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.

Handcrafted

Everything we create is handcrafted for you… even the lettering!

The concept was two actors telling the whole story, so Menges Design put the whole story into the look!

Columbus-based artist Dylan Menges is a wunderkind of sorts.

He creates the brand design for each show. He’s refreshed our logo. Polished the website. All of it with care and precision.

And all of it — by hand.

Menges Design goofing for Nick Fancher as he sets lights for our photo shoot.

Before Jeff and Steve write a script, they have a concept. We’ll schedule a photo shoot and fly Dylan down to Charleston for a few days.

Then we’ll play.

Our actors will improvise. Dylan and Nick will throw out ideas. The theater turns into this affirming-collaborative-brainstorming-creative incubator.

Menges Design was given the concept of “Friends meets Seinfeld” for our upcoming show. Result!

Once we have the images, Dylan will invest time with several zooms, chats, and texts— discussing the story of the show and the vibe we want to portray.

A big component of our productions is the genre. Sometimes we throwback to the 1970’s or 1990’s, like the image above.

We’re always afraid that our materials will look “outdated” because the setting is 20-40 years old.

How do you convince people to buy tickets for a show about a washed-up soap opera star without it looking like a washed-up soap opera???

We asked Menges Design to make a 70’s logo that didn’t look cheesy or antiquated. Result!

By hiring someone who takes the time to listen and understand… and who’s capable of hand-drawing what you need.

All of our shows are handcrafted to give a mood without having to be completely literal. Too literal and there’s nothing left to the imagination.

For example, Stephen Wayne’s suit (above) is not from the 70’s. No bellbottoms. It’s actually very modern.

But pair the suit with a disco ball, “electric” lettering, neon pink show quotes, and you instantly get feelings of dance, good times and hopefully some fun humor— all in the blink of an eye.

Notice the varsity stitching Menges Design gave our John Hughes-inspired comedy. Result!

And that’s what it’s all about. At a moment’s glance, we want you to instantly want to be a part of the evening.

We know your time is precious and your free time is even more sacred.

That’s why so much thought goes into creating these stories, the characters, the logos— even the menu!

Handcrafting everything is the only way to ensure you have an inspired night out in downtown Charleston, unlike any other.

Because you deserve it.

For tickets…

To follow Dylan’s latest projects…

We asked Menges Design for “spooky not scary” for our fall show. Result!


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…