Actress and playwright, Jessica Sherr, powerfully channels Bette Davis’ fight against the male-dominated studio system. On the night of the 1939 Oscars, Bette Davis returns home knowing she’s to lose Best Actress to Vivien Leigh’s Scarlett O’Hara, because the press has leaked the winners. Miss Davis takes us on the bumpy ride of her tumultuous rise, as the tenacious actress fights her way through the studio system to the top. Witness Bette triumph over misogyny to win roles and compensation on par with her male counterparts.

Through conversations with her mother Ruthie, her friendship with Olivia De Havilland, stories about her love affair with William Wyler, her four failed marriages, her unpleasant relationship with her daughter, ageism in Hollywood, and her feelings of regret about her groundbreaking court case with Warner Brothers (which she lost), we experience Bette’s most defining moments and her at her most vulnerable.

See what happens when someone who always wins...loses.  

"SHERR IS A ONE-WOMAN REVOLUTION"-WINDY CITY TIMES 

"REBEL WITH A CAUSE"-CHICAGO STAGE AND CINEMA 

"MESMERIZING TO WATCH, A DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE"- EDINBURGH GUIDE 

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“Sherr is a One-Woman Revolution”--WINDY CITY TIMES

BETTE DAVIS AIN’T FOR SISSIES began its life in 2010 as a monologue, when Jessica Sherr’s teacher challenged her to write a performance piece for herself based on a famous person. It was so satisfying to perform in the studio that Jessica decided to present at The New York Fringe Festival, but first she had to develop the script into a full hour. Jessica brought onTheresa Gambacorta to direct and present at FringeNYC 2011. BDAFS sold out all shows and was given an extended run at The Laurie Beechman by Ron Laakso of SpinCycle. In 2013 Jessica took the show to Edinburgh Fringe where she performed to sell-out crowds. An audience member in Scotland was so impressed with BDAFS, he recommended the show to the St. James Theater in London, where the show was then offered a special engagement to perform immediately following Edinburgh.  With the success of BDAFS first Edinburgh Fringe run, we returned in 2014 and 2015 to a bigger venue, The Assembly Rooms, and garnered 5-star reviews.

The Bette Davis Estate gifted Jessica a pair of Bette’s gloves, scarf and handkerchief to wear in the show!

BDAFS had a critically acclaimed 4-week run at The Athenaeum Theater in Chicago 2017. The show was so well received the artistic director of The Athenaeum requested Jessica expand the show to cover more of Bette’s story and return. After a full year of writing, Jessica returned in 2018 to for another 4-week run, with a much richer story, earning stellar reviews.

“Audiences will find themselves mesmerized by this animated, energetic performer” --CHICAGO THEATRE REVIEW

BDAFS has had over 250 performances to date and has bee presented in Performing Arts Centers around the country ranging from 300 to 1000 seats.BDAFS sold out The Invisible Theater in Tucson, Arizona was a smash hit at OcotilloPerforming Arts Center in New Mexico, received a standing ovation at Argenta Performing Arts Center in Arkansas and performed in its first 1000 seat theater at the Bicknell Center in Pittsburg, KS.  

BDAFS is raising funds for an Off-Broadway Run 2021-2022.  Please consider making a donation today to help this gem of a show get the Off-Broadway Run it deserves!  Contact us if you would like to join the team.

A dynamic performance” EDINBURGH GUIDE