Boulder Jewish News Arts, Culture, Events, Lifestyles, Holidays, Synagogues, Education
Boulder Jewish Family Service (JFS) will host its fifth annual fundraiser, “Reel Hope Boulder” on Saturday, October 14 at the Boulder JCC, 6007 Oreg Avenue. Guests will enjoy an entertaining evening with award-winning writer, comedian, songwriter, and actor Bruce Vilanch. Ron Bostwick, a freelance event producer and announcer, will interview Vilanch to showcase a “behind-the-screen” account of Bruce’s storied decades-long career. Bostwick has interviewed numerous celebrities at the Boulder International Film Festival, as well as featured speakers at three Reel Hope Boulder events.
The evening’s schedule will be:
7:00 p.m.: Sponsor reception with Bruce Vilanch for all sponsors
7:30 p.m.: Wine-and-beer reception with substantial kosher-style hors d’oeuvres
8:30 p.m.: Program
Tickets are $90 and sponsorships start at $540. All proceeds support the life-transforming work of Boulder JFS. For tickets, sponsorships, and more information, visit www.jewishfamilyservice.org/reelhopeboulder or contact Bonni Raderman at 720.749.3404.
About Bruce Vilanch
With his unmistakable presence—characterized by a big-girl figure, oversized red glasses, a shaggy blonde mane, and usually a hilarious T-shirt—Bruce Vilanch has been one of Hollywood’s most colorful characters for decades. His campy presence and outrageous apparel only heighten his broad appeal.
He’s known to many as an onscreen character actor and comedian, but Vilanch achieved his biggest successes as a writer for stand-up comics such as Bette Midler, Billy Crystal, Lily Tomlin, and Rosanne Barr. For many years, he was the go-to comic for stand-up sets and a first-choice writer for events, including the Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony telecasts.
A native of Paterson, New Jersey, Vilanch attended Ohio State University as a theater and journalism major. After graduation, he moved into show business professionally, with comic roles in features such as the 1975 Mahogany (as a fashion designer), the 1984 Ice Pirates, the 1986 thriller The Morning After, and the 2008 Adam Sandler comedy You Don’t Mess with the Zohan. On the side, Vilanch did frequent uncredited rewrites of Hollywood features and enjoyed a lengthy and productive tenure as a writer of features for the Chicago Tribune. Vilanch’s professional mainstay, however, remains comedy writing. He was the subject of the all-star 1999 documentary Get Bruce! and played an unforgettable Edna Turnblad in the long-running Broadway musical Hairspray.
ACE is presenting "Get Bruce" at 2 pm and 7 pm on September 27 at the Boulder JCC.