Selling Quickly!

Our summer musical SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY is on a roll!

Many nights are already filling up through September 17. Maybe it’s because its our tribute to Friends and Seinfeld. But most likely its because there’s no other place you can you get an immersive theater experience while enjoying a lovely champagne cocktail!

It’s as if an off-Broadway theater made love to a really nice wine bar and then never went home in the morning.

Too much? Well, you get the idea.

SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY is sentimental, angsty, ridiculous and straight out of “must-see-TV.” Co-creators Jeff Querin and Stephen Wayne have crafted a hilarious homage to 90’s sitcoms — plus some Sleepless in Seattle vibes, because why not?!

Even the set looks like the perfect neighborhood haunt you would’ve seen every Thursday night.

We think your friends will have a night out in downtown Charleston they won’t soon forget.

And maybe after the show you can do what we do and grab a drink at another favorite haunt just steps away — Doar Bros. Best cocktails in Charleston!

For tickets…

Open Auditions

Auditions at 34 West are like opening Pandora's Box. You never know what to expect.

Therefore, it’s super-rare when we host an open call. Once every eight years, in fact.

We’re not elitist or anything. When we find actors who can pull off our type of high-energy comedies, who can sing, who add gravitas to the role AND who are good people who care about others — we tend to work with them again and again.

Seems like a lot to ask, doesn’t it?

The truth of the mater is, the stakes are very high. The intimacy of the venue requires authentic performers. There’s no hiding. You’re literally inches from the audience. And you can hear EVERYTHING that happens in the theater.

Open auditions April 9. Email casting@34west.org

You can tell if the audience is enjoying the show just by the way they breathe! And the same is true for them. They see everything you’re thinking and feeling.

Performing at 34 West is electrifying. The adrenaline of a packed, intimate house — laughing, cheering, chortling — it’s everything you can do to stay in the moment and in character. It requires focus and discipline.

Most of all, it requires you to put the story first.

Not all actors understand this. Many actors, if not most, put themselves first. They crave the applause, accolades, they need feedback afterward. The irony is that when we put the story first, our performance is better.

Our audience expects to be taken on a journey. Inspired. We write characters who overcome insurmountable odds. The audience is right there, five feet away, waiting for a triumphant ending.

Because in the end, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE AUDIENCE.

Our cast has to care about the audience every night. Actually, many of our actors are also educators — teachers, tutors, mentors, etc. We like to hire people who have a natural inclination to care for others. That’s part of our secret formula. It’s what makes a great performance, memorable.

Because the audience can tell…

They know when someone is a diva. They know when the actor has “checked out.” They know when you’re just playing for laughs and when you’re honestly in the moment.

If the idea of performing in this environment excites you, then come on in. You’re in good company.

We’re all in it together. The actors, the audiences. There is not a more supportive, generous environment in all of Charleston. Everyone knows the shows are written by our actors and designers. This sort of creativity births kindness and thankfulness from our audience and community.

It’s a wonderful, magical box to play in each and every night. We hope you’ll consider lifting the lid and exploring more. Auditions are April 9. Email casting@34west.org for an appointment.

Open sesame!

We’re waiting for you… April 9, casting@34west.org

March Madness

Creators Jeff and Steve have had a full month, to say the least.

Our latest live show sold out the first four weeks, our short film hit the festival circuit, and our pilot episode is ready to pitch!

Actors-writers-directors Jeff Querin and Stephen Wayne — but why are their glasses empty??

March started with a bang (more like an explosion!) as their latest live comedy ADDICTED TO LOVE opened to riotous applause and reviews. “34 West is so on fire with Addicted” says Susan Van Bavel.

Querin and Wayne star in the fast-paced comedy along with veteran actor Becca Anderson, who recently took on a larger role at 34 West as Head of Casting and Social. Rounding out the cast is Rebecca René Kelley, who was last featured in the popular summer sellout STAYIN’ ALIVE.

“We’ve certainly found our lane,” states Querin, who co-wrote the production with Wayne. “Audiences are desperate for feel-good, underdog stories these days. This current ‘episode’ of our Arden High series is a delight.”

In the middle of tech rehearsals and opening night, our Creative Team was also submitting to dozens of short film festivals around the globe.

Based off our 2017 sellout production, LOVE POTION chronicles a zombie outbreak in a quaint 1950’s diner. Think Pleasantville meets Shaun of the Dead!

The short is already gaining the attention of a few industry execs, and more importantly, we’re accomplishing our goal of developing a “Films + TV” arm of 34 West.

Creative Team members Kristine Kuhlman, Ian Maddox, Becca Anderson, Jeff Querin and Stephen Wayne

Our Creative Team is hard at work writing the pilot episode of LOVE POTION which will be pitched as a 10 episode series based off the 15-minute short film.

“There’s so much fun and backstory to these rich characters that we weren’t able to get into before,” says Querin. “It’s been a blast fleshing out these quirky, subversive personalities.”

34 West’s goal is to develop our live shows (and their follow-up “episodes”) into several different series for the screen.

Why?

Because the characters in each story are lovable outcasts. Unlikely heroes. They beat the odds. They find hope. They makes audiences feel-good and your mouth will hurt from smiling so long!

If you haven’t seen a live show, make you’re decisions soon. We tend to sellout sooner than later. Tickets are here.

If you want to follow our progress through the film festivals this year, you can follow us here on Twitter.

March was a crazy month. Can you imagine what April will be like???

Moments after an intense weekend of writing the latest show.

Creative Team

We’ve written over 50 plays and musicals. Every performance has sold out since 2017.

All because of this motley crew!

Actor-director-producers Jeff Querin and Stephen Wayne with Becca Anderson

It takes a village. A very small, unpopulated village.

Jeff and Steve may have started the company 22 years ago with a goal of producing innovatively triumphant stories, but it wasn’t until about 2015 when the tipping point occurred.

That’s when we met Becca Anderson.

Funny, dramatic, powerhouse vocals,… and most of all — a beautiful soul.

The more shows we produced with Becca the more we realized just how valuable she was to the creative process. Her logistical approach to story and artistic perspective have shaped almost everything we make.

Creative Team members Jeff Querin, Stephen Wayne and Becca Anderson getting nothing accomplished

We then began brainstorming “what’s next” for 34 West.

Every play was artistically and commercially a success. Broadway producers and friends were telling us to expand or franchise or license our shows. Sometimes too many options can be paralyzing.

So what did we do when the world shut down in 2020??

What. Is. Happening in this pic?!

We added 34 West Films!

Our quarantine bubble played around with some short films. We eventually settled on a 15-minute version of our comedy, LOVE POTION set in a post-apocalyptic 1950’s diner.

Yes, you read that right :)

The film has won “Gold” at the Independent Shorts Awards and we’re pitching a pilot episode based off the same concept!

Today our Creative Team includes Jeff, Steve, Becca and West Hollywood residents Kristine Kuhlman (NBC/Universal and Live Nation) and screenwriter Ian Maddox (The Night Agent, Lovecraft Country, District 13).

We don’t have any pics of Kris and Ian yet, so we’ll just post another pic of this happy trio…

Our greatest asset? We’ve got nothing to lose.

Now there’s more ways to enjoy 34 West… theater AND films!

We hope you’ll take in a live show the next time you’re downtown. Our current production (below) is epically 80’s and totally rad.

You can also visit our Films page and watch our award-winning short LOVE POTION!

See actors Stephen Wayne, Becca Anderson and Jeff Querin LIVE, now through May 28!

Our Special Sauce

Our fans call it the “34 West Magic.” The moment in each show that brings the house down.

We created a “car wash” using two fuzzy pillows, a steering wheel and chairs! STAYIN’ ALIVE, 2022

We use few props. Fewer actors. Even our audience size is small. Only 60 seats!

But we intended that way. It’s all about imagination and good storytelling. Our stories are dynamic and full of life. And our actors are high caliber.

So when we grab two pillows and a steering wheel, we’re easily transported to a 1970’s car wash.

Two phones and a table created a sound proof visiting room at a local jail! MOONSHINE CHRISTMAS, 2018

And the audience goes crazy. It’s triumphant when it happens.

Because the “magic” is the audience and actor working together in a moment of imagination. Where nothing becomes something. That “ah ha!” moment makes you smile, makes you laugh, gives you goose bumps.

Actor Becca Anderson gets caught in a hail storm -- of ping pong balls! CAN’T BUY ME LOVE, 2019

Audiences always comment on how their mouths hurt from smiling so much. Others refer to 34 West as their happy place.

We believe this is because of that creative partnership with the audience and actor. It’s like we’re all children once again, playing in the sandbox.

Even though there’s no audience participation in the show, you still feel very much a part of the story.

Actor/writer/owner Jeff Querin in a 5 minute courtroom argument with himself! IT’S CHRISTMAS, BABE, 2019

It’s addictive. Audiences often return to see the same show with other friends. Or they bring their parents next time. They just want to share the joy they experienced with everyone they know.

It’s a wonderful feeling to sit in a room full of people and feel something uplifting and inspired.

It truly is a happy place where dreams come true and child-like optimism reigns supreme! (hyperbole much?!)

To experience for yourself…