Arts & Entertainment
In Tribute to Lucille Ball: Billy Van Zandt
An April interview with Middletown native Billy Van Zandt, actor/writer/producer, wherein he speaks of his time working with Lucille Ball, who would have been 100 today
The above video is from an April interview with Billy Van Zandt, Middletown native actor/writer/producer, on his upcoming show at the Middletown Arts Center at the time. In this interview Van Zandt spoke of his time spent working with comedic icon Lucille Ball, also his idol. In honor of what would have been Ball's 100th birthday today, we have resurrected the video. Enjoy. And, Happy Birthday Lucy!
Actor, writer, producer Billy Van Zandt is coming home to Middletown on April 30 (7:30) when he will spend a night entertaining friends and fans with stories gleaned from his life and career in show business.
An Evening with Billy Van Zandt is being hosted by the Middletown Arts Center (MAC). The event will include an inside look into the life and career of this locally-bred celebrity, and will be followed by a wine & cheese reception in the MAC gallery. The benefit, as Billy sees it, is that the proceeds from the evening will go toward furthering arts initiatives in the community in which he was raised and still is proud to call home (as often as he can).
Find out what's happening in Middletownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
For the record, Van Zandt is a Jersey guy who made good. Raised in Middletown, Van Zandt recalls the days when the town was more woods and orchards and less shopping centers.
Early in his career he acted alongside the likes of Roy Scheider in Jaws 2 and Sean Penn and Timothy Hutton in Taps. He went on to author the Off-Broadway play The Property Known as Garland and co-author and star in 23 other theatrical plays written with Jane Milmore, his longtime collaborator, including the Off-Broadway comedies You've Got Hate Mail, Silent Laughter, A Night at the Nutcracker, Drop Dead and summer stock perennial Love, Sex, and the I.R.S.
Find out what's happening in Middletownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The highlight of his career was acting alongside his comedic hero Lucille Ball on her final television series. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his television special I Love Lucy: The Very First Show and he also wrote for the acclaimed television series, Newhart.
Patch Reporter/Producer, Steve Rogers sat down with Van Zandt for a quick conversation, a preview of what's to come on April 30.
All proceeds from An Evening with Billy Van Zandt will benefit the Middletown Arts Center. The evening's event will be moderated by actor Jeff Babey.
You may purchase tickets online at www.mycommunityevents.com/user/SearchEvents.aspx?event=&organization=&location=middletown
And, by the way, the Van Zandt/Milmore comedy You've Got Hate Mail is currently running at the Triad in NYC through the summer. Check it out: www.youvegothatemail.com.
