‘I Love Lucy’ Comedy ‘The Laugh Track’ Makes West Coast Premiere in Long Beach

Wendy MacLeod’s new play opens November 6 at the Beverly O’Neill Theater.

Long Beach’s International City Theatre (ICT) opens the West Coast premiere of Wendy MacLeod’s new comedy, The Laugh Track, running November 6 through November 22 at the Beverly O’Neill Theater. Directed by Brian Shnipper, the production offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creative team behind the iconic 1950s sitcom I Love Lucy, with preview performances scheduled for November 4 and 5.

Credit Taken From Credit Due

Inspired by Madelyn Pugh, one of television’s pioneer female writers. The play opens in 1957 as Pugh (Alli Brown) and her writing partner, Bob Carroll Jr. (Josh Odsess-Rubin), reflect on their time writing I Love Lucy. Through a series of flashbacks, the comedy portrays their working dynamic alongside stars Lucille Ball (Jennifer Sorensen), Desi Arnaz (Bill Mendieta), and studio executives (Hunter Bodine). The narrative explores the professional friction between the writing duo, including Carroll’s habit of letting Pugh type while taking credit for her jokes along with  the personal toll the show’s success took on Lucy and Desi’s marriage.

Obituary Inspired Comedy

Playwright Wendy MacLeod developed the piece after discovering Pugh’s obituary while researching early television history. MacLeod noted that Pugh’s career embodied several historic milestones: Pugh was among Hollywood’s first female TV writers, I Love Lucy featured one of television’s first depicted pregnancies, and Desi Arnaz was TV’s first immigrant leading man. Originally commissioned by Seattle’s ACT and developed at the Hedgebrook Women Playwrights Festival, The Laugh Track premiered at Maine’s Portland Stage Company in May 2026 prior to its West Coast debut.

Event Details & Ticket Information

The Laugh Track opens November 6 at the Beverly O’Neill Theater in the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, (330 East Seaside Way, Long Beach, CA.) It runs through November 22, Thursdays–Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. There are 2 preview performances on November 4–5 at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information all (562) 436-4610 or visit InternationalCityTheatre.org.