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The post Bruce Vilanch Attends The Opening Of ‘Carrie The Killer Musical Experience’ first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

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On March 26th and 27th, James Valletti, Stephenie Skyllas, and Hunter Chancellor will present invitation-only readings of RUBBLE, a comedy written by four-time Emmy Award-winning “The Simpsons” writer, Mike Reiss.

Directed by Valletti, RUBBLE will be headed by six-time Emmy Award-winning comic legend, Bruce Vilanch (“Hollywood Squares”).

Joining Vilanch is Jerry Adler (Fish in the Dark, “The Sopranos”), Constantine Maroulis (Jekyll and Hyde, Rock of Ages), Jason Jacoby (Avenue Q), Amy Wilson (The Last Night of Ballyhoo), and Jeff Still (Fish In The Dark, August: Osage County).

The story of RUBBLE is as follows: Alvin (Vilanch), an aging, down-on-his-luck comedy writer who — much to his chagrin — has narrowly escaped fortune, fame, and Emmy awards, is on a last-chance meeting with a network executive. During a spirited pitch of his new series idea, “My Brother, The Pope,” a massive earthquake hits LA, leaving him buried up to his neck in a pile of rubble. What ensues are a series of hilarious visits – from his older-and-more-useless-than-dirt agent Lee (Adler) and his ex-wife Brie (Wilson), to a pompous Dad (Still) and a singing and dancing Jesus (Maroulis). Will Alvin be saved from a miserable fate, or will it be “death by showbiz,” forgotten under a mound of trash on a studio lot while his agent makes reservations at The Olive Garden…? RUBBLE is a hilarious look at TV, theater, Heaven and Hell…from one who’s been there.

Incidental music is by Christopher Howatt, casting is by Daryl Eisenberg Casting. Management services for the reading are by Stephenie Skyllas/Hunter Chancellor and Brierpatch Productions, and the Stage Manager is Alex Hajjar.

The post Bruce Vilanch to Lead SIMPSONS Writer Mike Reiss’ RUBBLE Reading Next Week first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

“Celebrity Autobiography” just might be one of the most successful shows you’ve never heard of.

The comedy – actors read from celebrity memoirs live onstage – has run for five sold-out years in New York City, landed a 2009 Drama Desk Award and toured all over the United States. It arrives at West Palm Beach’s Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Jan. 28-Feb.1.

The ever-revolving talent roster has included Ryan Reynolds, Debbie Harry, Matthew Broderick, Will Forte, Kristin Wiig, Brooke Shields, Nathan Lane, Dick Cavett, Rosie Perez and Tony Danza.

In West Palm Beach, the cast will include Lainie Kazan (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “My Favorite Year,” “Beaches”) and Gary Beach (“The Producers,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “La Cage aux Folles”). Bruce Vilanch (“Hairspray,” writer for the Emmys, Tonys and Oscars) will appear in the Saturday matinee show.

“Celebrity Autobiography” started when wife-and-husband co-creators Dayle Reyfel and Eugene Pack, both television writers and producers, had some friends go onstage in L.A. and try the concept out in front of an audience. It was an instant hit.

“We just got about 12 friends together and we read excerpts,” explains Reyfel. “[The theater owner] was so blown away by the audience’s reaction he wanted us there every week.”

Pack recalls, “Years ago, 10 years ago or even more, I came across a hard-cover edition of ‘Vanna Speaks‘ by Vanna White, her memoir. I went through the book and there’s this one chapter where she talks in detail about how challenging it is to flip the panels on ‘The Wheel of Fortune.’ And my background in comedy kicked in. I thought, what if you were to read this out loud…what would be the reaction?”

The reaction was lines around the block, particularly when the show went overseas in London and Sydney, Australia.

“I think that mainly because people understood what this was,” says Reyfel. “The show had a reputation already and people knew what they were coming to see.”

What they are seeing are famous people, script in hand, reading from autobiographies. For the South Florida run, famous snowbirds such as Tiger Woods, Jennifer Lopez, Burt Reynolds, Ricky Martin and Joe Namath will have their words in the spotlight alongside word-for-word snippets from the likes of Bieber and Beyonce.

“The concept of the show is that we have a lot of celebrity performers getting onstage and acting out other actors’ memoirs,” says Pack. “But when you read it out loud, it’s just astounding what people have written. It’s not only funny, but fascinating and dramatic.”

But the show adds drama by having multiple memoirs read together, forming a scene, as is the case with the Richard Burton/Elizabeth Taylor/DebbieReynolds/Eddie Fisher scandal (“It’s he said, she said, she said, he said,” says Pack.)

Reyfel explains further, “The Liz Taylor, Debbie Reynolds, Eddie Fisher thing, that’s like a Rashomon three-act play where everyone has a different point of view and we merge them back together.”

That theatrical staging is also given to the Burt Reynolds/Loni Anderson saga.

“One of our big pieces is we combine autobiographies from Burt Reynolds, Loni Anderson and Burt Reynolds’ secretary, who wrote a book about him,” says Pack. “Again, it’s he said, she said, she said.”

Reyfel adds, “And a lot of it takes place in Jupiter, Florida.”

The show also puts autobiographies into groupings such as sport stars and foodies. “Neil Sedaka, that was a gem from the beginning because he just talks about what he eats for every single meal,” says Reyfel.

And the material in the show is in a constant state of flux.

“We’re always adding new pieces to the show,” explains Pack. “We like to keep it current. But we also like to dig deep into things like Zsa Zsa slapping the cop. People love hearing those classic stories. You’d be astounded how many memoirs come out for us to comb through, like very week. Miley Cyrus has a book out already.”

But no matter what celebrity they focus on or where they perform, there is one constant with the audience according to Pack: “They always ask, ‘You made that up on the spot. It was improvisation, right?’ I always answer, ‘Seriously, we could not make up this stuff if we tried.’ ”

“Celebrity Autobiography” runs Jan. 28-Feb. 1 at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $38. To order, call 561-832-7469 or go to Kravis.org.

The post Bruce Vilanch Heads Celebrity Autobiography Jan. 28-Feb. 1 first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

ROCK CITY FALLS — The Mansion Inn, located 7 miles west of Saratoga Springs at 801 Route 29, will host a full dinner /cabaret series this summer.

The Stars are out Tonight takes place at |8 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday beginning July 18 and continuing through Aug. 23.

The series brings six exceptional performers to the area each for two performances.

Opening the series is the incomparable Bruce Vilanch, the hairiest Hollywood Square. In his show “Free Lapband Dances,” this multiple Emmy-winning star of Broadwayâ€s “Hairspray” and writer of 23 Academy Award shows on TV, has all the stories about all the people you love to hate and hate to love … and a few others.

Musician and comedian Camille West takes the stage July 25 and 26 as she performs “Empty Nest, Full Bladder,” a side-splitting peek inside the world of a modern American suburban mother from hell. She will stir your heart and your funny bone.

Back by popular demand after earning raves from sold-out crowds in 2011, Michael Walters returns as Dame Edna Aug. 1 and 8. Walters is the longest running Dame Edna impersonator with the blessing of her creator, Barry Humphries. Sequins blaze and punch lines fly as our favorite Saucy Aussie re-creates a Dame Edna Broadway extravaganza. Not to be missed.

Singer and actor Michael Walters performs Aug. 2 and 9 for an evening of show-stopping songs and hilarious stories. Having starred in more than 75 musicals across the nation, his powerful baritone will thrill you as he re-enacts some of his favorite roles. Mix that with his personal account of working with some of Broadwayâ€s legendary stars, and youâ€ve got one tunefully daring and side-splittingly funny tour-de-force.

Cabaret entertainer and Tony nominee Sharon McNight will be on stage Aug. 15 and 16 as she debuts “The First 30 Years; an Introspective Retrospect from Moose Hall to Carnegie Hall.” Known for her sardonic comedic style and eclectic mix of song selection, McKnight shares her experience from standing on a stage made from beer cases to starring on Broadway.

The ultimate NYC jazz/cabaret performer, Billy Stritch, concludes the summer series Aug. 23. This award-winning composer, arranger, vocalist and jazz pianist of extraordinary range and sophistication breathes new life into the Great American Songbook. He will bring his tribute to one of the legendary singers of all time to the Mansion stage — Mel Torme.

Admission is $25 with a $10 food/drink minimum per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., with a full bar and bistro dinner menu; performances follow at 8.

For tickets, call 518-|885-1607 or go to www.TheMansionSaratoga.com.

Shows are intimate with only 150 seats, advanced reservations are urged.

The post Bruce Vilanch Brings “Free Lapband Dances” To The Mansion Inn first appeared on We Got Bruce!.