Wicked Local
The vociferous voice of Bruce Vilanch
By Loren King
Sat Aug 23, 2008, 02:37 PM EDT

PROVINCETOWN -

Bruce Vilanch is the go-to guy for great jokes in Hollywood. Whether punching up an Oscar telecast or Bette Midler’s Vegas act, Vilanch’s ribald, irreverent and very gay wit is legendary. Now, Vilanch turns his insider’s eye and writer’s pen to his own material, bringing his autobiographical “sit-down” (as opposed to stand-up) act to Provincetown’s Madeira Room at Vixen Aug. 22 and 23.

“It’s a queen behind the scenes,” quips Vilanch about his solo show. And there’s plenty to talk about. Vilanch’s resumé includes nearly two decades of writing for the Academy Awards telecasts, collaborating with Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman and others. He became head writer in 2000, and supervised this year’s Oscars with host Jon Stewart, working feverishly to mount a show after a prolonged writers’ strike threatened to cancel the entire event. Vilanch has written for all the major industry awards shows, but admits that “the Oscars and the Tonys are the fun ones.” He’s currently developing “something unusual” with Blue Man Group, which he describes as “a New York interactive sight-seeing experience.”

Vilanch’s long association with Bette Midler — he’s credited with introducing the Sophie Tucker jokes to Midler’s stage act back in the ’70s — will no doubt provide plenty of anecdotes, too. Vilanch worked closely with Midler on her current Las Vegas show, “The Showgirl Must Go On,” that opened earlier this year at Caesar’s Palace. She alternates at Caesar’s Palace with Cher and Elton John.

“It’s very gay,” says Vilanch. “The men’s room attendant is Larry Craig.”

No stranger to Provincetown, Vilanch, 59, performed last summer in a benefit for the New Provincetown Players organized by his friend Shawn Nightingale, the new owner of Vixen.

He was a big part of the Provincetown International Film Festival in 2000 when “Get Bruce,” a documentary about his career, premiered. He enjoyed the festivities that year with another gay bon vivant, John Waters, who was presenting a film at the Wellfleet Drive-in. The two quip-masters crossed career paths again in 2003 when Vilanch joined the national touring company of the mega-hit musical “Hairspray,” based on Waters’ popular movie. After touring with the show across the U.S. (Vilanch appeared in Boston at the Colonial Theater, a high point of the tour for him) Vilanch made his Broadway debut after Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein left the long-running show.

“I’d go back to ‘Hairspray’ in a minute, but they’re not paying what they used to,” said Vilanch from his home in Los Angeles. “I’m actively looking for a stage role. I’ve had a few false starts. It’s hard to find the right role. All the Zero Mostel revivals have already been done with Nathan Lane.”

With a cherubic smile under a fuzzy beard, mop of unruly hair, and his trademark eccentric eyewear and T-shirts, Vilanch endeared himself to middle America during his tenure on “Hollywood Squares” from 1998 to 2003. Hired by pal Goldberg as the game show’s head writer, Vilanch soon earned a spot as a “square” and became popular with viewers for his Paul Lynde-esque double entendres and jokes far gayer than anything Lynde could get away with back in the day. Vilanch often did battle with the network censors over the friskier material, and he often won.

“The success of ‘Squares’ was nine celebrities having a party,” says Vilanch, noting that such success has been difficult for other game show revivals, such as “The Match Game” and “To Tell the Truth,” to replicate. “I think ‘What’s My Line’ would work today but there’s nothing quite like ‘Squares,’” he says. The game show he’d most like to bring back, he says, is “Masquerade Party,” a popular 1950s show that featured a panel of celebrities that questioned another celebrity in disguise.

Vilanch’s own tastes in television include police procedurals such as “Law & Order,” “CSI” and “The Closer,” along with “Mad Men” and Showtimes’ “Weeds” and “The Tudors.”

As the writer for variety shows like the original “Donny and Marie” and “The Brady Bunch Hour,” Vilanch laments that except for awards and chat shows, variety has all but disappeared from TV, except for “reality” competitions like “Dancing with the Stars” and “American Idol.” Vilanch doubts that today’s 500-channel universe would welcome a non-competitive variety hour. “What made variety so special was that audiences saw performers that they could not see anywhere else,” he says. “Now you can see the Jonas Brothers seven days a week, on Regis then Ellen and then on Martha Stewart. There’s no scarcity anymore.”

But show biz aficionados can relive glory days past and present this weekend at Vixen through Vilanch’s unique, and very funny, perspective.

Get Bruce
Wicked Gay Blog
by Dave

Is there a funnier gay man than Bruce Vilanch? Hollywood’s favorite joke writer (he writes the repartee for the Oscars) and Broadway performer (think “Hairspray”) returns to Provincetown for two nights.

Vilanch will likely tell tales about the rich and famous he chums with (Bette Midler, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Nathan Lane), as well as some known in different circles (ChiChi Larue, Jeff Stryker, for whom he wrote a one-man show that was performed last summer in Ptown). No doubt he’ll be wearing a t-shirt of note from his vast collection.

Friday, August 21, 2008 at 8:30 PM at UU Meeting House, 236 Commercial St., Provincetown, Mass. (Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.)

Hyler in critical condition after crash
Variety
Manager-producer hit by car on Friday night
By CYNTHIA LITTLETON
August 17. 2008

Manager-producer Joan Hyler remained in critical condition Sunday at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after she was hit by a car on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on Friday night.

Hyler sustained “severe and multiple injuries” after being struck by a passing car as she headed to a home in the area, according to information posted on the hospital’s website by Hyler’s family. The report said she was in the intensive care unit but able to respond to doctors’ instructions. A hospital spokesman confirmed that she was in critical condition as of Sunday morning.

Joan Hyler Management reps a range of thesps and scribes including Diane Lane, Eric McCormack, Alfred Molina, Amber Tamblyn and Bruce Vilanch. A former top agent at WMA and ICM, Hyler is a past proxy of Women in Film.

‘Celebrity Autobiography’ sets stars
Series of comic readings begins Sept. 8
By GORDON COX

Sherri Shepherd, Cheyenne Jackson, Kristen Johnston, Bruce Vilanch, Bob Balaban, Rachel Dratch, Michael Urie and BD Wong are among the rotating roster of performers who will have a stint in “Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words,” sitting down for an open-ended Gotham run beginning Sept. 8.

A series of comic readings of celeb autobiographies by the likes of Burt Reynolds, Mr. T, Loni Anderson, Madonna and Star Jones, “Celebrity Autobiography” originated in L.A. and has played a couple of perfs in New York already, beginning with an Actors’ Fund benefit last year.

Show will run Monday nights at the Triad Theater on the Upper West Side. Angelo Fraboni, Peter Martin, Eugene Pack and Dayle Reyfel produce.

Playbill.com
LA Sunset Strips to Benefit Actors Fund and AIDS Project Los Angeles
By Andrew Gans
August 12, 2008

LA Sunset Strips, a one-night-only event that will benefit both the Actors Fund of America and AIDS Project Los Angeles, will be held Sept. 14 at the Hollywood nightspot BOULEVARD3.

“More than 100 super-talented, super-sexy, professional dancers from the film, television, stage, and music video community . . . will strut, tease, and bare it (mostly) all” for the two charities, according to press notes.

Travis Payne and David Galligan will direct the evening, which will feature musical direction by Michael Brennan and Bryan Perri.

Leslie Jordan, Wilson Cruz, Jai Rodriguez, Bruce Vilanch and cast members from “Sordid Lives: The Series” are scheduled to make guest appearances. Choreographers for the benefit include Mandy Moore, Travis Payne, Tovaris Wilson, Brian Thomas, Fred Tallaksen, Lee Martino, Snow, Eva La Dare, Robert James Hoffman III, Paula Harrison, Sideswipe, Aisha Francis, Dondraico Johnson, Miguel Zarate and aerialist Eric Newton from “Eye of Newt Circus.”

The evening will begin at 6:30 PM with a cocktail reception for super VIP and VIP ticket holders followed by the 8 PM show. A dance party, featuring DJ Magic Wong and ROCK1, will continue until midnight.

BOULEVARD3 is located at 6523 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, CA. Tickets, priced $40-$160, are available by visiting www.apla.org or by calling (866) 679-0958.

For more information go to www.actorsfund.org.

Hello friends:

Exciting news!! You will now be able to see more of Bruce Vilanch whenever you want!

Netflix members: Click here to visit the exclusive Logo section and rent Wisecrack Season One and OutLaugh on Wisecrack now!

Not a member? Click here to see what you’re missing!

Go now, check out the trailers, and add them your rental list!

And don’t forget to check Logo Online: Click Here

Much love and renting,

Mister D

Bay Area Reporter
Bringing Out The Stars For Help Is On The Way
By Sister Dana Van Iquity
Published: August 7, 2008

Celebrity look-alikes in a crowd of celebrities

The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation held its 14th major fundraiser, Help Is on the Way, on Aug. 3 at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre. The theme this time was “Blame It on the Movies.” It was a benefit for five AIDS service organizations - Aguilas, Larkin Street Youth Services, Meals of Marin, Positive Resource Center, and Vital Life Services.

At the VIP party before the show, to give a special movie ambiance, many volunteers dressed like movie stars or characters – both dead and alive – including Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, James Bond, Austin Powers, Dumbledore, Marlene Dietrich, and Jack Nicholson. After producers Ken Henderson and Joe Seiler and movie maven Jan Wahl gave welcoming remarks, the show began. Vicki Lewis and Jai Rodriguez sang “Just Go to the Movies” from Jerry Herman’s A Day in Hollywood/ A Night in the Ukraine (1980), acting like ushers for the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Joan Ryan had amazing breath control during “Follow Me” (Camelot) and the title song from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. Paula West gave her usual special jazzy touch to “Isn’t It Romantic” from Rodgers & Hart’s Love Me Tonight. From Pal Joey, Marilu Henner sang hilarious rewritten contemporary lyrics to Rita Hayworth’s stripper song, “Zip.” For instantce, John Travolta, Tom Cruise, and Clay Aiken were targets as being closeted.

Ricki Lake sang while her son played guitar backup for Melissa Etheridge’s “You Can Sleep While I Drive” from Where the Day Takes You. Past American Idol finalists RJ Helton and Vonzell Solomon dueted on “Somewhere Out There” from the animated mouse movie, An American Tail. Kimberley Locke, second runner-up from American Idol – Season Two, gave a super sultry rendition of an old classic, “The Man That Got Away” from A Star Is Born with flawless phrasing. Choreographers/ dancers Cate Caplin and Gary Franco did a wild, wacky routine with “Why Don’t You Do Right” from the cartoon movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, where he was a nerd and she was the luscious Jessica Rabbit.

Maureen McGovern sang the song that put her on the movie map, “The Morning After” from the submarine disaster classic, The Poseidon Adventure. Her voice rang every bit as true as back when that Oscar-winning song hit the top of the charts. Vicki Lewis returned to go all Babs on us with “I’m the Greatest Star” from Funny Girl. Rita Moreno was a total hoot when she reprised her kooky Googie Gomez role from the bathhouse bonanza, The Ritz, purposely singing as badly and in as broken English as she did as the guest entertainer singing and dancing to “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” Absolutely hilarious! Rent that movie if you can. And props go to our own drag star Garza in man-drag doing backup dancing.

Act two began with eight of the Barbary Coast Cloggers stomping and romping on the stage - cowboy style. After their clogging they carried out Bruce Vilanch, who dragged a twenty-foot red boa behind him to do a gender-bending Madeline Kahn version of her Marlene Dietrich impression in “I’m Tired” from Blazing Saddles. Vilanch camped it up (are we surprised??) as the laziest gal in town. Lauren Wood played keyboards and sang a beautiful “Fallen” from Pretty Woman. Caplin and Franco returned to do homage to Kim Novac and William Holden in the title music from Picnic, followed by “Moonglow.” Rita McKenzie, proud New Jerseyite, did a monologue about her growing up worshipping Ethel Merman, and then sang the title song from Alexander’s Ragtime Band – with that belt-out Merm bellowing. Jai Rodriguez returned to do a same-sex version of the love song from Dreamgirls, “Love You I Do” with that gorgeous Broadway tenor voice. Vonzell Solomon came back to do the gut-wrenching Whitney song, “I Have Nothing” from The Bodyguard. American Idol’s Constantine Maroulis reprised his famous version of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” from the movie, Wayne’s World. Also from AI, large and in charge Frenchie Davis sang a riveting “I Am Changing” from Dreamgirls. Maureen McGovern did a second sensational song, the title song from The Way We Were, but first she did a moving monologue about how things used to be, and who we have lost to AIDS. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. McGovern then brought out the entire cast to sing together a rousing finale - the theme song of REAF, “Help Is on the Way, (so don’t give up your dreams).”

My only complaint regarding the show was there was no use of the big screen to show close-ups of the performers, as in former shows. While it was lovely to see the screen used to flash movie posters while the stars sang and danced, I would have preferred to see the performers only or maybe both.

At the after-party, several stars were kind enough to give me little interviews. Marilu Henner explained that she and her brother Lorin Henner found the necessity of updating the lyrics to “Zip,” saying, “Just two days ago we wrote it and choreographed it.” She added, “Lorin is a fabulous author, teacher, dancer, and choreographer.” She said she had a gay uncle and, “I’ve always loved gay men, and hopefully I have a gay following.” This was Kimberly Locke’s third REAF appearance. “I love to sing the songs of Judy Garland,” she bubbled. She said she is getting ready for the holidays with a new Christmas CD and is thrilled that her single, “Fall,” just went number one on the charts. Rita Moreno was anything but Googie after the show, saying very seriously, “I think all of us who are lucky enough to have our health and a comfortable life owe it to the rest of us - who don’t – to do whatever we can.”

She said she despised the show biz phrase, “giving back.” She snapped, “Giving back? What the hell did I take away?! I’m simply involving myself in something at a humanitarian event – which is a tiny tiny drop in the bucket. But when you get an enormous amount of performers who do the same thing, it becomes very important and very big.” Mz Moreno certainly said a mouthful!!!

Mister D: There are 60 minutes of extras on the DVD including Mitzi and Bruce Vilanch Live in San Francisco 2008

Mitzi Gaynor DVD ‘Razzle Dazzle’ Available 11/18
Back to the Article
by BWW News Desk

Before there was TV’s hit Dancing With The Stars, there was Mitzi Gaynor — the original television star dancer! Mitzi Gaynor dazzled audiences with her annual award winning network television variety spectaculars, from 1968 to 1978, averaging over 30 million viewers each, showcasing the singing, dancing and comedic talents that made her a star in the theatre, film, television, nightclub and concert worlds.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of her first televised special (Mitzi, NBC, 1968) and the 50th anniversary of her break-through Golden Globe nominated performance in the blockbuster film Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific, City Lights Home Entertainment in association with Green Isle, Inc. is releasing “Mitzi Gaynor – Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years,” a new documentary encompassing the ultimate collection of song and dance performances from Gaynor’s classic network television specials unseen for three decades.

The acclaim and accolades continue: Tonight, July 30, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presents “TV Moves — Live!” A salute to 60 years of dance on television, for Los Angeles’ John Anson Ford Amphitheater, Gaynor is the evening’s special guest; the night will include a montage of highlights from her specials, an onstage interview by Kenny Ortega, and a dance recreation of the “Poor Papa” number from her second (1969) television special; two of her original dancers, Alton Ruff and Randy Doney, will join the other dancers on stage, performing together for the first time since 1973.

Available on November 18, 2008, “Mitzi Gaynor – Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years” provides a reflective and entertaining glimpse into television variety at its zenith and takes a nostalgic trip through Gaynor’s special television years in a look at the groundbreaking performances, extraordinary costumes and triple threat talent of Mitzi Gaynor in a wealth of digitally remastered clips, rare photos and footage from Gaynor’s personal archive which illuminate the behind-the-scenes stories and impact of these landmark television events.

“Mitzi Gaynor – Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years” features numbers choreographed by some of film and theatrical dance world’s most influential choreographers, including Peter Gennaro (Tony-winner for Annie, and co-choreographer with Jerome Robbins for West Side Story), Danny Daniels (Tony-winner, The Tap Dance Kid), Robert Sidney (The Dean Martin Show) and Tony Charmoli (Woman of the Year).
In addition to the highlights of Gaynor’s classic performances are new interviews with Gaynor herself, world renowned Emmy® winning costume designer Bob Mackie, Tony-winner Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked, Pushing Daisies), director/choreographer Tony Charmoli, dancers Alton Ruff and Randy Doney (who performed with Mitzi on the road and in her TV specials), Nine-time Emmy® Award winning comedy legend Carl Reiner, best-selling author and critic Rex Reed, and Tony nominee Kelli O’Hara, currently starring on Broadway as “Nellie Forbush” in the 2008 Tony Award® winning version of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific, the role made famous by Mitzi Gaynor in the 1958 film version.
At the 1967 Academy Awards® Mitzi Gaynor made a dazzling appearance before 65 million viewers, becoming one of the most sought after performers in television. Her first television special, Mitzi, was broadcast a year later in October, 1968; critical reaction was universally over-the-moon in praise. During the next decade she continued to deliver her unique brand of performing magic to the millions of viewers who looked forward to her annual television events.

“Mitzi Gaynor – Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years” will be syndicated nationally to public television stations this fall marketed as a special vehicle for local major market pledge drives. The DVD release will feature over 60 minutes of DVD “extras” not seen in the Public Television version including full performances.DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

8 Extended Glittering
Musical Performances
“Mitzi and Mackie: Look Back in Fashion!” featurette
“Uncensored and Unseen”:
Mitzi’s Egyptian Dance
Mitzi is “The Kid”:
2 Full-Length Performances
Mitzi and Friends Salute
Sondheim’s “Company”
“Mitzi & George Hamilton at the Movies” Full-Length Comedy Sequence from Mitzi’s 1968 Special
Razzle Dazzle Photo Gallery
Mitzi and Bruce Vilanch Live in San Francisco 2008
5.1 Audio – Dolby Digital
Digitally Remastered and Restored

Street Date: November 18, 2008

DVD Order Due Date: October 21, 2008

DVD Pricing: $24.98

Feature Running Time: 105 minutes

Bay Windows
Ocean State is awash in film
by Brian Jewell
arts writer
Thursday Jul 31, 2008

Providence hosts international, GLBT film fests

The twelfth annual Rhode Island International Film Festival opens on Aug. 5 and with nearly 300 films screening over six days all over downtown Providence, phrases like “there’s something for everyone” are insufficient. The real problem facing cinemaphiles is what not to see amongst the screenings, workshops, and special appearances. Just a few of the highlights include in-person appearances by actors Richard Jenkins, Blythe Danner and John Ratzenberger; 58 world premieres; and a two-day long forum for New England filmmakers.

Bay Windows readers will want to pay special attention to the queer sub-festival, The Providence GLBT Film Fest. Also in its 12th year, this subset of RIFF has a long history of supporting queer voices in film. This year’s 27 offerings represent the diversity of our community with dramas, documentaries and mockumentaries telling stories of Rhode Island drag queens, politics, surviving high school, surviving cancer and much more.

Highlights include two of the hottest films on this year’s film festival circuit, Tru Loved and Were the World Mine. Stewart Wade’s Tru Loved, which was recently picked up for a theatrical release, is a heartwarming drama about a feisty teen with two mommies who sets out to make her new high school a safe space for queer kids. Featuring a talented young cast supported by gay faves like Bruce Vilanch, Jane Lynch and Alec Mapa, this is truly a film for the whole family … or “family.” Were the World Mine is the impressive feature debut of writer/director Thomas Gustafson. A glittery gay fantasy, complete with musical numbers and Shakespearian allusions, the much-buzzed-about movie takes a lighter-hearted look at coming out in high school.

The fest also boasts an new film by out actor Dan Butler. In the mockumentary Karl Rove, I Love You, Butler prepares for a role as the Republican strategist so obsessively that he falls in love with his subject. Director Casper Andreas returns to the Fest in a more serious mood than last year’s A Four Letter Word with the edgy family drama Between Love & Goodbye.

A robust selection of queer themed documentaries includes the fashion tell-all Eleven Minutes, which follows Project Runway winner Jay McCarroll’s road to New York Fashion Week; the slick flick Bi the Way, a look at the possibilities in the middle of the Kinsey scale; Out Late, which presents moving stories of people who came out of the closet after the age of 55; Bailey-Boushay House, a history of the grassroots effort to establish the first residential facility for people living with AIDS; and Out in India, the “activist-adventures” of two Americans working to help HIV awareness efforts in India.

A portion of ticket sales at the Providence GLBT Film Festival will be donated to the Bell Street Chapel, to help fund its LGBT outreach efforts. For tickets and more information, visit www.film-festival.org.