Parallel Process

Fifty years after America’s involvement in Vietnam, Robert Altman Jr. — son of legendary M*A*S*H director Robert Altman — is bringing a powerful new war drama to the stage. The world premiere of Parallel Process opens September 19 at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles and runs through October 26, 2025.

Written and directed by David Kohner Zuckerman, Parallel Process draws authenticity from extensive conversations with the plays Executive Producer, Vietnam veteran Lt. Lewis Finocchio (Ret.) and many other veterans. “Every Vietnam Veteran carries a secret,” says Finocchio. “Parallel Process digs deeper than ever before into the lives of two brothers who served together and the horrible secret they have been carrying. It is a soul-touching revelation of the conflict and resolution experienced by two veterans in their lives today.”

The play is about two estranged brothers — Dennis, a respected clinical psychologist, and Bobby, a former District Attorney — who are reunited decades after serving together in Vietnam. Bobby’s unexpected arrival forces them to confront the brutal childhood and wartime trauma they’ve long buried, along with a devastating shared secret that could shatter the life Dennis has built. As the night unfolds, their reunion becomes a tense battle of wills, peeling back layers of guilt, betrayal, and the moral injuries that still bleed long after the war’s end.

“We’ve told plenty of stories about the battles abroad,” says Zuckerman. “This one is about the battle that happens after you come home — the one fought in your own mind, your relationships, and your sense of who you are. Marking fifty years since America’s involvement in Vietnam is more than historical recognition — it’s a reminder that we’re still reckoning with that legacy today.”

The cast features Alan McRae (The West Wing) as Dennis; Eric Pierpoint (Liar Liar, Alien Nation) as Bobby; Vincent Gumbs (Angels in America) as Sam; Anabella Raye (FBI, daughter of actress Sela Ward) as Amanda; Peter Zizzo (Billions, Outrage) as Peterson; and Amy Biedel (The Midnight Club, Mamma Mia) as Colleen.

Parallel Process opens on Friday, September 19, with performances continuing on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. through October 26; $39 Reserved Seating. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to Vietnam Veterans of America. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90025. For more information, visit www.ParallelProcessThePlay.com.