An Original Solo Musical. A contemporary ballet. It’s opening night of The Threepenny Opera in Berlin, 1928 when Kurt Weill steps into Lotte Lenya’s dressing room and drops a bombshell that her name is not in the program. Absolutely furious, Kurt demands they cancel the opening night performance. Lenya laughs in his face. She has been through far worse than this in her traumatic past. Lotte Lenya grew up in a slum, beaten repeatedly by a cruel father, endured hunger and crushing poverty, rape, and repeatedly found herself in morally compromising positions as she struggled to survive and advance herself.

 She’s come so far, and now that she has her dream role, Kurt must allow her to go on stage and sing. But will he? Infusing a new contemporary score composed by two time off Broadway award winner Shelley Cooper, contemporary choreography, with dazzling multimedia, this solo musical dance show takes a gritty look at a woman who fled her abusive home, and survived adversity. Where voice meets movement. Where story becomes motion. 

As seen at…

Shelley Cooper
Shelley Cooper
Shelley Cooper
  • Shelley Cooper

    Best Dance and Physical Theatre Show Nominee Hollywood Fringe

  • Shelley Cooper

    Best of Feury Best Musical Nominee

  • Shelley Cooper

    Mahidol University (Bangkok) Resident Artist Grant

  • Shelley Cooper

    Best of Feury Best Solo Show Nominee

  • Shelley Cooper

    Official Selection for Binge Fringe at Santa Monica Playhouse

The Hollywood Reporter Feature

“Speaking of which, in the solo musical Rag Doll on a Bomb Site, dancer, singer, actor Shelley Cooper weaves a poetic spell that really does create a sense that you’re watching Austrian-American actress Lotte Lenya make her way in 1928 Berlin.”

Shelley Cooper
  • “Shelley is an accomplished actor and vocalist, whose stage presence is captivating.”

    -The Hollywood Times

  • “Shelley Cooper is a strong beautiful, and insanely powerful presence.”

    -Noho Arts

  • “Every person in the audience was captivated by Cooper’s stunning voice.”

    -All About Solo

  • “Cooper delivers on every level.”

    -Theatre Pizzazz

  • “Shelley Cooper captures La Divina perfectly. Her dry humour, her poise, her power and her beautiful beautiful voice."

    -Noho Arts

  • "Strong, pure and infused with a magic that cannot be explained.”

    -Noho Arts

  • "This performer is a true Triple Threat."

    -Larchmont Buzz

  • "Bu using her new musical score, and by adding choreography, Shelley shares her wealth of talent with us by giving an amazing performance."

    -Discover Hollywood

  • "Cooper does not disappoint."

    -Larchmont Buzz

  • "A gut-punch of raw emotion."

    -Larchamont Buzz

FAQs

  • New one-woman show on Lotte Lenya, Austrian Actress, muse of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht. The show takes place backstage of opening night of The Threepenny Opera in Berlin 1928, when Lenya is told her name is not in the program.

  • It is a one women show.

  • Yes! You can book the show for your theatre, company, event, etc. You can email me HERE for more info.

UPCOMING

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UPCOMING -


Shelley Cooper

The Blackbox Theatre, August 29 at 7:30


Out of 416 Shows, Rag Doll on a Bomb Site was selected for the…

Shelley Cooper

10th Annual BFF Festival

4:00 pm on Saturday, November 1, 2025 @ The Santa Monica Playhouse


FOLLOW ALONG

FOLLOW ALONG ⋆


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