THE LENNY PERFORMANCES

Rathus performs live compilations of Lenny Bruce stand-up routines from 1959-1966. This performance series began when she was invited to perform a cover of a stand-up routine at UnionDocs Center for Documentary Art. Rathus continued performing as Lenny at the Jewish Museum in New York, as well as The Funny Hole in Queens, and for an evening of performances curated by Marko Markovic.

Rathus explores the outsider art practice of stand-up comedy as a political platform in this series, as she transitions from Bruce’s early, funnier days on the Steve Allen show, to the performances leading up to his death, in which he focused completely on the details of his obscenity trials.

Rathus’s multimedia Lenny performance at The Jewish Museum in NY included audio-visual material created by Tiny Rothko - a musical duo consisting of Rathus and Andrew Adolphus.