The comic book hero Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, is one of the crown jewels in DC Comics’ pantheon of characters. The Man of Steel has appeared in everything from comics to television shows to movies to radio shows and even video games. The Metropolis Marvel celebrates his 87th birthday this year and, just in time for this anniversary, Warner Bros. is releasing an all-new Superman film this summer, helmed by director James Gunn.
But the silver screen isn’t the only place where you can experience phenomenal new entertainment focused on the Kryptonian wonder. This May, prolific director Lenny Schwartz and the Rhode Island Stage Ensemble are debuting their production of Jerry and Joe: Birth of the Superhero!, focusing on the creation of the character of Clark Kent and his alter ego, the struggles and triumphs the pair experience, and their importance to our culture and world.
I spoke with Lenny Schwartz recently about the idea behind Jerry and Joe: Birth of the Superhero!, the cast of the production, his personal connection with Superman, and why he feels like Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s story needs to be told.
I’m friends with Lenny Schwartz on social media and his enthusiasm for the stage, movies, and comics explodes through the screen. He lights up. I have no doubt his wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm will make Jerry and Joe a treat for anyone who watches his productions.
FreakSugar: Before we get into the show itself, what is your background in theater and entertainment?
Lenny Schwartz: I have been writing and directing plays for close to 30 years. This year actually marks the 30th year from me writing my first play called Lost in a Daydream. It had a production in 1996, which I directed at my college. That was my first time directing and I just loved it. Somehow, the show itself really upset a lot of my classmates, which made me happy. They even had a post theater organization meeting about it and scolded me after the production in unison. That’s when I knew I had to continue writing and directing plays. God, I miss that theater organization and the people in it. I hope they see this article and read it and cherish it. Anyway, I wanted to be an actor but writing and directing took precedence. Since 2001, I’ve been writing and directing at least two shows a year, and I’ve written screenplays and graphic novels. It’s been really wonderful and I’m really lucky.
FS: What is your personal history with the Man of Steel?
LS: My personal connection to Superman comes in the form of the 1981 masterpiece film Superman 2. I saw it when I was 3 years old in the theater with my parents and brother. My brother and I watched it on cable afterwards endlessly. I since got into the Superman comics, just after John Byrne’s run. I eventually read Byrne’s excellent run as well. But I’ve been reading the character steadily since then, reading everything I can…I can safely say I have read every Superman comic, as much as Is available since 1938. I love his world and the characters. They are the originals and nothing comes close.
FS: The story of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster is one known to a lot of fans of Superman and comics in general, but necessarily the general public. What can you tell us about the conceit of the show?
LS: The story of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster is an important one for many reasons. They are the first, but most certainly not the last, creators in the history of comic books to not get their due for their creation. Sure, they did later in life, but even the monetary award they received doesn’t even approach what Superman has brought in, revenue wise. They weren’t really given credit until 1978 when the Superman movie came out. These two guys initially only received a check for 130 dollars for their creation. Yes, they have made money since, and eventually got their names back on, but what they made is paltry at the end of the day, and the families of the estate still had to fight many years after they passed.
The play is more than about comics though, it is almost about the soul of this county in a way. Other comic book creators such as Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby and Bill Finger and others had to go through much of the same. The conceit of the show is to follow Jerry and Joe’s story sure, but also the entire history of the comic book industry. And you don’t have to know Anything about comics to enjoy it.
FS: What kind of research did you do in prepping for this show?
LS: I read everything that I could in regards to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and I contacted a few people in Cleveland in trying to get the story as accurate as possible. I also asked a few people in the industry their thoughts about it as I narrowed down what the final script should look like. Basically, it is a story of two friends who go through an event that nobody in the world had been through. How do these two people deal with it and what is the outcome?
FS: Following up on that, while doing research for the show, was there anything that surprised you or that you didn’t necessarily know beforehand?
LS: I knew a lot of the history beforehand but I did find this play rather daunting after writing and directing the plays about Steve Ditko and Bill Finger. For some reason, it seemed like almost this was the Mount Rushmore of these types of plays. But with a new Superman movie coming out directed by James Gunn coming out, people need to be reminded of who Jerry and Joe were. And they deserve the classiest treatment they can get on the stage. The only thing that surprised me most of all was hearing how everyone in Cleveland cheers Jerry and Joe’s name when their names come up in a new Superman movie’s credits when the movie is playing at the theaters. It always happens I’m told by insiders and it will happen again in Cleveland during the Gunn film too.
FS: You have a large cast listed. Who are some of the folks we’ll meet in the show?
LS: It is a large, beautiful cast. David Weber II plays Jerry Siegel. I am so thrilled with what David for the first time and the interpretation of Jerry is just brilliant. Derek Laurendeau is equally brilliant as Joe Shuster, and the two of them work wonderfully together. Julian Ruth Trilling plays the mysterious reporter and she does a tremendous job with it. Julia Levine is playing Joanne who is doing wonderfully in the role. Geoff White, my “Harvey Keitel,” has a multitude of roles and nails them all. Jon Govoni plays both Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson and Neal Adams, both legends in the comic book field and does a hell of a job with both. Lionel LaFleur plays Harry Donnenfeld and does so with steel precision. Arianna De Palma is playing Judy and Francine and is sweet and funny as both. Tom Chen plays Mr. Strong and he’s great in the role. Greyson Yarger brings intensity and humor to both roles of Russell and Albert. Dennise Kowalczyk plays a Teacher and a Cop and this is her first show and she’s nailing it. Nathan Suher is Jerry Robinson and I love his interpretation of the character. We have Emily Partington as Bella and she is doing super in the role.
We have a great stage manager in Jeni Hayden. We’ve been working together a long time. And Arlen Schumer has designed a brilliant poster which I now own two t-shirts of. It’s an amazing crew.
This is also the first time my theater group is performing at our old space at Bell Street Chapel after a ten-year hiatus. I never thought we would be back at the space but here we are. We are reopening the theater space! Fun all around and I am grateful.
FS: I love that you’re doing this because I think Jerry and Joe’s story needs telling. But why was it important for you to tell it?
LS: It was important for this story to be told because if we don’t? People will forget it. Jerry and Joe DESERVE to be remembered and DESERVE to be cheered. Superman has brought so many people joy, so many people jobs, so many people memories. It is important. They matter. They always will, even our we all depart this mortal coil. Jerry and Joe and their existence mattered. The play shows that. It also shows that every person matters and every person’s existence has a meaning. We all do.
FS: If you had one final pitch for the show, what would it be? What do you hope viewers take away from your telling?
LS: Come see the show for the excellent performances and the joy of celebrating these two creators. The show doesn’t hold back on the indignities the pair suffered, nor the trauma they went through, and the hurt and pain they experienced. But it definitely is not depressing. There is a lot of happiness in beauty in every life and the show sheds a spotlight on these two amazing human beings. It is a celebration of their work, and a celebration of possibility.
Jerry and Joe: Birth of the Superhero! debuts Thursday, May 15, 2025. You can buy tickets here!