Florence Henderson Teams Up With Bruce Vilanch For AN EVENING WITH FRIENDS 7/24

America's Favorite Mom, Florence Henderson premiered her concert "All The Lives of Me" two years ago and has been touring throughout the country. Part theatrical, part concert, Florence takes the audience on a journey through all her lives: daughter, mother, musical theater star, TV star and product spokesperson. Whether she's sharing stories about her friend and mentor, Richard Rodgers, her friend and co-star, Robert Reed or her dad, her show lets audiences into the lives of this "very lovely lady".

Musical numbers includes songs from her stage roles: "Fanny", "South Pacific" and others and
includes a no-holds barred Q&A segment.

It's the long-term friendship between Florence and funnyman Bruce Vilanch that sparked this concert evening. In addition to Bruce writing special material for Florence's one woman show, Bruce wrote many of the Brady Bunch Variety Hour TV shows which debuted a few years after the sitcom was cancelled. It was the first of many Brady re- incarnations over the years.

Says Bruce: "I wrote the Brady Bunch variety hour, which was writing for a wholesome mom and wholesome dad. He (Reed) was a closet leather queen living with his mother! If I'd known that 30 years later people were going to be interested in this (expletive) I would have paid closer attention, It was 1977 and we were all chemically altered." So why does Bruce think that 30 years later, there is still so much interest in The Brady's, the variety shows and Florence's concerts? "I think "The Brady Bunch Movie" had a lot to do with it. When they brought back the movie, Nickelodeon discovered there were these variety hours that had never been aired.

Both artists are very recognizable. Florence as Mrs. Brady and the Wesson Oil and Polident spokesperson. Everyone knows Bruce from Hollywood Squares with Whoopi Goldberg. He has written classic Oscar Award shows, including the Jack Palance / Billy Crystal bit. He recently wrote his 10 th Oscar Awards for Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.

In addition, he has written the TV Land awards, People Choice Awards and many others as well as concert acts for Diana Ross and Michael Feinstein. He has also written most of Bette Midlers touring concert shows and one woman Broadway shows. He starred on Broadway in "Hairspray" and in Comedy Clubs across the nation.

An Evening with Friends is at 8 PM at Guild Hall. Tickets are $65 and $45, as well as a special VIP $85 ticket which includes include a Post-Performance Meet & Greet Reception with Florence and Bruce. www.guildhall.org for more information

Photo credit Joseph F. Panarello