Bunny Bunny

PAUL & KAREN RAISE OVER $2700 FOR GILDA'S CLUB WESTERN NEW YORK

Special Thanks to all the people who came to see "Bunny Bunny" in Los Angeles, Buffalo and Jamestown, NY, and the crowd at "Celebrating Gilda" at The Second City Studio Theatre in L.A. Also to all those who donated to the expenses incurred in mounting a series of productions like this.

In May, we mounted a production of Alan Zweibel's "Bunny Bunny", with the intent of giving the proceeds to charity. We produced and starred in this play, taking on a huge task, but couldn't have succeeded without the help of some invaluable people:

Kevin Will - Director
Kevin Farley - Actor
Nico Sirianni - Understudy
Toby Fulp - Stage Manager
Randy Bosh - Asst. Stage Manager
David Hilton - Lighting Designer

We thank them immensely, and a lot more volunteers who worked so hard for us! The show performed in L.A. to reviews like "wonderfully realistic" with "richly colorful performances". Then we took it to Buffalo to play at the very Gilda's Club for which we were raising money. It was very emotional, and we saw a good crowd in Jamestown, NY, as well, Karen's hometown. We also had a segment devoted to us on the Buffalo Ch. 7 news!

Back in L.A., we put on one last one-night-only event called "Celebrating Gilda" at The Second City. We performed scenes from "Bunny Bunny", but coupled them with some of the best performers in town in a very, very successful variety show. Here was the final line-up:

Bethany Pagliolo
Alex Endeshaw
Eric Lutes (Caroline in the City)
The Hollywood Accordian Club
Michael Gelbart (The Late Show with Craig Ferguson)
Beer Shark Mice (Featuring Dave Koechner of "Anchorman", Pat Finn, Pete Hulne and Michael Coleman)
and The Terry Hanson Band as our house band all night long.

It was a great evening that also included a very popular silent auction with items that included a signed script and shirt from the cast of "Scrubs", donated by Neil Flynn, gift certificates to the Hard Rock Cafe and Je Jeune Salon and more.
The show was capped with a slide show presentation of rarely-seen photos from Gilda's younger years that we were honored to show.

This entire project was born out of our desire to help our parents, even though they're across the country, living with cancer. We decided to help out a charity that helps people like our parents, and we are proud to say that we raised $2772.53 and presented a check to them this fall. It's an experience we'll never forget.

"In September, my mother was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, that has a 99% mortality rate, the highest of any cancer. She lives in Buffalo, NY and Gilda's Club Western New York is there for people like my mom. My father in-law, was also diagnosed with prostate cancer. I had to do something. So, my husband, Paul Preston and I rolled up our sleeves and decided to put on this event." -- Karen Volpe Preston, comedian, producer, "Celebrating Gilda"