Johnny Lonely & Joshua Raoul Brody’s
The Saddest Night of Musical Entertainment
in the History of the World
The Marsh San Francisco Mainstage
June 20, July 18 & 25, 2026
Saturdays at 8pm
Written & Performed by Johnny Lonely & Joshua Raoul Brody
Directed by Cliff Mayotte
Ticket Information
Tickets: $25 – $35 General Seating | $50 & $100 Reserved Seating
75 minutes | No Intermission | Ages 14+
(Please do not bring infants to the show)
Online ticket sales close 2 hours before each performance.
Additional tickets may be available for purchase at the door.
Show Description
Johnny Lonely, matchless torch singer, is convinced that the reason his career hasn’t taken off is because his “Unhappy Hour” isn’t gloomy enough. But since his girlfriend just dumped him, tonight’s audition at “The Nowhere to Go but Up Club,” is his perfect chance to debut The Saddest Night of Musical Entertainment in the History of the World. His accompanist, Raoul, sees this as a professional dumpster fire, and sabotages Johnny’s plans by throwing in happy songs, sharing mindfulness tips and changing minor keys to major ones. Like Daffy Duck being tortured by Bugs Bunny, Johnny eventually loses his mind, which might be what his audience wanted the act to be all along.
The show incorporates both classic torch songs and original jazz and blues tunes by Johnny Lonely. An early version of this show, Johnny Lonely’s Unhappy Hour, was first performed on “Blue Mondays,” at the Paradise Lounge, in San Francisco, in 1987. Using a mixture of original songs in the vein of jazz standards with sad pop song covers, Johnny has underwhelmed crowds at Dear San Francisco, The 4Star, Bird and Beckett, Playground, The Plush Room, The Cowell Theatre, The Rite Spot, Noe Valley Ministry, PS NBC, Joe’s Pub, (NYC) A revised version, also directed by Cliff Mayotte, premiered at The Marsh, then toured to Australia, was a Fringe finalist at the 1996 Adelaide Fringe Festival and received 5 star reviews at The Melbourne Comedy Festival. Other Lonely venues include Club Deluxe, DNA Lounge, The Melkweg (ND), Catzahr (Paris.)
Artist Biographies
Brian Lohmann is a singer-songwriter, actor-improviser with BATS Improv. “Johnny Lonely,” grew out of his work with the seminal 80’s SF comedy troupe, Faultline. He recorded and toured with John Wesley Harding and was a part of the SF vocal jazz sextet, Acapella Gold. His songs were featured in the indie film, Thanks,with Rita Rudner and Edi Patterson. He hosted LIFEGAME for 8 episodes on TNN and was a recurring guest on the talk show, Ask Rita, with Rita Rudner. His solo show, Johnny Lonely’s Unhappy Hour, premiered at The Marsh, then toured to Seattle and Australia. Marsh audiences may also remember him from Pulp Playhouse, the improv-scripted hybrid he created, and Seasonal Help!, his multi-character Christmas show, at the Bayfront Theater. His debut album, The One and Lonely, Johnny Lonely, is available on BANDCAMP. https://brianlohmann.bandcamp.com/album/the-one-and-lonely-johnny-lonely
Joshua Raoul Brody is a keyboard player, accompanist, and musical director. He has worked with Robin Williams, Richard Montoya, Rick & Ruby, and many other acts that begin with the letter R. He currently runs the live karaoke show Plays His Favorite Beatles Songs AND Accompanies YOU On YOURS!, plays with and arranges for the medium-sized big band Orchestra Nostalgico, and is musical director for BATS Improv, Johnny Lonely’s Unhappy Hour, and probably The Residents’ (hey, there’s another act that begins with R!) God In Three Persons if it ever plays again.
An early version of this show, Johnny Lonely’s Unhappy Hour, was first performed on “Blue Mondays,” at the Paradise Lounge, in San Francisco, in 1987. Using a mixture of original songs in the vein of jazz standards with sad pop song covers, Johnny has underwhelmed crowds at Dear San Francisco, The 4Star, Bird and Beckett, Playground, The Plush Room, The Cowell Theatre, The Rite Spot, Noe Valley Ministry, PS NBC, Joe’s Pub, (NYC), The Melbourne Comedy Festival (AUS), Club Deluxe, DNA, The Melkweg (ND), Catzahr (Paris.)
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