Tighten Your Borscht Belt

by Hilary Bluestein-Lyons

FULL-LENGTH: It’s 1952 and we’re in that uniquely Jewish resort area of the Catskill Mountains known as ‘the Borscht Belt’ -- a place renowned for launching the careers of the likes of Henny Youngman, Milton Berle and Woody Allen. But things aren’t so rosy for Hattie Zelig, a 30-ish stand-up comedienne who’s finding that breaking into this meshugenah boy’s club is like breaking into Fort Knox. Meanwhile...

FULL-LENGTH: It’s 1952 and we’re in that uniquely Jewish resort area of the Catskill Mountains known as ‘the Borscht Belt’ -- a place renowned for launching the careers of the likes of Henny Youngman, Milton Berle and Woody Allen. But things aren’t so rosy for Hattie Zelig, a 30-ish stand-up comedienne who’s finding that breaking into this meshugenah boy’s club is like breaking into Fort Knox. Meanwhile, Hattie’s best friend Lillian is in the same boat, Hattie’s mother is zero help, and her husband, Zeb, is busy playing the field - - all of which adds up to Hattie feeling like she’s at a dead end. Then she suddenly lands a headliner spot at Gold’s Resort, and the offer of a TV show follows hot on. The catch? She’d have to drop everything and move to LA. Now. Lillian wants Hattie to grab this once in a lifetime chance, but -- would that life were that simple. In the end, the dominos fall and Hattie is forced to choose between family and career - - which is no laughing matter.

TYBB was a 2017 O'Neil Semifinalist

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Tighten Your Borscht Belt

Recommended by

  • Morey Norkin: Tighten Your Borscht Belt by Hilary Bluestein-Lyons
    “

    Hilary Bluestein-Lyons has done an amazing job of recreating the atmosphere of the Borscht Belt circuit in the Catskills, a breeding ground for a generation of comics… male comics. Enter Hattie. Ambitious, talented, and determined to upset the status quo. Along for the ride are her kvetching mother, her husband/manager who feels he must prove his manhood outside of the marriage, and a loyal friend who is a victim of other 1950s unpleasantness. Witty, well-paced, with strong characters and great stand-up material! I wish I had read this before I attempted some of my own work!

    Hilary Bluestein-Lyons has done an amazing job of recreating the atmosphere of the Borscht Belt circuit in the Catskills, a breeding ground for a generation of comics… male comics. Enter Hattie. Ambitious, talented, and determined to upset the status quo. Along for the ride are her kvetching mother, her husband/manager who feels he must prove his manhood outside of the marriage, and a loyal friend who is a victim of other 1950s unpleasantness. Witty, well-paced, with strong characters and great stand-up material! I wish I had read this before I attempted some of my own work!

    ”
  • Paul Donnelly: Tighten Your Borscht Belt by Hilary Bluestein-Lyons
    “

    As funny as you would expect a play about a stand-up comic to be. As poignant you would expect a play about the failure of a marriage to be. Hilary Bluestein-Lyons deftly mixes humor and heartbreak in this gripping, touching and at times hilarious story of the difficult choices facing a woman trying to succeed in stand up comedy in the 1950's.

    As funny as you would expect a play about a stand-up comic to be. As poignant you would expect a play about the failure of a marriage to be. Hilary Bluestein-Lyons deftly mixes humor and heartbreak in this gripping, touching and at times hilarious story of the difficult choices facing a woman trying to succeed in stand up comedy in the 1950's.

    ”
  • Cheryl Bear: Tighten Your Borscht Belt by Hilary Bluestein-Lyons
    “

    A powerful ride that takes us through the twists and turns of navigating show business and family. Well done.

    A powerful ride that takes us through the twists and turns of navigating show business and family. Well done.

    ”
View all 9 recommendations

Character Information

  • Hattie
    Attractive, Jewish with curly hair, plays the ukulele.
    30s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Zeb
    30s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Lillian
    Jewish, but doesn't look obviously Jewish
    30s
    Jewish
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Rose
    Has a Yiddish accent
    50s
    Jewish
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Development History

  • Reading, Old Pueblo Playwrights, 2016
  • Reading, New Hampshire Institute of Art, 2016

Awards

  • Women are Funny
    Play-Makers Spokane
    Semi-Finalist
    2018
  • O'Neill National Playwright's Conference
    Semi-Finalist
    2016