“A liFe behind bars" returns to the Whitefire Theatre with benefit for the los Angeles fire department

A Life Behind Bars returns to The Whitefire Theatre as part of Solofest 2025. The show is scheduled for one performance at the Whitefire, on Thursday, February 27th at 8PM. In light of the tragic fires in Los Angeles, Ruth has changed his performance to be a full-on benefit for the Los Angeles Fire Department “I was becoming conflicted with promoting this show, with the current events here in Los Angeles,” Ruth said, “I had to do something. I remember the winter of 2017, seeing images of the 405 on fire, prompted me to raise money for the LAFD even before I ever performed here. Now that I live here, I decided to give all the proceeds to the LAFD once again. For those who know this show, they know the ending. For those who don’t, let’s just say that it has a great deal to do with Emergency Services Workers. I continue to be grateful for all first responders and all who put themselves in harms way, so that we can live and thrive.” In December, 2025, the show turns 10 years old. “It’s is amazing that A Life Behind Bars, which I opened for my 50th birthday in 2015 is still in demand. It’s such an incredible honor.” Ruth is looking to play in your town too, so contact Dan directly: lastageny@gmail.com

Dan Ruth is an Actor, Writer, Director and Storyteller who, before moving to Los Angeles, had called New York City his home since 1993. After years of working in the New York City restaurant/bar industry, Mr. Ruth has returned to his performance career with the autobiographical A Life Behind Bars, his latest biting & funny original solo work that focuses on the soul-sucking restaurant and service industries. A Life Behind Bars is a dark roller coaster comedy bar crawl. Through gritty storytelling, Ruth shares dark comic monologues, interwoven with characters he's encountered while working and drinking in the bars and dives of pre-Giuliani NYC. A Life Behind Bars is directed by multi award-winning performer-producer-director, Tanya Moberly.

“I refer to A Life Behind Bars as a “magic show in a bag” because it requires no tech apart from lights and sound. I’m in the business of transporting people and making them see things that aren’t there, without the aid of projections. There’s no magic if you can see the strings. My bar towel and I are always prepared to go anywhere in the world.” Ruth has been praised for the honesty, stamina and hilarious black humor that makes up the world of A Life Behind Bars. “It’s a light in the darkness. It’s an entertainment where the audience gets to leave feeling like a person again. No matter how far you’ve been brought down, you can get up and fight for your worth. I guess you could say it’s timely.” Ruth is busy with the show’s future as well. “I’m working on developing the piece for television. I have too many stories and there’s only so much you can fit into an hour and fifteen minute show.”

Before Covid struck, Ruth had brought A Life Behind Bars back to Pittsburgh, PA after three sell-out performances at Carnegie Stage in February of 2019 and a sell-out performance at City Winery in New York City in April, 2019. In January of 2018, Dan Ruth made his Los Angeles debut with A Life Behind Bars in association with the Whitefire Theatre SoloFest 2018 in Sherman Oaks. Later that June, he performed at the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival at the Lounge Theatre on Santa Monica Blvd. In July, he returned to Los Angeles once again where he was honored with a 2018 HFF Producers Encore Award. After performing a solid season at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, Ruth captured the 2018 MAC Award for “Best Spoken Word Artist” at B.B. King’s in New York City’s Time Square and was honored with the 2018 Bistro Award for “Outstanding Solo Play” at The Gotham Comedy Club. Dan Ruth was also honored with the 2018 Martha Hill Newell Playwright Fund Award. In 2016, Ruth performed at The Gutter Bar in Brooklyn and at Theatre Lab in Richmond, Va. before making his Off-Broadway debut at the United Solo Festival on Theatre Row, 42nd Street, NYC., where he won the award the 2016 Best Autobiographical Show award. A Life Behind Bars was first work shopped at the Abrons Center with Obie-award winning playwright and actor, David Drake. Dan Ruth’s A Life Behind Bars was first performed in front of a standing-room only crowd at Dixon Place, New York City on December 19th, 2015.

Dan has performed throughout New York City at The Courtyard Playhouse, The Hamlet of Bank Street, The West Bank Café (Laurie Beechman), The Duplex and Don’t Tell Mama, where he performed with long-time colleague Tanya Moberly in Fresh Brewed.  Dan served as core Director for multiple installations of The A-Train Plays at the Sanford Meisner Theatre and as both Director and Performer for the queer comedy troupe Planet Q, with their productions of Yabba Dabba Q and The History of the World Part Q. Original solo shows include White Noise and Once a Catholic at The Duplex, where he also staged a radio Foley-drama entitled Lights Out, based on the work of horror radio master, Arch Oboler.  Regionally, Dan has starred in productions of Brooklyn Boy, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Laughing Wild and Sex Drugs Rock & Roll.  Mr. Ruth is a member of Actors Equity and SAG-AFTRA and he holds a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University.