Chilina Kennedy, who recently departed the titular role in Broadway’s “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” has signed on to lead “A Sign of the Times” as part of Delaware Theater Company’s 40th anniversary season. The musical, which had its world premiere at Goodspeed Musicals in 2016, features the songbook of recording artist Petula Clark, and a book by six-time Emmy Award winner Bruce Vilanch. Gabriel Barre directs the production, which will also star Drew Seeley, Crystal Lucas-Perry, and Ryan Silverman. Performances will begin Nov. 28 and are slated to run through Dec. 23.

The post Delaware audiences are in for a theatrical treat. Bruce Vilanch’s Musical “A Sign of the Times” Is Coming! first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

SHOWINGS

EVENT DETAILS

The post COMEDIAN BRUCE VILANCH PRESENTED BY BLACK BOX PRODUCTIONS, OCT 5, 2018, Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Aventura, FL, On Sale ON SALE 07.17.18 12:00 PM first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

President/Founder of The Hollywood Museum, Donelle Dadigan, along with Council Member Mitch O’Farrell and Board President Esteban Montemayor of Christopher Street West, kicked off Pride weekend with the annual “Real to Reel” exhibit that shines the spotlight on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ) community in television and film through the decades. This year’s event also feature a special recognition with The Future of Hollywood Award presented to actress Stephanie Beatriz and the Legacy Award to TONY Award winning actress, Julie Newmar.

“I was thrilled to attend The Hollywood Museum for the opening of the REAL TO REEL exhibit the other evening, to kick off Gay Pride here in L.A,” said Geri Jewell of Deadwood fame. “It was wonderful coming together with friends and colleagues in support of another part of the spectrum of diversity.”

Reminiscent of Mae West, Ms Julie Newmar was carried on stage in the arms of two bodybuilders, stating “This what happens when you’re a legacy. You don’t have to walk anywhere. You are carried.”

“Thank you all for this lovely tribute,” she added. “It’s so wonderful to receive it in this building, the old Max Factor salon, where for so many years so many of the greats found their external beauty and also discovered their internal beauty. Donelle Dadigan (Founder/President of the Hollywood Museum, formerly The Max Factor Studios) has given the world a priceless time capsule for generations to enjoy for years to come. Im particularly thrilled to get this recognition right now in the midst of the Me Too and Times Up moment of our history,” remarked Ms Newmar.

“I always had my own way of dealing with those situations. First of all, I was taller than most of the men. So right away, I had an advantage. And one of my early roles, on Broadway and on film, was a gal called Stupefyin Jones in LI’l ABNER. Men saw her and they turned to stone. And this was before Viagra. I think some of them thought I actually had that power. And perhaps I did. Im also delighted to receive this acknowledgment in conjunction with all the LGBT pride activities here at the Museum and around the country this month. Of course, there has always been a strong LGBT presence in my life … even BEFORE Catwoman. But to be reminded of it at this critical time, and to know that it is indeed part of my legacy, and that my legacy is not only an artistic one, but one of feminine strength, power and, lets never forget, fun thats a very, very good thing and it fills me with overwhelming gratitude.”

Honoree, Ms Stephanie Beatriz, commented on similarities of her Brooklyn Nine-Nine character, Rosa Diaz’s sexual identity struggles and her own experiences since she came out to family and friends about her own life. “Just like Rosa, I found support from my friends and colleagues, but less so from my family and the Latin community.”

The Hollywood Museum’s REAL to REEL: Portrayals and Perceptions of LGBTQs in Hollywood exhibition opened to the public on Friday, June 8th, to coincide with the annual Christopher Street West Pride activities. Spanning 100 years, the 2018 exhibit is a salute to the LGBTQ community’s contributions to the entertainment industry. Now, in its fifth successful year, the REAL to REEL: Portrayals and Perceptions of LGBTQ in Hollywood exhibit, is offered in partnership with Los Angeles City Council member Mitch O’Farrell (CD-13) and LA Pride, as an educational, entertaining and informative retrospective of LGBTQ images in film, TV, new digital platforms featuring costumes, props, photos, and iconic imagery all telling the story of the milestones and influence that LGBTQ characters and plot lines have had in Hollywood from early stereotypes in silent films to modern-day representations. Additionally, REAL to REEL celebrates LGBTQ Icons by paying homage to those individuals who support the LGBTQ community.

“We are both honored and humbled by the response to last nights program for the 5th annual REAL to REEL exhibit opening. The outpouring of love and positiveness was shared by both the entertainment and LGBTQ communities. The words of inspiration from actress Stephanie Beatriz, the Future of Hollywood Award recipient, blessed all that were in attendance and the overwhelming applause and response to comments from our Legacy Award honoree, TONY Award winning actress Julie Newmar, was worthy of her iconic stature. We are grateful to Council member Mitch O’Farrell and LAPD Assistant Chief Beatrice Girmala, LA City Controller Ron Galperin and Board President Esteban Montemayor of Christopher Street West for their trust in us. Without their integrity and support, all this effort would mean nothing.”- Donelle Dadigan (President/Founder of The Hollywood Museum)

The Hollywood Museum’s presentation places the exhibit in the historical context of Hollywood, which is home to a large LGBTQ entertainment industry population. The exhibit revisits monumental LGBTQ moments in history with Rev. Troy Perry, including the Black Cat riots (1967), and the infamous sign that once hung at the entrance of West Hollywood’s Barney’s Beanery. Exhibit highlights include costumes from Transparent, How to Get Away with Murder, Brokeback Mountain, Superstore, The Walking Dead, Empire, Trans America, Sordid Lives, Cruising, Orange is the New Black, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Ray Donovan, Mad Men, Arrested Development, Cabaret, K-11, After Forever, Orphan Black, Roseanne, Will & Grace, To Wong Fu Julie Newmar, etc. Additional exhibit items include famous costumes from Hollywood’s leading designers; Mr. Blackwell, Bob Mackie, Ret Turner, Nolan Miller, Zac Posen, Rudolf Nureyev and Edith Head to Project Runway with Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum, as well as Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful, Scandal, Two in a Half Men, True Blood, The Good Wife, much more. This year’s exhibit also includes, LGBTQ Icons including Judy Garland, Betty Davis, Joan Crawford, Elizabeth Taylor, Cher, Rock Hudson, Liza Minnelli, James Dean, Bette Midler, Ramon Navarro, Rudolf Valentino, Charles Laughton, Sam Harris, Bruce Vilanch, Sherman Hemsley, Geri Jewell, Jerry Herman, Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner and many more.

Recording artist Roslyn Kind exclaimed, “What a GREAT Evening at The Hollywood Museum and the perfect way to kick off PRIDE month 2018, by celebrating all the wonderful contributions of the LGBTQ community to Hollywood’s rich history in the Arts and Culture with the “Real To Reel” Exhibit. Donelle Dadigan does a fantastic job.”

The museum houses more than 10,000 Authentic Show Business Treasures spotlighting more than 100 years of Hollywood history – from the Silents to Talkies, to Hollywood’s Golden Era, Film Noir, Television and its Pioneer Years, through the rebellious 60s, special effects 70s, evolving 80s, involved 90s, technological 2000s, and beyond to current day heartthrobs! The Hollywood Museum’s exhibits showcase the best in film, network and cable television, and new digital platforms featuring iconic and fan favorites! Named one of the top tourist attractions by LA Weekly, voted one of the Top 10 Museums in LA by the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, and annually receives the Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor. Located in the heart of Hollywood, at the corner of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave – The Hollywood Museum in the historic Max Factor Building is the “Official Museum of Hollywood” and offers visitors the most extensive collection of Hollywood memorabilia in the world featuring the glamour of Hollywood legends and stars – past, present and in the making…. See one-of-a-kind costumes, props, photographs, scripts, stars’ car collections, personal artifacts, posters, and memorabilia from favorite stars, films and TV shows. The Hollywood Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

The post The Stars Come Out in Support of LGBTQ Community and to Honor Stephanie Beatriz and Julie Newmar first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Tickets for the 11th annual Michael Childers’ production of One Night Only: Rodgers, Hammerstein & Hart, are now on sale. This star-studded musical production will be presented on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 @ 6:30pm, at the McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts and benefits Jewish Family Service of the Desert (JFS). Since 2008, One Night Only has sold out has sold out quickly every year.

General admission tickets are $175, $95 and $75 and are available through the McCallum Theatre Box Office at 760-340-ARTS or online at www.mccallumtheatre.com. Limited sponsorships and VIP tickets (including premier seating and the after performance dinner with the cast at Acqua Bistro @ The River) are available through JFS at 760-325-4088, extension 118.

In Rodgers, Hammerstein & Hart, Michael pays tribute to the incomparable composer Richard Rodgers and his partners, Oscar Hammerstein and Lorenz Hart, featuring some of their most popular songs from shows such as South Pacific, Oklahoma, Carousel, The King and I and Babes In Arms. Directed by Jason Graae with Music Direction by Christopher Marlowe, the cast features the best of Broadway and Hollywood performers. This year’s cast includes Brent Barrett, Shoshana Bean, David Burnham, Liz Callaway, Ann Hampton Callaway, Patrick Cassidy, Scott Coulter, Kevin Earley, Davis Gaines, Julie Garnye, Jason Graae, Susan Graham, Alix Korey, Bets Malone, Sal Mistretta, Jeffrey Scott Parsons, Faith Prince, Ron Raines, Teri Ralston, James Snyder, Billy Stritch, Constance Towers, Bruce Vilanch, Nita Whitaker. All performers donate their time and their appearances are subject to availability.

“One Night Only managed to be breathless, dazzling, humorous and emotional all at the same time. It’s perhaps the “show of the year” at the McCallum…!” Chris Foster, The Desert Sun

For over 35 years, JFS of the Desert has provided services throughout the Coachella Valley to those in need, regardless of religion, age, income, ethnicity or life style. JFS services and programs are made possible through the financial support of Jewish Federation of the Desert, Desert Healthcare District, the Weingart Foundation, the Auen Foundation, Kaiser Permanente and other gr grants and the generous support of donors. Most of the nearly 3,000 men, women and children served are from low income households. They rely on JFS for low cost mental health counseling, crisis intervention and food support. JFS provides isolated, homebound seniors with care, transportation and enrichment activities. JFS also offers counseling in local elementary schools. JFS is located in Palm Springs. For information visit www.jfsdesert.org or call 760-325-4088.

The post Vilanch, Prince, Gaines, Burnham, Callaway. and More Join Celebration of Rodgers, Hammerstein, & Hart first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

By ELISABETH VINCENTELLI
Last Updated: 11:44 PM, August 7, 2013
Posted: 10:25 PM, August 7, 2013

It’s hard to believe there isn’t a metaphor lying around under “Rubble” — a comedy about a TV writer stuck in a pile of debris after an LA earthquake. After all, it’s by TV writer Mike Reiss and stars TV writer Bruce Vilanch.

But Reiss — a longtime mainstay on “The Simpsons” and the creator of “The Critic” and “Queer Duck” — denies any hint of an agenda.

“I just wanted to write about someone trapped in rubble,” he says. “I don’t want people to think it’s autobiography. Even for New York theater, that would be self-indulgent. It’s not my life — it’s my worst nightmare.”

As for Vilanch, the show’s star, he seems less startled by the subject than by being in the New York International Fringe Festival, where the show premieres Saturday.

“I didn’t realize how exotic the Fringe is,” says Vilanch, who’s as famous for his red glasses as he is for writing gags for the Oscars. “First of all, you learn 7,000 pages of dialogue for five performances spread over three weeks. This is like doing ‘Rigoletto’! It’s insane! And you have half the rehearsal time because everybody is working in between their other stuff.”

Reiss was moonlighting, too. First there’s “The Simpsons”: He’s been there on and off — more on than off — since Day 1, when he was a staff writer. He became showrunner for Seasons 3 and 4, which is when the series truly gelled around such classic episodes as “A Streetcar Named Marge” and “Krusty Gets Canceled.”

Lately, though, the 53-year-old’s been scaling back.

“I go to Los Angeles on Wednesday to work on ‘The Simpsons,’ and I fly the red-eye back on Thursday,” says Reiss, who lives in Midtown. “A great week is a week where I spend less than 24 hours in LA.”

And then there’s his career as a prolific kid-lit author — a line of work that somehow led to his stage career.

A few years ago, Reiss, married and childless, was lecturing about his books at the University of Connecticut when someone suggested he write a play about Connecticut, “because it hadn’t been done before.”

So he did.

“It was so easy because it was untouched territory,” says Reiss, who grew up there. “I talked about the state and its personality. And its lack of personality.”

“I’m Connecticut” received positive reviews. Emboldened, Reiss wrote “Rubble” and sent it out to a whole bunch of people.

Then, he waited.

“Nobody said ‘I hate it,’ ” he reveals. “They just didn’t respond at all. Except this one guy named James Valletti, who’s a friend of a friend of my brother-in-law’s dentist. I sent it to him, that’s how desperate I was. But he loved the play and made it his life mission to stage it.”

Not only did Valletti get the show into the Fringe, he also roped in Vilanch, a choice Reiss happilyendorsed.

“I thought we’d get a free rewrite out of him but he hasn’t changed the lines!” Reiss says. “Yet he finds all this comedy where there was no comedy. He reminds me of Jackie Gleason — he’s so physically funny, with that giant expressive face.”

Vilanch, 64, is no stranger to acting. He performed in the off-Broadway solo “Bruce Vilanch: Almost Famous” and played Edna Turnblad in “Hairspray” on the road and on Broadway. Even that didn’t quite prepare him for the specific challenge of “Rubble.”

“Bette Midler sat there for 90 minutes in her Broadway show, but I told her that she at least had a couch and pillows to fluff,” he notes. “I sit, too, but surrounded by heaps of boxes. I kind of resemble a barge floating to Staten Island.”

“Rubble” opens Saturday at the Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St., with performances through Aug. 25. Information and tickets at 866-468-7619.

The post Inside The “Rubble” first appeared on We Got Bruce!.