←Recommendations of LIGHTS UP!

02/19/2026 - Had the pleasure of hearing this piece read and performed. The beginning reminded me of Noises Off in the sense that I wasn't aware I was watching a play within a play and the laughs only kept coming after that. Jack Levine does an excellent job exploring the craziness that can happen when ego mixes with local theatre. Relatable to any theatre lover both on stage and in the audience. Hilarious and well done!

This comical short play about the pretentious side of theater making (and we've all been THERE!) hits the bull’s-eye with every dart that’s thrown. And those darts keep on coming. Bravo!

This hilarious piece will have every theatre maker saying “I have met characters EXACTLY like this!” A wonderfully written piece of theatre about theatre creation that is relatable, heartfelt and brings home the notion that a show always comes together.

This one hurt. In the best ways. As theater makers we have all dealt with the fucking actor who won't take direction because whatever pretentious reason. Levine takes this oft explored situation, adds fresh elements to it, and it all delivers in spades! (I saw a reading where Joseph the Janitor was played by an actor older than described and for me it make the piece even better!) Some of the play-within-a-play dialogue starts out rough but Levine does this by design and the payoff is tremendous!

I love to hear and/or see plays about the theater, especially one that's been written by a playwright with heart and wit. "Lights Up!" by the estimable Jack Levine was so utter relatable to me as a theater artist. Nicely done!

I had the pleasure of hearing this read in the Playwright's Thriving Facing February 28 Plays Extravaganza. Hilarious contrast of ego and natural talent. Bravo, Jack Levine.

A super little play about the theatre and, in particular, trying to get a performance from a self-seeking actor. Simple, pertinent, funny and very realistic. Jack Levine has a knack for cutting through the unnecessary to ensure a tight story with cracking dialogue shines at the centre of the stage! Super stuff!

Very funny short play about theater and relationships. This would be enormous fun as part of a short-play festival and I'm sure actors would love performing it too!

I so want this to be a true story!! Where the community theatre actor is suffering from a wildly inflated self-image, only to be put in their place.
In general, i'm not usually a fan of plays about theatre. I find that they usually spend too much time explaining the set up, that they don't have enough left for the actual plot. This is not the case here. "Lights UP!" wastes no time with the backstory and heads straight to the action. In the process, Levine creates a universally relatable situation.
This is a true gem that should be performed!

I love a funny play about amateur characters acting in the most amateurish way possible, and Jack Levine doesn’t shy away from having his obnoxious lead actor ham it up in the spotlight, a place this actor has no business being at the moment. While it is clever and very funny, the play also gives us a valuable lesson on what good acting is about and being true to one’s character. This is a lot of fun!