Mandell JCC Jewish Book Festival

Mandell JCC Presents Saturday Night Live’s Alan Zweibel March 12, 2011, 8:00 p.m.;

Humorist, Author, Playwright Stars Live at Jewish Book Festival Event

    Alan Zweibel, the man behind the laughs on TV’s hit comedy Saturday Night Live, will appear at the Mandell JCC’s Herbert Gilman Theater in West Hartford, CT Saturday, March 12, 2011, 8:00 p.m., part of the 2010-2011 Jewish Book Festival, announced Abby Alter and Lauren Tafrate, co-chairs.  The award-winning comedy writer, author and playwright will share video career highlights, behind-the-scenes TV moments and speak about his latest “unhinged and hilarious” book Clothing Optional.  

                   Jazz & Java at 7:00 p.m. in The Living Room with musician Josh Hatcher and Friends precedes Zweibel’s appearance. Tickets at $30 per person are on sale now at the Mandell JCC Box Office, 860-231-6316, www.mandelljcc.org, tickets@mandelljcc.org.

                   An original Saturday Night Live writer, Alan Zweibel has won multiple Emmy, Writers Guild of America, and TV Critics awards for his television work including It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, Monk and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He co-wrote the screenplays for Dragnet, North, and The Story of Us. He wrote the children’s book, Our Tree Named Steve and the 2006 Thurber Prize-winning novel, The Other Shulman. His humor has appeared in Esquire, The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine, The Huffington Post and MAD Magazine.

                   Alan’s theatrical contributions include Bunny Bunny — Gilda Radner: A Sort of Romantic Comedy adapted from his best-selling book. He collaborated with Billy Crystal on the Tony Award-winning play 700 Sundays and Martin Short’s Broadway hit Fame Becomes Me. He is working on a new play Sunday Nights at 8:00, a documentary about the history of comedy with Steve Carell and David Steinberg, a one-man show for Dick Van Dyke and Womb with a View, an animated pilot. A frequent talk show guest, Alan was recently honored by the State University of New York and the Writers Guild of America. Above all, Alan is most proud of the family he’s co-produced with wife Robin, their children Adam, Lindsay and Sari and grandchildren Zachary and Alexis.

                   The March 12, 2011 Alan Zweibel program is supported by the Jerry Spitz JCC Fund for the Arts of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Webster Bank, LAZ Parking, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Marriott Resident Inn Downtown Hartford, Xerox and Headline Hair Designers  (as of 2/2/11). The event is part of the Mandell JCC’s  18th Annual Jewish Book Festival series. Upcoming author appearances include Peter Manseau (Songs for the Butcher’s Daughter) on Wednesday, April 13, 7:30 p.m. and Abraham Foxman, National Director, ADL, (Jews & Money-The Story of a Stereotype) on Wednesday, May 4, 7:30 p.m.

                   To purchase tickets for all Jewish Book Festival events and for more information contact the Mandell JCC, Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117, 860-231-6316 (Box Office) www.mandelljcc.org, 860-236-4571.