Standing room only crowds gathered for a series of star studded Los Angeles premieres of “WAIT FOR YOUR LAUGH” about the legendary ROSE MARIE, who has had the longest active career in history. A trail blazer for both children and women with entertainment roots that has spanned Vaudeville, Radio, Film, Vegas, Broadway, as well as both Daytime and Primetime Television.

Among the list of appearances by personalities participating in LA screening Q&A’s were Dick Van Dyke, Peter Marshall, Tom Bergeron, Dan Harmon, director Jason Wise and the iconic Rose Marie herself. The assemblage had an equally impressive list if patrons including Jane Lynch, Bruce Vilanch, George Chakiris, Teresa Ganzel, Margaret O’Brien, Jackie Joseph and Dick Van Dyke co-star, Larry Matthews. “Im a huge fan of Rose Marie and the documentary is amazing,” commented Jane Lynch. Adding, “I do a tribute to Rose Marie in my cabaret show and tell the story about how I wanted to be a comedy writer because of her role of Sally Rogers,”.

“Wait For Your Laugh,” which has qualified for Academy Award consideration under “Best Documentary,” made its West Coast debut this weekend at The Laemmle Town Center (Encino), The Laemmle Royal (Santa Monica) and the world famous Egyptian Theatre (Hollywood). Eager patrons willingly paid to sit in the isle of the theater at the latter in order see the film that Carl Reiner remarked, “This is no bullshit … This is the finest documentary about anybody I have ever … ever seen … Im immediately saying ‘Where do we vote?!’ Because this has to win every award it ever goes after!”

Social Media has found a new darling in Miss Rose Marie, who has embraced the medium as ambitiously as she has every other entertainment outlet in her 90+ year career. Both fans and critics are lavishly praising the efforts of director Jason Wise and his team. Among the many surprises contained in this cinematic gem are never-before-seen home movies taken behind the scenes by Rose Marie’s late husband, Bobby Guy, that include cast members of The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Doris Day Show, as well as on the road with the cultural phenomenon called “4 Girls 4” and appearances with Johnny Carson, previously thought to be lost.

This is the untold story of fame, love and tragedy, dealing with every subject from the mob to sexual harassment in American entertainment through the eyes of one pioneering child to woman, who witnessed it all first hand. “Rose Marie was a child star before Shirley Temple was even born,” remarks friend and industry great, Peter Marshall, adding “…and she has done it all.” From starring in the first all talking short film (“Baby Rose Marie: The Child Wonder”) released in theaters nationwide to become the first woman to host a TV game show (“Scoop The Writers”) and the first female headliner in Las Vegas by opening the Flamingo Hotel, as well as skillfully handling the mob affiliations that went along with it, including referring to criminal mastermind, Al Capone as “Uncle Al.” “It’s interesting to think that the mob was more respectful of women then, than men in the entertainment industry are today,” commented Dan Harmon at the Egyptian screening.

As a child star, she earned millions in todays money that she never received. Every dime went to her father, a cruel man known to the mob as “Happy Hank,” who considered “Baby Rose Marie” his personal property, and who used her to support his primary family, making Rose Marie and her brother, Michael, illegitimate. Something that she found out from a cousin only after she got married. Adding insult to injury, her father had given his other children (a boy and a girl) the same names.

“Wait For Your Laugh” is above all else the ultimate true love story. Despite unimaginable obstacles, finding a soul mate and “…surviving the greatest loss someone can experience,” as Dick Van Dyke recalled, Rose Marie has succeeded where many have failed, by navigating the very difficult career challenges from child to adulthood.

Photo Credits:
Egyptian Screening – Stephen Russo
Towne Center Screening – Kathy Brow

The post Bruce Vilanch Attends LA Premiere of WAIT FOR YOUR LAUGH first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

From on stage at “Backstage at the Geffen,” the annual gala for the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, host Jane Lynch of “Glee” said she had participated in the theater’s previous fundraisers, alongside such stars as Annette Bening, Alfre Woodard, Julie Andrews and others. “But now I’m the clearly most famous person in the room,” Lynch said, sliding into the personality of her “Glee” alter-ego, Sue Sylvester.

In truth, the Geffen had quite a lineup of A-list stars for Monday’s event, which broke the theater’s fundraising record by raking in $1 million from silent auction sales, sponsorships and tickets, which sold for $350 and up.

On hand to make presentations, provide musical entertainment and regale the audience with behind-the-scene tales of theatrical life were actors Bening, Helen Mirren, Andy Garcia, Warren Beatty, Dick Van Dyke, Matthew Morrison, Dana Delany,Joe Mantegna and Beth Behrs, jazz great Arturo Sandoval, singer Monica Mancini, and Bruce Vilanch, the 17-time writer for the Academy Awards telecasts.

“This next guy, I can’t believe I have to introduce him,” said Lynch of Morrison, her “Glee” costar.  Calling him, “the man I love to torment,” Lynch said sheâ€d been “carrying” him on the show “for what seems like 100 years.”

Morrison, who came to “Glee” with strong Broadway credentials, sang two numbers from his upcoming album: “Come Rain or Come Shine” and “The Lady is a Tramp.” He was joined onstage by his girlfriend, Renee Puente, for a dance routine, and by Brad Ellis, the piano man on “Glee.”

In their talks, Mirren spoke of onstage nervous breakdowns; Mantegna of his introduction to theater in Cicero, Ill., where Al Capone is its most famous citizen; and Vilanch of issues with divas at the Oscars. Both before and during the show, people talked of Gil Cates, the theater’s founder and former director, who died in October.

“Whenever he was in a room, the lights were just brighter,” said Jim Gianopulos, at a pre-event dinner for patrons at the Backyard Restaurant at the W Los Angeles in Westwood. Gianopulos is co-chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment.

At the close of the evening, Gianopulos received the theater’s Distinction in Service Award, while stage, screen and television star Carol Burnett was honored with the Distinction in Theater Award.

ALSO:

Matthew Morrison — from Broadway to “Glee”

Alan Alda pays tribute to Gil Cates at Geffen Playhouse

“The Exorcist” play to star Richard Chamberlain, Brooke Shields

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The post Bruce Vilanch, Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison Raise $1-Million For The Geffen Playhouse first appeared on We Got Bruce!.