milk always stressed the importance of coming out,” he said. “It’s very hard for people to hate gay people if they know and like a gay person.

And what draws Rudetsky to work in theater?

“I love the music and the creativity and the fun,” he said.

Tickets to see Sarah Silverman and Seth Rudetsky at the Herbst Theater are available here.