 Thursday, March 5, 2009
Spotlight 29 Casino,
Coachella, Califonia
Story by Lisa Robyn Lawrence
Photos by Yvonne Scott
For more Yvonne Scott photos of the event, click here.
Rita Rudner, of “Saturday Night Live” fame, was the headline act for the 2009 Gilda’s Club Desert Cities annual gala event. This beautifully produced show was warmly opened by our valley’s own Pattie Daly Caruso, a courageous woman and cancer survivor. Pattie came on-stage in a strikingly chic red ensemble, looking as lovely as ever. Pattie warmly welcomed the audience and graciously introduced the board president of the Gilda’s Club Desert Cities, William Bonnheim, who introduced a very touching video titled, “Behind the Red Door.”
This is a video testimony to the depth and breadth of the many people whose lives have been affected by cancer and who have been supported and enriched by the wonderful, loving and caring staff at Gilda’s Club Desert Cities, which is located in Cathedral City. It was a very moving tribute to the passion, dedication, support and caring that this organization provides for our community members. There are now 30 Gilda’s Clubs throughout the United States and Canada. The Coachella Valley has been blessed with the good fortune to be the first location in the state of California to have an official Gilda’s Club. The mission at Gilda’s Club states: “We provide free emotional and social support to anyone touched by cancer.”
With more than 850 club members in the past four-and-a-half years, it is reaching far and wide into our community offering support and an opportunity for members to meet others, build relationships and attend informative, uplifting programs. Gilda’s Club reaches out to the family, friends and even children afflicted with cancer or who may have someone in their lives with cancer. Gilda’s Club provides a meeting place where members can build relationships, become better informed about their cancer and the recovery process, share the collective wisdom of their experiences and develop personal strategies for living with cancer. The children have a special “Noogie Club,” complete with activities specially geared for them.
All of this has been made possible through the generosity of foundations, companies and individuals who attend the events or simply give generously, both financially and of their time.
“Without you, we could not continue to achieve our goal.” Bonnheim commented, who then publicly thanked the entire staff and Executive Director Paula Kennedy recognizing all the caring and deeply dedicated support that they all provide for club members. Loud applause of appreciation rang out.
As Bonnheim concluded, the night’s audience applauded him enthusiastically.
 Pattie then returned to the stage to introduce the co-chairs and one of the major sponsors of this event, Judi and Peter Wasserman. Peter Wasserman came on-stage and first thanked the night’s other major sponsors, The Berger Foundation, Jackie Lee and Jim Houston, Spotlight 29 Casino, and Joyce and Robert Browne. Wasserman then presented some special awards of recognition of support and sincere thanks, first to Jackie Lee and Jim Houston for their generosity and support of Gilda’s Club Desert Cities. Upon acceptance of her award, Jackie Lee exclaimed that it was an honor to receive the award and that Gilda’s Club Desert Cities is one of her top 10 favorite nonprofit organizations that she supports.
Wasserman then announced two more business sponsorship awards in recognition of their support of Gilda’s Club Desert Cities and this event — R&R Broadcasting and Palm Springs Life magazine.
The next order of business was to sit back and enjoy “The Comedy of Rita Rudner.”
Rudner broke into the comedy scene in the early 1980s, coming from a career as a dancer on Broadway. Rudner has honed her own “epigrammatic” style of comedic timing, using run-on statements and poignant descriptions. The two most influential comedy personalities in Rudner’s early decision to transition “from chorus line to punch line” were Jack Benny and Woody Allen.
What a treat to see a comedy act that was without obscene language that made the audience laugh heartily out loud. Rudner used her trademark quick talk and wacky wit to tickle and almost dare the audience into laughing.
Rudner really had the audience going. At one point it was women versus men in regard to shopping.
 “You see, men don’t get it,” she explained. “Women see shopping as the ultimate ‘hunt,’ men grow weary and bored unless it is to shop for something large like a big screen TV to watch sports events on.”
Men like to hunt only big game I guess. And in regard to shopping sales, women see sale items as a chance to “save” money “Look at how much I saved with this new purse.” Men see it as, “how much did you spend?”
The hilarity of her honest, incisive humor had the audience chuckling and laughing throughout her entire act. Rudner took pot shots at GPS systems, the fact that men hate waiting for us to get ready to go out, yet they will spend the better part of a day fishing waiting for a fish. There were loud cheers and applause for Rudner as she concluded.
She then queried the audience, asking if they had any questions. One question was how she met her husband. Rudner explained that he was a comedy producer and she was a comic. He offered to pay her to perform her comedy; she said that was when she decided to marry him.
 Many patrons were a-buzz with laughter after the performance. Two young ladies, Gina Rosenthal and Stefanie Irwin, said that they had a great time. They had never seen Rudner before, but said they would go to see her again. They really loved her style.
Rudner has a newly released book titled, “I Still Have It--I Just Can't Remember Where I Put It: Confessions of a Fiftysomething,” and a new DVD titled, “Rita Rudner: Live from Las Vegas,” because she is alive and really lives in Las Vegas. Don’t miss Rudner’s upcoming PBS special on KVCR, 8 p.m., June 2, 2009.
From the looks of the number of people in the audience this event was a success. Rudner was a fantastic choice for this night’s uplifting entertainment.
Best wishes for many future successful fund-raising events for Gilda’s Club Desert Cities, your club provides a very necessary service for our community and you deserve much support from all of us.
Thank you Spotlight 29 for your continued support of Gilda’s Club and bringing high quality entertainment to our valley.
For more Yonne Scott photos of the event, click here.
For more information on Rita Rudne and, how to purchase her new book or DVD, click here.
For information about Gilda’s Club nationally, click here.
For information about Gilda’s Club Desert Cities, click here.
To find more fantastic entertainment at Spotlight 29, click here.
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